Editor's note: For the latest updates on the 2021 coronavirus outbreak, see our news coverage.What Is COVID-19?
A coronavirus is a kind of common virus that causes an infection in your nose, sinuses, or upper throat. Most coronaviruses aren't dangerous.
In early 2020, after a December 2019 outbreak in China, the World Health Organization identified SARS-CoV-dua as a new type of coronavirus. The outbreak quickly spread around the world.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that can trigger what doctors call a respiratory tract infection. It can affect your upper respiratory tract (sinuses, nose, and throat) or lower respiratory tract (windpipe and lungs).
It spreads the same way other coronaviruses do, mainly through person-to-person contact. Infections range from mild to deadly.
SARS-CoV-2 is one of seven types of coronavirus, including the ones that cause severe diseases like Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The other coronaviruses cause most of the colds that affect us during the year but aren't a serious threat for otherwise healthy people.
Is there more than one strain of SARS-CoV-dua?
An early Chinese study of 103 COVID-19 cases found two strains, which they named L and S. The S type is older, but the L type was more common in early stages of the outbreak. They think one may cause more cases of the disease than the other, but they're still working on what it all means.
It is also normal for a virus to change, or mutate, as it infects people and this virus has done so. There are several variants that are now spreading, some proving to be more contagious as well as more deadly than the original virus.
Throughout the pandemic, scientists have kept a close eye on variants like:AlphaBetaGammaDeltaOmicronLambdaMu
How long will the coronavirus last?
There's no way to tell how long the pandemic will continue. There are many factors, including the public's efforts to slow the spread, researchers' work to learn more about the virus, their search for a treatment, and the success of the vaccines.Symptoms of COVID-19
The main symptoms include:Fever CoughingShortness of breathTrouble breathingFatigueChills, sometimes with shakingBody achesHeadacheSore throatCongestion/runny noseLoss of smell or tasteNauseaDiarrhea
The virus can lead to pneumonia, respiratory failure, heart problems, liver problems, septic shock, and death. Many COVID-19 complications may be caused by a condition known as cytokine release syndrome or a cytokine storm. This is when an infection triggers your immune system to flood your bloodstream with inflammatory proteins called cytokines. They can kill tissue and damage your organs. In some cases, lung transplants have been needed.
If you notice the following severe symptoms in yourself or a loved one, get medical help right away:Trouble breathing or shortness of breathOngoing chest pain or pressureConfusionCan't wake up fullyBluish lips or face
Strokes have also been reported in some people who have COVID-19. Remember FAST:Face. Is one side of the person's face numb or drooping? Is their smile lopsided?Arms. Is one arm weak or numb? If they try to raise both arms, does one arm sag?Speech. Can they speak clearly? Ask them to repeat a sentence.Time. Every minute counts when someone shows signs of a stroke. Call 911 right away.
If you're infected, symptoms can show up in as few as dua days or as many as 14. It varies from person to person.
According to researchers in China, these were the most common symptoms among people who had COVID-19:Fever 99%Fatigue 70%Cough 59%Lack of appetite 40%Body aches 35%Shortness of breath 31%Mucus/phlegm 27%
Some people who are hospitalized for COVID-19 also have dangerous blood clots, including in their legs, lungs, and arteries.
What to do if you think you have it
If you live in or have traveled to an area where COVID-19 is spreading:If you don't feel well, stay home. Even if you have mild symptoms like a headache and runny nose, stay in until you're better. This lets doctors focus on people who are more seriously ill and protects health care workers and people you might meet along the way. You might hear this called self-quarantine. Try to stay in a separate room away from other people in your home. Use a separate bathroom if you can.Call the doctor if you have trouble breathing. You need to get medical help as soon as possible. Calling ahead (rather than showing up) will let the doctor direct you to the proper place, which may not be your doctor's office. If you don't have a regular doctor, call your local board of health. They can tell you where to go for testing and treatment.Follow your doctor's advice and keep up with the news on COVID-19. Between your doctor and health care authorities, you'll get the care you need and information on how to prevent the virus from spreading.
For more information about COVID-19, see our FAQ.
How do I know if it's COVID-19, a cold, or the flu?
Symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to a bad cold or the flu. Your doctor will suspect COVID-19 if:You have a fever and a cough.You have been exposed to people who have it within the last 14 days.
(can range from moderate to severe)
High (100-102 F), Can last 3-4 days
Can HappenPink EyeCan HappenCan HappenCan HappenCan Happen
Has been reportedShortness of BreathRareRareRare, except for those with allergic asthmaIn more serious infectionsChest PainRareIn more serious infectionsRareIn more serious infections
Is COVID-19 worse than the flu?
Unlike the flu, a lot of people aren't immune to the coronavirus because it's so new. If you do catch it, the virus triggers your body to make things called antibodies. Researchers are looking at whether the antibodies give you protection against catching it again.
The coronavirus also appears to cause higher rates of severe illness and death than the flu. But the symptoms themselves can vary widely from person to person.
Is COVID-19 seasonal like the flu?
While scientists hoped initially that higher temperatures and humidity levels might help slow the spread of the coronavirus, that was not the case. Experts advise caution and say thorough public health efforts have more influence than weather on the spread. Also, past flu pandemics have happened year-round.Causes of the New Coronavirus
Researchers aren't sure what caused it, and investigations as to its origin are ongoing. There's more than one type of coronavirus. They're common in people and in animals including bats, camels, cats, and cattle. SARS-CoV-dua, the virus that causes COVID-19, is similar to MERS and SARS. They all came from bats.Coronavirus Risk Factors
Anyone can get COVID-19, and most infections are mild. The older you are, the higher your risk of severe illness.
You also a have higher chance of serious illness if you have one of these health conditions:Chronic kidney diseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)A weakened immune system because of an organ transplantObesitySerious heart conditions such as heart failure or coronary artery diseaseSickle cell diseaseType dua diabetes
Conditions that could lead to severe COVID-19 illness include:Moderate to severe asthmaDiseases that affect your blood vessels and blood flow to your brainCystic fibrosisHigh blood pressureA weakened immune system because of a blood or bone marrow transplant, HIV, or medications like corticosteroidsDementiaLiver diseasePregnancyDamaged or scarred lung tissue (pulmonary fibrosis)SmokingThalassemiaType 1 diabetesDepressionAnxietySchizophrenia
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