AUGUST 3, 2020
When infected when COVID-19, some people remain completely asymptomatic while others suffer a variety of symptoms—ranging from the most common (fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath) to others like COVID toes and loss of sense of smell and taste. Of those who do get sick, most recover within a few weeks. However, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over one-third of coronavirus patients with milder cases of the virus and no preexisting conditions don’t actually snap back from their infection, experiencing symptoms that don’t go away.
If you or someone you know is having a hard time dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, know that you are not alone. Our world has turned upside down, so it’s natural to feel uneasy and unmoored. However, anxiety and depression are one thing; a deep-rooted trauma is another. Read on to discover if you or a loved one may be suffering from coronavirus pandemic post-traumatic stress disorder, a.k.a. PTSD.
“Prolonged Symptom Duration” is Common
While prolonged symptoms have been identified in more severe cases of coronavirus, the CDC’s new findings are interesting, as they focus on milder cases involving people who were not hospitalized with the virus.
“Prolonged symptom duration and disability are common in adults hospitalized with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Characterizing return to baseline health among outpatients with milder COVID-19 illness is important for understanding the full spectrum of COVID-19–associated illness and tailoring public health messaging, interventions, and policy,” they explain.
The report, a multistate telephone survey of symptomatic adults who had a positive outpatient test result for SARS-CoV-2 infection, found that 35% had not returned to their usual state of health even after 2-3 weeks from the day they tested positive. This included one in five people aged 18–34 years with no chronic medical conditions.
- fatigue (35%)
- cough (43%)
- shortness of breath (29%)
- And loss of taste and smell, chest pain and confusion
…while symptoms, like vomiting, nausea, fever and chills, were likely to pass sooner.
Take Precautions
“COVID-19 can result in prolonged illness, even among young adults without underlying chronic medical conditions. Effective public health messaging targeting these groups is warranted,” the CDC explained about the importance of their findings. These should include social distancing, frequent handwashing, and the consistent and correct use of face coverings in public.
“These findings have important implications for understanding the full effects of COVID-19, even in persons with milder outpatient illness. Notably, convalescence can be prolonged even in young adults without chronic medical conditions, potentially leading to prolonged absence from work, studies, or other activities,” the CDC added.
As for yourself, avoid catching COVID-19: wear your face mask, get tested if you think you have coronavirus, avoid crowds (and bars, and house parties), practice social distancing, only run essential errands, wash your hands regularly, disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don’t miss these 37 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch Coronavirus.
Courtesy/Source: HEALTH – Eat This, Not That!
