COVID-19 fend for coronavirus disease 2019 . Here ’s what to experience about transmittal , treatment , and prevention in 2024 .
In 2019 , COVID-19 began generating newspaper headline worldwide because of its unprecedented transmission speed .
Its origins can be delineate back to a food market place in Wuhan , China , in December 2019 . From there , it make nation as remote as the United States and the Philippines .
Five long time since , the coronavirus ( officially key out SARS - CoV-2 ) contagion has direct to more than7 million deaths , of which more than 1 million occur in the United States .
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What are the symptoms?
COVID-19 may not make any symptom for some multitude . A December 2020 literature review estimated that17%of people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic . This means they have no symptoms at all .
Among those who do have symptoms , symptoms may appear2 to 14 daysafter exposure .
Somecommon symptomslinked to COVID-19 include :
Less common symptomsinclude :
However , individual with COVID-19 may have some , all , or none of the above symptoms .
Mild vs. severe COVID-19
The most common symptom of COVID-19 is pyrexia . However , a 2020 study involving 213 participants with soft disease get that only11.6%of them had a feverishness .
Most mass with COVID-19 will only have amild case . concord to theNational Institutes of Health ’s COVID-19 discourse guidelines , people are say to have a balmy fount if they :
That say , balmy cases can still have long - lasting effects . citizenry who go through symptom months after first contracting the computer virus — and after it is no longer detectable — are referred to aslong haulier .
According to a 2021 written report , approximately one - thirdof people with COVID-19 had relentless symptom for as long as 9 month after transmission .
That read , call exigency aesculapian services if you or someone you care for has life-threatening or life threatening symptoms such as difficulty breathing , chest pain , or confusion .
COVID-19 vs. flu
At the pandemic ’s rootage , coronavirus caused more deaths thanthe seasonal flu .
However , a2023 studyby the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) plant that the outcomes for adult hospitalize with COVID-19 are similar to those hospitalized with the grippe .
The only exclusion is COVID-19 patient from ages 18 to 49 years , the pace of last continues to be higher than the pace for the influenza . The influenza and COVID-19 also share many of the samesymptoms .
What causes coronaviruses?
Coronaviruses are zoonotic . This means they first arise in animals before beingtransmittedto humans . For the virus to be transmitted from animals to human , a mortal has to come into stuffy liaison with an animal that has the contagion .
There are45 have it away coronaviruses , of which 8 are sleep with to infect human beings , including COVID-19 . This also include the common cold , which has been in human universe for so long that nowadays , its contagion is more common from one human to another .
Once the disease develops in people , the transmission of coronaviruses can occur from one somebody to another through respiratory droplets . This is a proficient name for the smashed stuff that prompt through the line when you exhale , cough , sternutation , or blab .
The virus advert out in these droplets . When you catch one’s breath , they get into your respiratory tract ( trachea and lungs ) , where the computer virus can then cause an infection .
SARS - CoV-2can also shape aerosolsor dissolve into a o.k. spraying of particles and moisture and persist suspended in the strain for bit to hours .
Where did COVID-19 come from?
Researchers ca n’t definitively link COVID-19 to a causal agency even after five years of its emersion . It ’s wide believed the transmission likely occurred in the open food for thought market place in Wuhan , China , although there are still theory about the computer virus develop in the research lab .
In a 2024 report card by the Global Catastrophic Risk Institute,77%of survey expert believed the virus came from an animal of course .
However , one out of five experts also believe there was a 21 % probability that COVID-19 leave from a “ enquiry - related chance event . ”
Who’s at an increased risk?
You ’re at high risk for foreshorten SARS - CoV-2 if you come in in contact with someone carrying the computer virus , especially if you get queer to their saliva or if you were near them when they coughed , sneezed , or talked .
Without taking right preventative measures , you ’re also at high risk if you :
one-time adults(ages 65 year and honest-to-goodness ) , and the great unwashed with sure wellness conditions havea higher chanceof developing stern complication if they contract the computer virus . These wellness conditions include :
TheCDCalso reports thatpregnant peopleare more likely to experience severe COVID-19 illness than nonpregnant multitude .
Transmission of coronavirus to the foetus during gestation is n’t potential , but the new-sprung cancontract the computer virus after birth .
However , according to a2021 cogitation , the antibodies in women who receive vaccination were found in cord rakehell , meaning the antibody are transferred to the baby , and they also can be constitute in breast milk .
How are coronavirus infections diagnosed?
Thediagnosis of COVID-19can be similar to other conditions that viruses cause using a pedigree , saliva , or weave sampling .
However , most testsuse a cotton swab to retrieve a sample from the interior of your nostril .
Locations that direct test include :
see the internet site of your state ’s health department or theU.S. Department of Health & Human Servicesto find examination centers near you .
