Coronavirus Symptoms, How Long Do They Last?
Coronavirus symptoms are pretty well catalogued and publicized to the American people at this point. Most of us know what to look out for, and when it’s time to get medical help.
However, the question, that so far has not been answered is — how long do these symptoms last. Doctors and health care professionals don’t have an answer at this time.
Right now, coronavirus symptoms and the illness itself are spreading throughout the United States. What we need to know is, when a person contracts COVID-19, how long will the symptoms last?
Coronavirus Symptoms: What Are They?
Here are the symptoms you should keep on your radar, how long they usually last, and what you can do to keep yourself and those around you safe.
Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only lists out three symptoms for COVID-19: fever, cough, and shortness of breath. But there are more. Here is the current list.
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Fatigue
- Sputum production
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Muscle pain
- Headaches
If you develop those symptoms, the CDC recommends staying home and doing your best to avoid coming into contact with others. If your symptoms worsen, call your doctor before heading to a hospital, where you could potentially spread the virus.
How Long Do Symptoms Last?
Symptom can show up anywhere between two to 14 days after you’ve been exposed. From there, the duration of your illness depends on several factors.
If you have a more mild case, symptoms will last for only a few days. Otherwise, it can last for 2 weeks or longer.Therefore, if your symptoms persist, you definitely need to get medical help ASAP. First thing, is to call your doctor and get tested for the virus. You may need to be hospitalized and put on a ventilator.
Right now, while there is no official cure, doctors and hospitals will be able to treat with hydroxyquinone and azithromycin, beginning this week. Both drugs have been successful against the virus in S. Korea, Japan, and Brazil. The FDA approved hydoxyquinone 20 years ago for malaria.
These drugs are successful in treating malaria and inflammation and may prove effective against the coronavirus. This is because both viruses have very similar DNA sequencing.
Another question looking for an answer is how long is a person contagious?
Doctors don’t really know at this point, it could be just a few days or a few weeks. That’s why keeping your distance from friends, neighbors, and family is the smart thing to do.
Coronavirus Symptoms: What To Do Now
If you do experience symptoms, quarantine yourself. Stay home. You can go out if the following happens:
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- You don’t have a fever for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
- Your symptoms have improved.
- At least seven days have passed since you first had symptoms.
If you have arranged to be tested, by all means get to that appointment. Starting this week, new testing kits will be arriving. These new upgraded kits will return results within 45 minutes — instead of the current 3-5 days.