Coronavirus history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sabawoon Mirwais, M.B.B.S, M.D.[2]

The history of coronavirus infection includes exposure to an infected animal or human. Patients report flu like symptoms in the initial stages. Infected people can also report upper respiratory symptoms. Common symptoms of coronavirus infection include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The incubation period can vary depending on the infection. The mean incubation period for SARS-CoV-2 has been set to be 5.2 days.

• The history of coronavirus infection includes exposure to an infected animal or human.
• Patients report flu like symptoms in the initial stages.
• Infected people can also report upper respiratory symptoms.
• The most important part of taking history is establishing patient exposure to the source of the infection.

Common symptoms of coronavirus infection include:

• Fever^[1]
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Body aches^[2]

• Diarrhea^[2][3]
• Hemoptysis^[2]
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache^[4]
• Feeling of discomfort
• Confusion^[5]
• Sore throat
• Rhinorrhea
• Chest pain

• The incubation period can vary depending on the infection.
• The incubation periods for coronavirus infections are given below:

• The symptoms (cough) of SARS start to appear after 2 – 7 days.^[6]
• The incubation period ranges from 12 to 18 days.^[7]

• The symptoms of MERS start to appear approximately 5 or 6 days after exposure to the source of infection.^[8]
• The incubation period can range from 2 – 14 days.

• The mean incubation period of COVID-19 has been set to be 5.2 days.^[9]

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