The symptoms of the novel coronavirus mimic common cold symptoms or the flu.How can you tell if you have the COVID-19 virus?The symptoms of COVID-19 can be mild or severe. Some people infected don't show any symptoms (they are asymptomatic). Although there is a broad range of symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has listed the most common COVID-19 symptoms. These symptoms can appear between two and 14 days after the virus was first exposed.Chills or feverCoughBreathing difficulties or shortness of breathFatigueMuscle or body painsHeadacheA new loss of taste and smellSore throatCongestion and runny noseNausea or vomitingDiarrheaCOVID-19 emergency symptomsAccording to the CDC, these are urgent warning signs and should be taken seriously.Trouble breathingPersistent pain in the chest or pressureNeue confusionInability to stay awake or wake upBluish your lips or make-upYou may also experience other severe symptomsCommoner COVID-19 symptomsCOVID-19 patients may also experience other symptoms, which are less common.COVID-19 has been associated with a variety of skin rashes. The rashes may appear in many ways. Some appear as small red spots while others are larger flattened or raised lesions. Live Science reported that some rashes have a hive-like appearance while others appear like frostbitten feet. These rashes may be caused by the novel coronavirus, but it's possible that they are related to lifestyle factors such as stay-at home orders, or a heightened immune system. Numerous studies have shown that patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 could still develop "COVID feet". This raises questions about the root cause of the condition dermatologists call perniosis. For more information about skin conditions that may be caused by COVID-19, please visit The American Academy of Dermatology Association.COVID-19 may also cause neurological symptoms. According to Harvard Medical School, COVID-19 can also cause loss of taste and smell, muscle weakness, tingling, or numbness in hands and feet, dizziness and confusion, as well as seizures and stroke.What COVID-19 symptoms are progressingAccording to Harvard Medical School, a person suffering from COVID-19 might experience mild symptoms for up to a week before their condition rapidly worsens. Harvard Medical School says to let your doctor know if you experience rapid deterioration of symptoms.Patients with COVID-19 may develop pneumonia. This is when their lungs fill up with pus and fluid. This can cause severe shortness of breath, and even painful coughing. Harvard says that the virus can cause severe illness in some people indirectly through triggering a "cytokinestorm", an immune system overreaction that can cause severe injury.The CDC recommends that COVID-19 patients and anyone with a respiratory illness should be aware of their symptoms. A worsening condition such as shortness of breath or other symptoms should be reported to a doctor immediately. This is especially true for those over 65 and people with underlying medical conditions. More information is available at the CDC Information Page on what to do if your condition worsens.Children with COVID-19 symptomsHarvard Medical School says that although the risk of serious disease increases with age, younger people may also be at greater risk.According to the CDC, most children with COVID-19 experience mild or no symptoms. However, some children can become very ill. According to the CDC, children under 1 year of age and those with certain underlying conditions like asthma, chronic lung diseases, diabetes heart disease, obesity, and diabetes may be at greater risk for severe illness. According to the CDC, children may experience fever, cough, and other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, chills, runny noses or nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell or shortness of breath. They also might develop stomach problems, including tiredness, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, stomach cramps, weakness, headaches, muscle or body aches, or poor eating habits, particularly in infants.According to the CDC, parents should pay special attention to signs that could indicate COVID-19 in their child. These include a fever of 100.4°F (38°C), sore throat, difficulty breathing, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach ache, or a severe headache. The CDC recommends that parents seek emergency medical attention immediately if the child displays any of the same symptoms as adults.What is MISC for kids?According to the CDC, a multisystem inflammatory disorder in children (MISC) has been linked with the novel coronavirus. This is a condition that causes inflammation in parts of the body, such as the heart and lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, or gastrointestinal organs. Although it is not clear why MIS-C occurs, children who are diagnosed often have COVID-19 or were around COVID-19 patients. Live Science reported that several cases of MIS were also reported in adults.The inflammatory syndrome was first identified in April 2021 in the United Kingdom. It was then that doctors noticed an increase in children coming in with severe symptoms. These symptoms resembled Kawasaki disease, which is a rare childhood condition that causes inflammation of blood vessels and can cause heart damage. Many of these symptoms overlap with toxic shock syndrome, which is a life-threatening disease caused by bacteria-toxins.The following are things parents should be aware of:Persistent fever lasts more than 24 hours, and can be present for several days.You may notice that your child is tired and unwell.Boston Children's Hospital lists signs that a child is losing appetite or not getting enough fluids.Other symptoms include rash and inflamed mucous Membranes (such as the eyes and mouth), and gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.The New York Times reported that these symptoms are not mild and parents will notice them. According to Dr. George Oforia-Amanfo of Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital, New York, the abdominal pain is more than a slight discomfort. It can be severe enough to cause concern. According to the Times, the rashes are usually red and cover a large surface. They can also appear on the chest and hands and turn white when you press down on them.Call your pediatrician if your child experiences a persistent fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 Celsius).The Times reported that supportive care can be used to treat the symptoms. This includes steroids for inflammation, fever reduction and other medications. Live Science reported that intravenous immunoglobulin may be used to treat children with an anti-inflammatory treatment. It is a combination of several antibodies and can also be administered intravenously.According to the CDC, as of June 28, 2021 there had been 4,196 cases of MIS–C in the United States and 37 deaths.Delta variant symptomsAccording to UC Davis, the delta variant of coronavirus has quickly overtaken all other varieties and causes the same symptoms. Live Science previously reported that the virus appears to be more rapid in replicating in the nose and upper airways and may cause symptoms sooner than others. This rapid replication may be why delta is half as transmissible as the alpha variant, which was first discovered in the United Kingdom. It also makes it twice as infectious than the earlier versions of SARS–CoV-2.The ZOE COVID study in the U.K., which is self-reported and opt-in, tracks symptoms. The five most common symptoms that unvaccinated individuals in the U.K. reported were headache, fever, runny nose and persistent cough. The top 5 symptoms are not as common as loss of smell or shortness of breath.It's not clear if the changes are due to differences in the symptoms caused by different viruses. These changes could also be a result of fewer people being vaccinated, meaning that younger people are more susceptible to mild disease. The public health advice remains the same: COVID-19 may present as mild head colds or severe respiratory infections. Any respiratory symptoms should prompt a test.Breakthrough COVID-19 symptomsAlthough there are many estimates on the number of symptomatic breakthroughs after vaccination, COVID-19 vaccines are more than 90% effective against hospitalization. A majority of people who have a post-vaccination breakout infection will feel mildly ill, with symptoms similar to a common cold. ZOE COVID Study found that headaches, runny noses, sore throats, sneezing, and loss of smell were the most common symptoms. This is because delta is the predominant antibiotic in the U.K.Original publication on Live ScienceEditor's Note: This article has been updated to include information about common COVID-19 symptoms and other types of infections.
