COVID-19 is an illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a type of coronavirus. This respiratory illness can manifest with a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms, ranging from very mild to severe illness. Understanding these common and typical symptoms is helpful for individuals to recognize potential infection.
Recognizing the Main Symptoms
A fever or chills often mark the onset of COVID-19, with a high temperature generally defined as feeling hot to the touch on the chest or back. A new, continuous cough is another frequent sign, characterized by coughing a lot for over an hour or three or more coughing episodes within 24 hours. Fatigue is a widely reported symptom that can range in severity.
Muscle or body aches, along with headaches, are also common complaints among those infected. Many individuals experience a sore throat, congestion, or a runny nose. Digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea can occur. A distinctive symptom for many COVID-19 patients has been a new loss or change to their sense of smell or taste.
Symptom Progression and Variation
Symptoms of COVID-19 typically appear between 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus, though this can vary. The illness often begins with mild symptoms, and for some, these may progress to more severe manifestations. While many people recover within a few weeks, some individuals may experience symptoms that linger.
The severity and specific presentation of symptoms can vary considerably from person to person. Factors like vaccination status and the specific variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can influence how symptoms manifest.
COVID-19 vs. Other Respiratory Illnesses
Distinguishing COVID-19 from other common respiratory illnesses like the flu or the common cold can be challenging due to overlapping symptoms. Many symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat, and congestion, are shared across these conditions. The presence of muscle aches and fatigue is also common to both COVID-19 and the flu.
However, the loss of taste or smell is a more characteristic symptom of COVID-19, though it is not always present. While both the flu and COVID-19 can lead to shortness of breath, this symptom may be more frequently associated with severe COVID-19. Due to these similarities, a definitive diagnosis often requires specific testing to identify the causative virus.