Coronavirus: symptoms, treatment, rehabilitation, prevention

Coronavirus is an acute infectious disease caused by the RNA virus SARS-CoV-2. It can occur in three variants – asymptomatic, mild and severe. Among the complications, viral pneumonia is most often diagnosed, developing into acute respiratory failure.

Today, about 40 types of coronavirus are known, but not all of them are dangerous to humans. The first of them was identified in 1965. Usually, the infection causes symptoms similar to ARVI. Severe forms of the disease are observed in elderly patients, as well as in people with weakened immunity, in the presence of pathologies of internal organs or diabetes mellitus . Today, you can find a lot of materials in official sources that reveal the essence of coronavirus and provide complete statistics on the disease.

Incubation period of COVID-19

The first signs of the disease do not appear immediately after the virus enters the body, but at the end of the incubation period, and for coronavirus it can last from 2 to 27 days. However, on average, this time is no more than 14 days. That is why those who come into contact with already infected patients must observe a two-week quarantine.

Despite the fact that during the incubation period there are no signs of the disease, the person is already a source of infection for others. The duration of the incubation period depends on two factors. The first is the level of the body’s immune defense. The second is the dose of viruses received.

Symptoms and signs of coronavirus

The first symptoms of coronavirus begin to bother a person after the end of the incubation period. This means that the immune system has not defeated the virus, and the disease begins to develop.

The main signs of coronavirus in a mild form of the disease:

runny nose;
aching muscle pain;
weakness and general malaise;
sore throat;
migraine ;
nausea, sometimes vomiting, complete loss of appetite;
gastrointestinal tract dysfunction, which results in diarrhea.

In moderate and severe forms of the disease, there will be complaints about:

increase in temperature;
aching muscle pain;
severe runny nose;
sore throat;
complete loss of taste and smell;
malaise and complete loss of strength;
a severe cough that occurs in attacks.

It is quite difficult to single out the manifestations of coronavirus by day. The fact is that each person has their own scenario of the disease. Therefore, there simply cannot be two similar cases. Age, the presence of chronic diseases, the correctness of treatment and the speed of contacting a doctor play a large role here .

It is worth dwelling on the main symptoms of COVID-19 in more detail. It is difficult to say exactly how long coronavirus lasts. For some, it goes away in a week without developing any complications. In other people, symptoms can persist for up to a month, and intensive care patients can be treated even longer.

Runny nose

Coronavirus in adults and children usually begins with a runny nose. Nasal congestion is often called the first symptom of the disease. However, on the third or fourth day, in most cases, this symptom completely disappears.

Weakness and general malaise

Patients complain not just of weakness, which occurs with ARVI, but the inability to perform routine activities even in everyday life. Moving around the house, routine activities are given with great difficulty. The only thing a person wants at this time is to constantly stay in bed.

Even after prolonged rest and sleep, these symptoms do not go away and can persist until the end of the disease, until recovery occurs. Also, such manifestations can be present after the end of the disease for several months. This condition is called post-covid syndrome.

Headache

This symptom often appears together with the absence of taste and smell. Headache may remain throughout the entire period of the disease, and later dizziness may be added to this symptom. This indicates that the patient drinks too little liquid and has become dehydrated.

Sore throat

Coronavirus in children usually occurs either without symptoms or with mild manifestations of ARVI. One of them is a sore throat and redness. This symptom can easily be confused with a common sore throat, but according to research, it turned out that the maximum concentration of the virus on the mucous membrane occurs on the first day of this symptom. Therefore, the risk of infecting others in the first few days is especially high.

Myalgia

Coronavirus infection often manifests itself with such a symptom as muscle pain. According to the latest data, this manifestation of the disease was expressed in 55% of all patients who had recovered from COVID-19. Muscle pain mainly affects the limbs, as well as the back and neck area. Moreover, the symptom is characteristic of both mild and severe severity.

Gastrointestinal tract damage

In 5% of all patients, the primary symptom of the disease is indigestion with severe diarrhea. Moreover, this manifestation occurs in both children and adults. If diarrhea does not go away on its own within a few days, you should consult a doctor and monitor your general condition, which will help prevent dehydration that is dangerous for a person.

Also, with a mild course of covid, there may be complaints of nausea, and sometimes vomiting, a feeling of discomfort in the abdomen. This leads to loss of appetite and weight loss.

