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The year 2020 has been filled with news headlines about the coronavirus. A lot of people talk about it without real knowledge on the subject.
What really is the coronavirus?
According to WHO, COVID-19 is the disease caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. The virus was first discovered by WHO on the 31st of December 2019, following a report of a cluster of cases of ‘viral pneumonia’ in Wuhan, People’s Republic of China.
Since It's discovery, millions of people around the world has died, and many more are sick and in the process of recovery.
Symptoms of the coronavirus
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are: fever, dry cough and fatigue. Other symptoms that are less common and may affect some patients include:
- loss of taste or smell,
- nasal congestion,
- conjunctivitis (also known as red eyes),
- sore throat,
- headache,
- muscle or joint pain,
- different types of skin rash,
- nausea or vomiting,
- diarrhea, chills or dizziness.
In severe cases, people have reported experiencing shortness of breath, loss of appetite, confusion, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, high temperature (above 38 °C), anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.
More severe and rare neurological complications such as strokes, brain inflammation, delirium and nerve damage have also been reported.
After-effects of the coronavirus on the body
Among those who develop symptoms, most (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing hospital treatment. About 15% become seriously ill and require oxygen and 5% become critically ill and need intensive care.
Complications leading to death may include respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), injury of the heart, liver or kidneys.
The time from exposure to COVID-19 to the moment when symptoms begin vary depending on the individual. Symptoms may show 5-6days or 1-14days after exposure. This is why people who have been exposed to the virus are advised to remain at home and stay away from others for 14days.
Some people who have had COVID-19, whether they have needed hospitalization or not, continue to experience symptoms, including fatigue, respiratory and neurological symptoms
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