Coronavirus first appeared in China in 2019 and is responsible for the onset of a respiratory infection, known as COVID-19, which can range from a simple flu to very serious complications, such as life-threatening pneumonia.
The most serious complications of this infection seem to occur especially in people over 60, but the virus can affect people of all ages, so it is very important to be aware of the onset of symptoms that may indicate infection, especially high fever. , persistent cough and shortness of breath.
- COVID-19 is transmitted through respiratory secretions and saliva.
- So some precautions are recommended to avoid contracting the infection and pass it on to others.
- Such as covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
- Washing your hands regularly.
- And avoid touching your face.
- Mainly in your eyes.
- Nose and mouth.
Symptoms of COVID-19 infection appear to range from a simple flu to a more severe infection. If you think you may be infected, answer the following questions to find out what your risk is and what to do:
For more serious infections, systemic symptoms, such as muscle pain and gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhoea and vomiting, as well as changes in blood tests, such as decreased lymphocytes, platelets and neutrophils, may also occur. .
In addition, cases of people appearing to have conjunctivitis, presence of spots in the mouth and loss of smell or taste when infecting the new coronavirus have been reported, but no studies are known to show the incidence of these symptoms. Loss of smell is a condition known scientifically as anosmia, which can occur in cases of temporary or permanent irritation of the lining of the nose, and is common in other viral respiratory infections. Learn more about odour loss and why it can occur.
In a study in Spain with 375 confirmed cases of COVID-19 [1], skin changes that may be related to infection of the new coronavirus were identified. One of these new symptoms includes the appearance of freezing-like asymmetrical sores that appear on your fingers and toes.
However, according to this study, there are also other skin changes that can be observed as:
However, these symptoms have not yet been confirmed by WHO and can be difficult to identify at home without the help of a dermatologist.
Diagnosis of COVID-19 infection is initiated by symptom assessment and WHO has determined that the diagnosis is based on clinical and epidemiological parameters. As for clinical parameters, the person must have fever and another flu symptom, and at least one of the epidemiological parameters they are: having been to a place where many cases of COVID-19 have been identified, have had contact with a suspicious person or have been in direct contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 infection.
After the first evaluation, your doctor may order a COVID-19 test with respiratory secretions or a blood test to confirm that it is a new coronavirus infection or not. Depending on the type of exam, results may take up to 6 hours to become available. Learn more about the COVID-19 test.
What you should do in case of suspected COVID-19 infection is to contact the line “Saed Disc” via number 136 to find out how to proceed. Another option is to contact the line via Whatsapp: (61) 9938-0031.
If you are advised to go to the hospital or health clinic, you should take precautions on the way from your home to the health office, for example:
Once in the hospital, it is important to stay away from others, especially in waiting rooms, as this can delay transmission of the virus.
In addition, it is important to warn of suspicions to anyone who has been in close contact in the last 14 days, such as family and friends, so that they can be aware of the onset of symptoms.
Check out the latest recommendations from our health professionals on how to deal with the new coronavirus:
Coronavirus transmission can occur through contact with infected wild animals or through human-to-human contact by inhaling droplets released into the air by coughing or sneezing containing the virus or through the fecal-oral route, provided that SARS-CoV can also be excreted in the fetus.
Discover the 9 most important steps to protect yourself from COVID-19.
There is no specific treatment for COVID-19, only supportive measures such as hydration, rest and a light and balanced diet are recommended. In addition, fever medications and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, are also indicated whenever used under the supervision of the doctor, to relieve symptoms and facilitate healing.
Some studies are being conducted to test the efficacy of several antiviral drugs to remove the virus from the body, such as remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine or mefloquine, which have already shown positive results in some patients, but so far no drugs have been tested. . Learn more about the drugs tested for COVID-19.
In the most severe cases, the infected person may still develop viral pneumonia, with symptoms such as severe chest pressure, high fever and shortness of breath. In such cases, it is recommended to enter the hospital to receive oxygen and be under continuous monitoring of vital signs.
The risk of serious complications due to COVID-19, such as pneumonia, appears to be higher in people over the age of 60 and in all people with weakened immune systems. Thus, in addition to the elderly, they are also part of the risk group:
In addition, obese people (BMI above 30) also have an increased risk of developing serious complications, as excess weight forces the lungs to work harder to adequately oxygenate the body, which also influences activity. from the heart. It is also common for other chronic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, to be linked to obesity, making the body vulnerable to complications.
Being in the risk group does not mean that there is an increased chance of contracting the disease, but that there is an increased risk of developing serious and life-threatening complications. Therefore, during periods of epidemic or pandemic, these people should, as far as possible, be isolated or socially distant to reduce the chances of contracting the disease.
“Coronavirus” is actually the name given to a group of viruses belonging to the same family, the Coronaviridae, which are responsible for respiratory infections that can be mild or quite serious depending on the coronavirus responsible for the infection.
The new Chinese coronavirus is actually known in the scientific community as SARS-CoV-2 and the infection caused by the virus is COVID-19. Other known diseases caused by other types of coronavirus include SARS and MERS, respectively, responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
So far 7 types of coronavirus are known to affect humans
This type of coronavirus is the most recent and has been first identified in China, but cases of contagion have already been reported in Italy, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Iran and the United States. There is still little information about this type of coronavirus, but it is known that, like SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, it causes a serious respiratory infection, which can lead to respiratory failure and death.
With regard to the form of transmission of this type of virus, it was found that people who frequented a market in Wuhan, China, where wild animals were marketed, were infected with the virus, demonstrating animal-to-person transmission. However, other people who were not present on the market but who had contact with sick people were also infected with the same virus, confirming the hypothesis that COVID-19 is also transmitted from person to person through inhalation of respiratory droplets and direct and reckless contact with infected people.
Learn more about this virus in the following video
These types are often associated with the common cold and are responsible for benign respiratory diseases that are naturally fought by the immune system itself. These types of viruses are transmitted from person to person and cause typical symptoms of colds or mild pneumonia depending on the activity of the person’s immune system.
These types are linked to severe respiratory infections and it is usually necessary for the person to be hospitalized to be monitored and avoid complications. These viruses are transmitted from animals to humans and therefore eventually trigger a more severe immune and inflammatory response, resulting in more serious complications and symptoms.
In addition, the severity of infection with these viruses may be related to the person’s immune system, as it is more common in people whose immune system is weakened due to diseases, such as HIV, or due to cancer treatment, for example, mainly in the case of the MERS-CoV virus. The first case of MERS-CoV infection occurred in Saudi Arabia in 2012, but the virus has been easily transmitted to other Middle Eastern countries. Learn more about MERS.
The first reported case of SARS-CoV infection was in 2002 in Asia and the virus was quickly associated with a severe respiratory infection due to the fact that it can spread rapidly among the population. Understand what SARS is.