
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
COVID-19 history and symptoms
Introduction
For COVID-19 frequently asked inpatient questions, click here
For COVID-19 frequently asked outpatient questions, click here
Overview
Overview
History of patients infected with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can include international travel to where COVID-19 is highly prevalent. The most common symptoms that can appear 2 – 14 days after exposure include fever, cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
The Cochrane Collaboration has reviewed both the History and Symptoms | Physical Examination[1].
History
History
- History of patients infected with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can include international travel to where COVID-19 is highly prevalent.
- In the wake of recent developments, and the declaration of COVID-19 to be a pandemic, the above-mentioned condition is actively evolving.
- History should also be focused on the possible exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 patient.
- In case of a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, thorough and extensive history regarding the close contacts and recent exposure to other healthy/diseased individuals should be taken. Such measures can help in tracking down potential asymptomatic patients.
- To read about the clinical prediction rules for the diagnosis of COVID-19, click here.
Common Symptoms
Common Symptoms
The following symptoms typically develop within 5 or 6 days but can range from 2 – 14 days after exposure.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Common symptoms of COVID-19 include:
Less Common Symptoms
Less Common Symptoms
Less common symptoms of COVID-19 include:[10][8][11][12]
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Diminished or lack of sense of smell
- Conjunctivitis
- Loss of taste sensation
- Skin rash
- Discolouration of fingers and toes
References
References
- ↑ Struyf T, Deeks JJ, Dinnes J, Takwoingi Y, Davenport C, Leeflang MM; et al. (2021). “Signs and symptoms to determine if a patient presenting in primary care or hospital outpatient settings has COVID-19”. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2: CD013665. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013665.pub2. PMID 33620086 Check
|pmid=value (help). - ↑ “Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)”.
- ↑ “COVID-19 Symptoms”.
- ↑ Yang, Yongshi; Peng, Fujun; Wang, Runsheng; Guan, Kai; Jiang, Taijiao; Xu, Guogang; Sun, Jinlyu; Chang, Christopher (2020). “The deadly coronaviruses: The 2003 SARS pandemic and the 2020 novel coronavirus epidemic in China”. Journal of Autoimmunity: 102434. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2020.102434. ISSN 0896-8411.
- ↑ Wang D, Hu B, Hu C, Zhu F, Liu X, Zhang J, Wang B, Xiang H, Cheng Z, Xiong Y, Zhao Y, Li Y, Wang X, Peng Z (February 2020). “Clinical Characteristics of 138 Hospitalized Patients With 2019 Novel Coronavirus-Infected Pneumonia in Wuhan, China”. JAMA. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.1585. PMID 32031570 Check
|pmid=value (help). - ↑ Velavan, Thirumalaisamy P.; Meyer, Christian G. (2020). “The COVID‐19 epidemic”. Tropical Medicine & International Health. 25 (3): 278–280. doi:10.1111/tmi.13383. ISSN 1360-2276.
- ↑ Krajewska J, Krajewski W, Zub K, Zatoński T (April 2020). “COVID-19 in otolaryngologist practice: a review of current knowledge”. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. doi:10.1007/s00405-020-05968-y. PMC 7166003 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 32306118 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ 8.0 8.1 Li YC, Bai WZ, Hashikawa T (February 2020). “The neuroinvasive potential of SARS-CoV2 may play a role in the respiratory failure of COVID-19 patients”. J. Med. Virol. doi:10.1002/jmv.25728. PMC 7228394 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 32104915 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ Dehghani Firouzabadi, Mohammad; Dehghani Firouzabadi, Fatemeh; Goudarzi, Sogand; Jahandideh, Hesam; Roomiani, Maryam (2020). “Has the chief complaint of patients with COVID-19 disease changed over time?”. Medical Hypotheses. 144: 109974. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109974. ISSN 0306-9877.
- ↑ Haldrup M, Johansen MI, Fjaeldstad AW (2020). “[Anosmia and ageusia as primary symptoms of COVID-19]”. Ugeskr Laeger. 182 (18). PMID 32400371 Check
|pmid=value (help). - ↑ Dockery DM, Rowe SG, Murphy MA, Krzystolik MG (2020). “The Ocular Manifestations and Transmission of COVID-19: Recommendations for Prevention”. J Emerg Med. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2020.04.060. PMC 7205711 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 32456959 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ Heidari F, Karimi E, Firouzifar M, Khamushian P, Ansari R, Mohammadi Ardehali M; et al. (2020). “Anosmia as a prominent symptom of COVID-19 infection”. Rhinology. 58 (3): 302–303. doi:10.4193/Rhin20.140. PMID 32319971 Check
|pmid=value (help).
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] Syed Hassan A. Kazmi BSc, MD [3]
