Coronavirus Symptoms: What to Look Out For

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Since COVID-19, the coronavirus that broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan in January, the virus has quickly spread around the world, causing panic, shortages on medical and cleaning supplies, and a lot of confusion.

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If you’re worried about the coronavirus or you just want to be prepared, here’s how to know if you have become infected and what to do next.

A sick man checks his temperature
Fever is a common symptom Photo credit Prostock-Studio / Getty Images

Mild Symptoms: Cough, Fever, Fatigue

Like the flu, another coronavirus, COVID-19 can cause symptoms not unlike a bad cold. The vast majority of cases are mild. You may run a fever, and experience a dry cough and fatigue.

Woman in a blanket feels sick
When sick turns to really sick Photo credit RyanKing999 / Getty Images

Severe Symptoms: Shortness of Breath and Diarrhea

While the new coronavirus resembles the common cold, it can lead to more drastic symptoms like trouble breathing or diarrhea. If breathing becomes very difficult or if diarrhea leads to severe dehydration, the illness could cause major damage, especially in elderly folks already vulnerable to other conditions.

A woman lies on a couch with a thermometer and used tissue
Thinking back to infection Photo credit monstArrr_ / Getty Images

When Symptoms Appear

Symptoms won’t appear instantaneously. You may start to feel sick anywhere from 2 to 14 days after infection.

A man holding a bowl of soup and a spoon
Soup cures almost all Photo credit belchonock / Getty Images

Treatment for Mild Symptoms

Unless you have travelled to a high-risk area or interacted with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19, you should stay home. Isolate yourself from the general public, work remotely, and avoid going out except for medical care. As long as your symptoms are mild, they aren’t anything to become too concerned about. Just take care of yourself like you would with any other severe illness — get plenty of fluids, rest and electrolytes.

A female nurse leans over a young patient with a teddy bear
A doctor's office can help get you well Photo credit monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images

Call Your Doctor

The CDC doesn’t recommend that everyone who feels a little sniffly call their doctor. Only patients in certain circumstances should do so to avoid hospital beds clogged with patients who don’t need to be there. The CDC recommends anyone who feels sick who has also recently traveled to a high-risk area or interacted with someone confirmed to have COVID-19 should contact their doctor. A medical professional can help assess your particular situation and direct you to the right place to receive care.

A woman in public puts on a medical face mask
Protecting others with a face mask Photo credit stevanovicigor / Getty Images

Protect Others

Don’t just show up at an emergency room or doctor’s office. Be sure to call ahead so the medical facility can prepare and ensure you don’t infect anyone else. While masks are generally ineffective at protecting healthy people from getting the virus, they can help sick individuals from spreading it, so strap one on.

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