The signs of COVID-19, such as fever and cough, are comparable to those of several other common illnesses, such as the seasonal flu. How can you identify if a temperature is a sign of the flu or COVID-19 while flu season is in full swing? This discovery could make it easier for COVID-19 patients to isolate themselves and seek COVID test more quickly, which might significantly enhance patient outcomes.
According to Scientists, the order is crucial to know when we have overlapping cycles of diseases like the flu that coincide with infections of COVID-19. Doctors can decide what to do for the patient’s treatment, and they could stop the patient’s condition from getting worse.
Researchers used Data from China.
According to Joseph Larsen, primary research author and doctorate candidate at USC Dornsife, “The sequence of the symptoms matters. “Because each sickness develops differently, clinicians can better determine early on whether a patient is likely suffering from COVID-19 or another condition and if they need monoclonal antibody treatment.
Timeline of COVID-19 symptoms
The results of the study indicate that the symptoms that COVID-19 patients may encounter can be experienced in the following order:
1. Fever
2. A cough and aching muscles
3. Dizziness or sickness
4. Diarrhea
Since the flu frequently starts suddenly with symptoms, including back pain, chills, and a dry cough, it may be challenging to tell the difference in reality. The results may be helpful “when evaluating several patients in a hectic clinical situation,” according to scientists.
The study found that whereas the initial sign of influenza is often a cough, the first sign of COVID-19 is fever. Scientists discussed the broad spectrum of symptoms he saw while treating COVID-19 patients in New York City.
Fever is typically the primary COVID-19 infection sign that is most frequently documented, but the reality of what I encounter on the front lines is more varied. According to literature, some people may lose taste or smell while otherwise healthy. They have also observed patients with ‘COVID-toes,’ known as chilblains.
Other patients, according to scientists, came with malaise, headache, and dizziness, which mirror stroke symptoms in some respects but lack fever, cough, or any indication of upper respiratory problems. They have also encountered individuals with no respiratory symptoms, just chest discomfort. When respiratory symptoms like fever and cough first appear, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also indicate that a person has COVID-19.
The ultimate lesson, according to research, is that medical practitioners must exercise caution and have an open mind when assessing individuals who could exhibit symptoms connected to the illness. You must cast a broad net when pondering who may or may not have COVID-19 since they don’t always appear “according to the book,” they added.
It’s Essential to Comprehend how Symptoms Develop.
According to literature, to effectively identify and start contact tracing or limit the transmission of the disease, it is crucial to understand the course of symptoms in persons with the COVID-19 infection. This is very important for a virus that is 2 to 3 times more contagious than the flu and causes clustered epidemics.
Scientists said that being aware of the initial symptoms encourages people to seek testing more quickly and to start physically removing themselves from the situation as soon as the symptoms appear. They also emphasizes how crucial it is to wash your hands as soon as you notice any symptoms.
Inflammatory skin responses like chilblains and rapid loss of taste and smell are among symptoms he considers to be “significant clinical signals that may identify COVID-19 from seasonal influenza.”
The Most Recent Variation is Still Unclear.
Variation of Omicron On November 25, South Africa first alerted the World Health Organization (WHO) about COVID-19. The first case in the country was found by a visitor from South Africa, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
One of the first physicians to detect a distinct strain of COVID-19 in patients told Reuters that the new variant’s symptoms were now minor and manageable at home. Most of them are only seeing slight symptoms, and none have admitted people for procedures thus far. Scientists pointed out that Omicron patients haven’t mentioned losing their sense of taste or smell, and the new variety hasn’t yet resulted in a significant decline in oxygen levels.
The conclusion
Researchers discovered that COVID-19 symptoms come in a particular order by studying data from more than 50,000 individuals who had the disease and comparing their symptoms to records from earlier flu cases. Although this phase isn’t necessarily how the sickness shows itself, frontline experts note that it is still a helpful guide for healthcare providers.
The new Omicron variety is still too fresh to predict precisely what symptoms may appear. Additionally, experts keep an eye on any changes in symptoms after a COVID test and how the body responds to new versions.