Loss of smell and taste

Anosmia (loss of smell) is one of the most common symptoms of coronavirus. It begins suddenly and can occur without signs of a runny nose or nasal congestion. Impaired taste perception also occurs suddenly. At the same time, familiar food begins to acquire an unpleasant taste. Both symptoms disappear within a month in 40% of patients and completely disappear 2-3 months after recovery. Even if you have only these symptoms and no others, it is recommended to adhere to self-isolation rules so as not to infect others.

Body temperature

The temperature does not always reach critical values with coronavirus. In most cases, it rarely rises to 38 degrees. On average, such figures remain for up to three days, after which, against the background of a general improvement in the condition, they begin to decrease. If the temperature does not drop for 5 days and is poorly reduced by antipyretic drugs, you must definitely consult a doctor.

Dry cough

With covid, breathing problems always begin with a dry cough and a small amount of sputum. Gradually, without treatment, the cough may intensify, which indicates the development of bronchitis, bronchopneumonia or viral pneumonia. Against the background of lung damage, respiratory failure occurs, which can only be stopped in intensive care.

Diagnosis of coronavirus

Today, several strains of coronavirus are known, but they produce the same symptoms, so it is possible to determine which one has developed in a person only with the help of proper diagnostics. Most often, the patient is prescribed:

clinical blood test ;
general urine analysis;
biochemical blood test ;
immunofluorescence reaction to antigens;
enzyme immunoassay;
PCR diagnostics;
growing the virus on cultures;
X-ray examination ;
computed tomography .

Coronavirus diagnostics are performed not only on people with existing symptoms of the disease, but also on those who have been in contact with them. A coronavirus test is usually taken at the nearest clinic, and the results can be obtained within a few hours.

Treatment of coronavirus infection

Today, there is no specific treatment for coronavirus. There is no drug that would directly affect the virus and lead to its destruction. Attempts to use any antiviral drugs will cause more harm to the body than good. Drugs used to treat HIV-infected people have not shown any effectiveness.

In most cases, the patient does not need to take any drugs for coronavirus. Patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 need home regimen, complete rest, long rest, a balanced diet, and plenty of warm drinks.

To prevent overdrying of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, the air in the room should be cooled and humidified.

If necessary, symptomatic therapy can be used: take medications for high temperature, use nasal drops, drugs that reduce nausea and eliminate diarrhea.

In severe cases of the disease, mandatory hospitalization in the intensive care unit or infectious diseases hospital is indicated. Due to the increased risk of blood clots, some patients at risk should start taking antithrombotic drugs, but only as prescribed by a doctor.

Vaccination against coronavirus helps prevent infection, and if it is carried out, the disease will proceed in a mild form. After vaccination, antibodies to coronavirus are produced in 3-4 weeks. Good tolerability, availability, the absence of severe side effects make this type of prevention one of the most popular.

Treatment of complications of coronavirus is carried out according to a special scheme. Most often, the patient develops viral pneumonia against the background of COVID, but there may be other complications in the form of acute respiratory distress syndrome, multisystem inflammatory syndrome, post-COVID syndrome. The risk of complications of diabetes, stroke and heart attack also increases.

Post-Covid rehabilitation

After having had coronavirus, many patients need rehabilitation. The first stage of rehabilitation begins in intensive care after the condition improves. The second stage is carried out in the ward after transfer from intensive care, and the third – in an outpatient setting or in sanatoriums.

It is important for the body to fully recover to eat right, do feasible physical exercises every day, take daily walks, gradually increasing activity. Electrosleep, physiotherapy exercises, sessions with a psychotherapist , massage help improve the mental state . For each person who has had COVID, an individual rehabilitation plan is drawn up, which will allow you to return to your usual way of life in just a few weeks.

Covid prevention

Non-specific preventive measures during the coronavirus pandemic include the following activities:

regular hand washing with soap;
daily disinfection of public areas;
compliance with the self-isolation regime;
maintaining social distance in queues;
washing vegetables and fruits before eating;
wearing a mask in rooms where there are large crowds of people;
frequent ventilation of premises.

Elderly people with chronic diseases are advised to stay at home and have less contact with others. During the epidemic, you should not go to public places, clubs, bars, restaurants, or to any events that involve a large number of people.