I am a doctor with definite signs that you have already had COVID

With much of the media coverage on COVID-19 being dominated by acute symptoms and immediate concern about death, it is important to remember that many patients survive the first few weeks. According to WHO (World Health Organization), this week, nearly 100 million cases of COVID-19 were reported worldwide, and of those estimated 2 million people have died. As much as this is a reason for concern and to keep the necessary restrictions in place, it also proves that almost 98 million people have recovered. Countless other people may have had COVID-19 without getting tested or showing symptoms. It doesn’t matter if you’ve had a confirmed positive test or not, these are the symptoms most likely to show up if you have COVID-19. Read on – and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss them Sure Signs That You Have Had Coronavirus.

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of the acute phase of COVID-19, but it is also one of the most common long-term symptoms. While research is still ongoing, for many “long haul” (those who have been infected with COVID-19 and experience long-term symptoms), many report severe fatigue that interferes with their daily lives. This can prevent people from returning to their normal activities. Treatment options are limited at this point, with limited data on how long these symptoms last.

Many patients have found that COVID-19 has caused severe shortness of breath. Many patients develop this symptom early in their infection. Usually associated with acute cough, it is one of the main symptoms that causes patients to go to the emergency room soon after symptoms appear. Even as patients recover from acute COVID-19 infection, shortness of breath continues to be a major symptom. According to a study on The Lancet, about 25% of patients experience shortness of breath that reduces their ability to walk normal distances. Although this study looked at patients who have been confirmed to have COVID-19, it is very likely that patients with similar shortness of breath or new exertion intolerance also had COVID-19.

For many “long haul” COVID-19s, confusion or “brain fog” is a common symptom. According to a study outside of Chicago, 40% of patients with COVID-19 may have neurological symptoms. Although there are serious symptoms such as encephalitis (inflammation and direct infection of brain tissue) or stroke, most patients have experienced confusion and general decrease in cognition. Even in patients who have recovered from the acute phase of COVID-19 infection, confusion or marked inattention may persist. Thought to be due to the inflammation that occurs with the COVID-19 virus, the duration of this confusion is still unknown.

COVID-19 was very different from most viruses in that loss of taste and smell was one of the most common and specific symptoms. Many patients experienced these symptoms before the rest of the symptoms of COVID-19 appeared. The worrying reality is that many patients report persistent symptoms months after their initial recovery. Scientists think the loss of taste is due to damage to cells that help process odors in the upper nasal passage. This is a positive finding because it means that the sense of taste can return. Initially, it was thought that the loss of smell was due to direct damage to the neurons that transmit the smell to the brain. If these cells had been damaged, the loss of smell and taste could have been more permanent.

Living through a pandemic can cause anxiety or depression in anyone. With the constant barrage of negative news, as well as stay-at-home orders in many municipalities, there is clear concern that there is a spike in mental health issues. What is more concerning is that there is now preliminary evidence to suggest that COVID-19 actually causes inflammation in the brain which can precipitate anxiety and depression. It doesn’t matter whether they are caused by COVID-19 or whether life is completely affected by the pandemic, mental health issues should not be ignored. If you or a loved one has any of these symptoms, please call your primary care physician or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255.

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As more people are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the symptoms that persist will be better understood. Certain symptoms are more likely to be present with a COVID-19 infection, even for people who may not have a confirmed COVID-19 test result. With the advent of vaccines, we hope that the list of symptoms that persist will decrease as more and more individuals become immune to the COVID-19 infection.

In the meantime, follow Fauci’s fundamentals and help end this pandemic. facial mask, social distancing, avoid large crowds, do not go indoors with people you are not immune to (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, get vaccinated soon available to you, and to protect your life and the lives of others, do not visit any of these 35 places where you’re most likely to catch COVID.