This is an informational feature supported by the Pottawatomie County Commission to assist in providing educational information regarding the COVID-19 virus to citizens.
Is it the Coronavirus?
Not every person who tests positive for COVID-19 presents with the same list of symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the following symptoms may appear between 2 and 14 days after exposure to the virus.
· Fever
· Chills
· Cough
· Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
· Fatigue
· Muscle/body aches
· Headache
· New loss of taste/smell
· Sore throat
· Congestion/runny nose
· Nausea/vomiting
· Diarrhea
This is not an all-inclusive list. In addition, many of these symptoms are also present with other health concerns, such as the common cold, the flu, seasonal allergies, and others. How can you tell the difference? In many cases, it may come down to a test, but here are some differences:
· It is rare to find fever or diarrhea associated with a cold or seasonal allergies; both are common with the Flu and COVID-19.
· Although sneezing, runny nose, stuffiness, and headache are all present in colds and allergies, itchy eyes indicate allergies, and a cough indicates a cold. Sneezing and stuffiness are not symptom of Covid.
If you have suffered from a cold or seasonal allergies in the past, you may recognize the signs and symptoms. Many physicians are taking a cautious approach and testing individuals showing any of the above symptoms for COVID-19.