COVID-19 Symptoms Usually Show Up in This Order

In most cases, Covid-19 symptoms include cough and fever and are similar to the seasonal flu. During winter months, flu is in full swing, so how can we tell if fever is a symptom of Covid-19 or the flu. Luckily, a new study has shed light on how Covid-19 symptoms appear.

This can help people figure out whether their cough is just a caught or something else. Scientists from the University of Southern California were able to determine that coronavirus symptoms appear in a particular order. Once knowing this information, people will seek treatments sooner, which can improve their outcome.

Chinese data was used

To predict the order of appearance, scientists used information collected in China. They analyzed over 55,000 confirmed cases of covid-19. They also researched nearly 1,100 cases collected between December 2019 and January 2020.

To exclude covid-19 symptoms from regular influence, the researchers analyzed more than 2,000 flu cases in Southern Hemisphere, Europe, and North America reported between 1994 and 1998. Therefore, many doctors agreed that the order of symptoms matter.

Covid-19 timeline

Based on the findings, this is the order of symptoms that people with coronavirus can experience:

• Fever
• Muscle pain or cough
• Vomiting or nausea
• Diarrhea

The research found that patients who are diagnosed with seasonal flu tend to develop caught before the fever. However, in reality, it might be challenging to set apart these symptoms because flu is often followed by chills, back pain, along with a dry cough.

Based on the study, coronavirus starts with a fever while influence with a cough. That’s why many medical facilities first check your fever before allowing you the access.

Additional symptoms

In general, while fever is the most common symptom, patients can face various health challenges. In fact, some people may lose the sense of smell or taste while feeling well. Others had skin irritation without respiratory symptoms, cough, or fever.

Also, some patients had dizziness, headache, or malaise, which in some way are similar to symptoms of a stroke, but without respiratory symptoms, cough, or fever, while others only experienced chest pain but no respiratory infection.

As you can see, symptoms vary and mostly depend on individual cases. Therefore, healthcare professionals need to be vigilant and keep an open mind when evaluating the disease’s cases or symptoms.

Understand the progression of symptoms

It’s crucial to understand the progression of disease in order to prevent the spread of covid-19. In milder cases, this involves isolation and social distancing. However, these precaution measures are relevant, considering that coronavirus transmits up to three times faster than influence, leading to an outbreak.

Moreover, identifying the first symptoms can help patients seek help faster and test more rapidly. It’s also imperative to wear a mask and maintain proper hygiene upon learning of symptoms. Many doctors indicate that the sudden loss of smell and taste, as well as inflammatory skin reactions, can be crucial to separate coronavirus from seasonal flu. If you notice any of these symptoms, don’t try to apply treatments independently; consult a healthcare provider immediately.