It can be nerve-wracking to know there’s a new kind of bug going around, and we’re not exactly sure how it’s spread. Every sneeze, tickle in the throat, or muscle ache can make you wonder, “Do I have coronavirus?”
The medical teams at Regional Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Center with offices in Kingsport and Johnson City, Tennessee; and Abingdon, Virginia, are committed to serving the local community. We’ve prepared this brief on COVID-19 using information from the latest authoritative sources, to help you discern your symptoms and understand what is and is not a cause for alarm.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), while not all people will present in exactly the same way, there are a few key symptoms that appear in most patients infected with the coronavirus.
Some patients may cough up phlegm; experience headaches, muscle, and/or joint pain; have nasal or eye congestion, or suffer from nausea or diarrhea. However, if you have one or more of these symptoms but not the top symptoms of COVID-19, you may simply have seasonal allergies, a cold, or the flu.
Seasonal allergies usually present with one or more of the following allergy symptoms:
If you have severe allergies or asthma, you could also experience headaches, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Already having respiratory issues can make COVID-19 more dangerous to you, so practice good hygiene and try to avoid exposure.
If you have a common cold, you may be experiencing one or more of these cold symptoms:
If your fever climbs, or if you start having shortness of breath, your cold may have developed into something more serious. You could have also been exposed to COVID-19, but you should only be worried if you are in a high-risk category (advanced in age, with existing respiratory problems, or with a compromised immune system.)
The flu is the main illness that can present with symptoms the most similar to top COVID-19 symptoms. Flu symptoms include:
The big COVID-19 symptom missing from the flu symptom list is a dry cough. However, it is possible to have one or the other and have different symptoms than the most common ones.
The CDC has the following instructions if you think you may have COVID-19:
Call your doctor if you develop the following symptoms:
AND
Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, and tell them about your symptoms and any recent travel or contact with travelers or people with confirmed cases. You don’t want to expose others unnecessarily.
Led by leading world physicians, Shailee Madhok, MD, and W. Jan Kazmier, MD, the Regional Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Center has been providing expert care for patients suffering from allergies, asthma, and immune-related disorders. The entire team at Regional Allergy Asthma & Immunology Center is here for you during this challenging time. Give us a call at the office most conveniently located to you, or book an appointment online today.
