corona virus-what exactly does one look for ? Seems the symptoms are like the flu

[demtenjeep]

how do we tell if we have it?

what symptoms do we watch for?

[Ms. Toad]

1. Symptoms

COVID-19 typically causes flu-like symptoms including a fever and cough.

In some patients - particularly the elderly and others with other chronic health conditions - these symptoms can develop into pneumonia, with chest tightness, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

It seems to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough.

After a week, it can lead to shortness of breath, with about 20% of patients requiring hospital treatment.

Notably, the COVID-19 infection rarely seems to cause a runny nose, sneezing, or sore throat (these symptoms have been observed in only about 5% of patients). Sore throat, sneezing,and stuffy nose are most often signs of a cold.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-symptoms/#typical

[demtenjeep]

2. I have a dry cough, and shortness of breath-I am a former smoker

woke up today with horrible sore throat.



the symptoms of the virus mimic the cold/flu .

how do we tell the difference? Time?

[Ms. Toad]

3. I'd start by taking zinc, unless you have a fever.

Sore throat for me, without a fever, is nearly always a cold - and it nearly always response within 24 hours to zinc.

Beyond that - especially if you're in any of the cities where there are COVID19 cases, I'd go see the doctor.

[Mz Pip]

7. Fever and dry cough

Sounds like every URI I’ve ever had.

[Ms. Toad]

13. Yup.

The difference between a cold and the flu is clear for me. But the rest of the URIs are all pretty much the same

[Laffy Kat]

4. There may be no symptoms and you may still carry it.

This according to Science Alert (which looks like a credible source). If this is true and you can also be contagious up to two weeks before you show symptoms, I have no idea how to contain such an illness. Wash your hands every time you go out, folks. Don't touch mouth/eyes/nose.

https://www.sciencealert.com/researchers-confirmed-patients-can-transmit-the-coronavirus-without-showing-symptoms

[mike_c]

5. the definitive test seems to be rt-PCR...

...Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction using upper respiratory fluid samples like nasal swabs. PCR amplifies specific DNA target sequences for detection (in this use), so I presume definitive DNA or RNA markers for COVID-19 have been isolated. I'm not a molecular biologist so that's about all I've got.

[Ilsa]

8. Yes, the kits are being sent out:

Excerpt from CDC site as of February 6:

A CDC-developed laboratory test kit to detect 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) began shipping yesterday to select qualified U.S. and international laboratories. Distribution of the tests will help improve the global capacity to detect and respond to the 2019 novel coronavirus.

The test kit, called the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase (RT)-PCR Diagnostic Panel (CDC 2019-nCoV Real Time RT-PCR), is designed for use with an existing RT-PCR testing instrument that is commonly used to test for seasonal influenza.

The CDC 2019 novel coronavirus test is intended for use with upper and lower respiratory specimens collected from people who meet CDC criteria for 2019-nCoV testing. The test uses a technology that can provide results in four hours from initial sample processing to result.

[avlbeerfan]

6. From what I understand as reported.

Being a novel virus some people have just a runny nose depending on how effectively the virus latches on to your cells or maybe viral load has something to do with it too, let’s say you just get infected with a few virus cells and you body attacks them quickly.

About 20% of the cases it’s more severe and developes rapidly.
It starts with fever before any other symptoms.
Followed by a tightness in the chest that rapidly go’s into a viral pneumonia.
This is on one side at first with sharp pain when you inhale.
Coughing up bloody septum is reported as common as well.
It then may then move into the other lung within a day or two.
When blood oxygen gets low you developed confusion and blueness in the fingers.

China has been using ct scans to diagnose it by the particular way it shows up on the scan.

[icymist]

9. May I ask what are your sources for these symptons?

I ask because this is the first time I have heard of the sharp pain when breathing or coughing up bloody sputum.

[Corgigal]

10. Heres a video.

You can learn case studies, presentations..and so on.

[avlbeerfan]

11. Rply

Around 2 weeks ago in one of the WHO video updates just as the virus was spreading into Hong Kong and surrounding areas they were ask about symptoms and these were mentioned as being prevalent in the 20%.

[projectiboga]

12. Some dietary supplements that can slow a virus

I'm a type 1 diabetic, so I always jump to supplements to try and fine tune my strong, and sometimes overactive immune system. Obviously you will need to research what body temperature and other symptoms will require a doctor visit.

5,000 iu of vitamin D3 at first symptom is equal to having had the flu vaccine if taken at first symptom. It of course isn't equal just another tool. Flu season is always when vitamin d levels are low, winter in the north and monsoon season in the south. Supplementation is safe in the thousands, you can easily take 10,000 even 15,000, multiple days. I like liquid billed as 5,000 iu, where the dose is 5 drops, 1,000 per drop.
Flu also like humidity below 50% or above 80%, so get a digital max min thermometer with humidity, and get your living space humidity over 50%.

Lysine 500 or 1000 to take multiple grams on an empty stomach, either an hour before a meal, or 2.5 hours after, this can slow viral replication.

Echinacea, and vitamin E both stimulate Interleukin-2, if taken in the evening, and Melatonin works very well if your interleukin-2 levels are elevated, I like to take an extra melatonin sublingual tablet or lozenge, one under the tongue and break another and put the two halves over my big teeth, that helps with the nose.

Other prevention methods, SARRS was spread by the air ejected from flushing toilets, up through common air shaft spaces between bath rooms from different apartments in Hong Kong, and Taipei. Simple solution at all times is ALWAYS CLOSE THE LID, this will reduce the spread of this and other things that will bog your immune system, and this ends the seat up and down issue forever, every one has to lift and close every time.

Move tooth brushes out of restroom into a closet or the kitchen.

Herb Pharm Soothing Throat Spray is a great propolis and echinacea that is like a paste on a sore throat and has other immune herbs. I keep that w me and spray if I'm at all uncertain about my throat or exposed to any sneezes or coughs, living in mid town NYC. I noticed Joe Strummer of the Clash, seemed to have that in his rider, as they had multiple bottles of it and he gargled it before the concert in a documentary about him. I only noticed as I'd been using it for awhile at that point.

Woodstock Naturals Sinus Wash, works but is like peppermint fire going in. But it can put a cold on pause in your nose, while not stopping discharge completely, slows it a good amount. it also has Xylitol a sugar or sugar alcohol. X-clear nasal spray also has this and is much more gentle, that breaks up biofilm so a virus cant hide in your nasal secretions.

Good luck and stock up on food reserves.

[Tipperary]

14. Perhaps ask a medical professional?