At-home tests
At - home over - the - counter COVID-19 tests are available to test whether you currently have an active contagion .
TheFood and DrugAdministration ( FDA)has authorize these trial . you’re able to buy them online and at most pharmacy and try out them at home without a prescription drug . If you get a negatively charged upshot , you may take a retest just in case of a fictive negative issue .
Since it ’s rough-cut to salt away these test at dwelling nowadays , it ’s important that you contain the expiration date before examination .
What treatments are available?
There ’s presently no cure for COVID-19 . Over the twelvemonth , the FDA approve and deauthorized various treatments , such asmonoclonal antibody medications , for example .
On November 30 , 2022 , theFood and Drug Administration ( FDA)deauthorized bebtelovimab for emergency usance in the United States . This was the last monoclonal antibody drug empower by the FDA to treat COVID-19 . The FDA made this conclusion because they did not expect it to counterbalance new Omicron subvariants . These days , monoclonal antibody drug are n’t as potential to be in effect against newer edition and subvariants of the computer virus .
The most current , approved medicament for COVID-19 , concord to theCDC , are antiviral medications . These are :
depend on your symptom and their rigourousness , if you are hospitalized for COVID-19 , youmay alsoget handling , which include :
What are the possible complications from COVID-19?
The rate of death from COVID-19 hasdecreased significantlyin recent age . These days , more than80%of all COVID-19 transmission are balmy , and many mass have had the computer virus more than once .
That said , the most serious complication of COVID-19 is still a gradual or abrupt declension in health , result in sharp respiratory nonstarter andacute respiratory distress syndrome ( ARDS ) , or multiple organ failure that finally leads to decease .
One study report that adult respiratory distress syndrome occurred in up to32.2%of case , while other studies mentioned ARDS only happening in3.6%of affected role . That said , according to another 2023 study involve 4,700 patient who experience organ loser due to the virus,5.8%or 272 patient go as a solvent .
The most common type of Hammond organ nonstarter was respiratory organization dysfunction , followed by problems with the center , the key nervous system , the GI system , and the kidneys .
Otherpossible complicationsinclude :
How can you prevent coronaviruses?
The best room toprevent the contagion of coronavirusesis to avoid or limit contact with multitude who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or any respiratory infection .
The next well thing you’re able to do is practice estimable hygienics and strong-arm distancing to help prevent bacterium and viruses from being beam .
Prevention tips
While keeping a distance and wear thin a mask are no longer take , they are stillrecommendedfor optimal bar .
If you choose to wear a masquerade , dampen it after each use . Avoid impact the front of it with your hands . Also , test to invalidate extend to your mouth , nozzle , and eyes when you remove it . This help prevent you from perhaps transplant the computer virus from a mask to your hands and from your hired hand to your face .
Certain people should not weary face masks , include :
Vaccines
On December 11 , 2020 , theFDAgranted its first EUA for a vaccinum . Since then , new versions and booster shots , have been developed .
Thevaccines available currentlyare manufacture by Pfizer - BioNTech , Moderna , and Novavax . Healthcare professionals highly recommend them to protect you against life-threatening illness from the virus .
The CDC advises that everyoneabove 5 years of ageget at least one dosage . Younger children , old adult ( 65 years and elder ) , and people with compromised resistant system or sure underlying medical consideration may need more than one sexually transmitted disease for optimum effectualness . This also includes a booster shot shot when an update version is released .
get a line more : Who ’s eligible for a COVID-19 booster ?
Frequently asked questions
Can I go out if I have COVID-19?
CDC advisesyou to last out at habitation if you test electropositive for any respiratory virus , including COVID-19 , and avoid liaison with others for at least 24 hours after your symptoms have reduce and you no longer have a pyrexia ( without the use of medicament ) .
How long can you transmit COVID-19, if you contract it?
If you have COVID-19 , you could impart the virus to other mass before and after showing symptoms . This happen within 1 to 2 day before symptoms come out and in the first8 to 10 days after . Even if you do n’t have symptoms but test positive , you’re able to still air the virus to others .
How long does COVID last?
Typically , symptom will come out within 5 to 6 day of exposure and can endure between1 and 14 Clarence Day . Those who develop recollective covidmay experiencelong - term symptoms for weeks , month , and sometimes class .
Takeaway
COVID-19 , induce by the virus SARS - CoV-2 , is a highly transmissible respiratory unwellness . Though it can cast from meek to severe , most people experience balmy symptom and recover without complication .
While there is no known therapeutic for COVID-19 , treatments are available to help reduce symptoms and support breathing . Vaccines have helped to reduce the rigour of illness for many people .
However , some people , include but not limited to untried children , older adult , and people with compromised resistant systems , can still develop severe malady . For this ground , it ’s important to keep your length from people while you have coronavirus infection , even if you do n’t have symptoms .
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