By now, you’re probably pretty clued up on the first signs of coronavirus (fever! Coughing! Shortness of breath!). But considering these symptoms can also be early indicators of the common cold or flu, the only way to know for sure is to take a test.
Frustrating? You bet (especially since having a swab stuck up your nose isn’t all that pleasant.) But new evidence suggests there’s a certain order in which COVID-19 symptoms manifest, making it way easier to tell if you’re *actually* infected or not.
Researchers from the University of South California (USC) looked at data from more than 55,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus across China. They found that most patients initially presented with a fever, followed by a cough, nausea and/or vomiting and diarrhoea.
When they expanded their analysis to include additional symptoms, the order still looked similar:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat, muscle pain, or headache
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
In other respiratory illnesses (e.g. the flu), the first symptom you’ll usually come down with is a cough. In addition, you may develop body aches, a headache and a sore throat too. Albeit subtle, these differences are important to note, as the coronavirus is two to three times more contagious than influenza.
“This order is especially important to know when we have overlapping cycles of illnesses like the flu that coincide with infections of COVID-19,” Peter Kuhn, a USC professor of medicine, biomedical engineering, and aerospace and mechanical engineering said in the report which was published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health.
“Doctors can determine what steps to take to care for the patient, and they may prevent the patient’s condition from worsening.”
This order was consistent in both mild and serious cases. Although it’s important to note that not everyone will experience every symptoms listed above (in fact, almost 42 per cent of those infected are asymptomatic.)
“It’s not going to be universal,” Dr William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine weighed in. “We know, for starters, that a number of people don’t have a fever.”
Image source: Getty
It honestly sounds horrible! I hope everyone is staying safe <3
Also important to remember that even if you dont have all the symptoms you should still be tested if you have one or more of the symptoms even if you dont feel very ill.
Hang on: if you are not sick i.e. do not have any symptoms of being ill at all….you “could” be “infected” by a “virus” that is not isolated at all in the lab as such (only rna piece after changing it in the lab tests? trough some processes) and by this “rule” you “are sick” (even though you are not sick at all), but only can be tested by a pcr test that person who invented this test has stated that test should be not used for infectious diseases as it can not be accurate at all…confused here.
Interesting, I read something similar the other day. Keep well everyone.
Thank You BH for the Informative Article on COVID-19 something I watch for symptoms all the time.
We all need to be aware of symptoms and wear Masks when out and about.
It’s scary isn’t it. I know of someone who was asymptomatic. Keep safe everyone.
Stay safe everyone, social distance and clean hands!!
great to know “fever’ is the first sign. My husband got tested today so I am stuck at home till he gets the results, which I am sure will be -ve.
We both had flu shots.
Good to know.
Mmm. Yes it is concerning that people can be infectious and have no symptoms. Please just follow the current directives.
This sounds awful
Great to read and be so well informed
We all need to stay aware. I feel some large shops need to still show this is still happening. People seem to forget in shop checkouts and try to jump in.
The testing numbers seem so high, but it’s easy to see how it’s so much better to err on the side of caution. These symptoms are shared by so many other viral infections. When in doubt, test. I’d be really curious to know the stats on the number of people tested who were completely and utterly stunned by their positive result to COVID-19.
Good to know!!
Thank you for this article. I was at Service NSW the other day to renew my car registration and was very impressed with all the steps they are taking to ensure everyone is safe. My temperature was taken, social distancing was monitored, there were hand sanitisers everywhere, and counter tops were wiped down as soon as a customer left. So many months later and this all still seems surreal.
Lots of people could be walking around with no symptoms and be a carrier of this virus. It’s quite concerning how easily it’s passed on. The recovery seems to be high. I worry for those who are vulnerable!
wow interesting article. 42%!!
Such a hard time for so many people. We need to be informed to keep everyone as safe as possible.
I want governments to hand out masks for highschool students. If we have to send our older students to school by law then there should be protection provided for them.
I’ve noticed it too beauty. I had to go to bunnings yesterday and it was tricky even going through the drive through section.
Wow, even drive through. I feel shops like coles that had a table for hand cleaning and finally red basket cleaning after I asked and asked. Now all gone.
If you take into account that not everyone gets a fever, the symptom list is virtually identical to flu. So the only way to tell is to have a COVID test if you’re showing any cold or flu-like symptoms.
I would hope that anyone with any respiratory symptoms will get tested asap.
Just get tested – for your own peace of mind and for the sake of others
If in doubt then get tested. Stay safe everyone.
Hope everyone is staying safe
Thanks for the article. Interesting read. Please keep safe everyone!
None of them nice
The scary thing is, since this article was published, so many people are asymptomatic, therefore have no idea they are contagious. It’s become infectious from just brushing past someone! Please take care everyone.
It’s scary how it is evolving so fast, I’m glad articles like this are being published.
This list needs updating now there are different variants with more symptoms