Overview
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an
infectious disease caused by a new coronavirus called the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
This new virus has been discovered by WHO on December 31st, 2019
following a report of multiple cases of fatal viral pneumonia in the Wuhan
province of People’s Republic of China.
In maximum cases of the infection,
patients experience mild to moderate symptoms of respiratory infection and do
recover without any need of treatment or hospitalization. However, in some cases,
patients become very seriously ill and need urgent medical care. Old age people
and those with suppressed immunity or any underlying disease like
cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, or cancer are
more probable to develop serious illness. Anyone can get sick with COVID-19 and
become seriously ill or die at any age.
The virus can spread from an
infected person’s mouth or nose through aerosols while they cough, sneeze,
speak, sing or breathe. These particles range from larger respiratory droplets
to smaller aerosols. It is important to practice respiratory protocol, for
example by coughing into a bent elbow, and to stay home and self-isolate until
you recover if you feel unwell.
The best way to stop and slow down spread
of this virus is to be well learnt about the disease and how the virus spreads.
Guard yourself and others from infection by staying at least 1 meter at a
distance from others, wearing a correctly fitted mask, and washing your hands
or using an alcohol-based sanitizer regularly. Get vaccinated when it’s your
turn and follow local guidelines.
Prevention
For the prevention and to slowdown the transmission of COVID-19, following guidelines should be followed by everyone:
- Get vaccinated when a vaccine is available to you.
- Stay at least 1 meter at a distance from others, even if you think they aren’t sick.
- Wear a correctly fitted mask when physical isolation is not possible or when in poorly ventilated locations.
- Choose open, well-ventilated spaces over closed ones. Open a window if indoors.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or clean them with alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, or sneeze into a bent elbow
- If you feel sick, stay home and self-isolate till you get well.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are;
- Shortness of breath.
- Loss of appetite.
- Confusion.
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest.
- High temperature (above 38 °C).
- Dry cough.
- Fatigue.
Other symptoms that are less common and may affect some patients include:
- Loss of taste or smell.
- Nasal congestion.
- Conjunctivitis (also known as red eyes).
- Sore throat.
- Headache.
- Muscle or joint pain.
- Different types of skin rash.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Chills or dizziness.
- Irritability.
- Confusion.
- Reduced consciousness (sometimes associated with seizures).
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Sleep disorders.
More severe and rare neurological complications such as strokes, brain inflammation, delirium and nerve damage.
People of all ages who experience fever and/or cough associated with
difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or loss of
speech or movement should seek medical care immediately. If possible, call your
health care provider, hotline or health facility first, so you can be directed
to the right clinic.
COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected
people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without
hospitalization.
Most common symptoms:
- Fever.
- Cough.
- Tiredness.
- Loss of taste or smell.
Less common symptoms:
- Sore throat.
- Headache.
- Aches and pains.
- Diarrhea.
- A rash on skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes.
- Red or irritated eyes.
Serious symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
- Loss of speech or mobility, or confusion chest pain.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms. Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility.
People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should manage their
symptoms at home.
On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the
virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days.
What happens to people who get COVID-19?
Among those who develop symptoms, most (about 80%) recover from the
disease without needing hospital treatment. About 15% become seriously ill and
require oxygen and 5% become critically ill and need intensive care.
Complications leading to death may include respiratory failure, acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis and septic shock, thromboembolism,
and/or multiorgan failure, including injury of the heart, liver or kidneys.
In rare situations, children can develop a severe inflammatory syndrome
a few weeks after infection.
Who is most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19?
People aged 60 years and over, and those with underlying medical
problems like high blood pressure, heart and lung problems, diabetes, obesity
or cancer, are at higher risk of developing serious illness.
However, anyone can get sick with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or
die at any age.
Are there long-term effects of COVID-19?
Some people who have had COVID-19, whether they have needed
hospitalization or not, continue to experience symptoms, including fatigue,
respiratory and neurological symptoms.
WHO is working with our Global Technical Network for Clinical Management
of COVID-19, researchers and patient groups around the world to design and
carry out studies of patients beyond the initial acute course of illness to
understand the proportion of patients who have long term effects, how long they
persist, and why they occur? These studies
will be used to develop further guidance for patient care.
How can we protect others and ourselves if we don't know who is infected?
Stay safe
by taking some simple precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing a mask,
especially when distancing cannot be maintained, keeping rooms well ventilated,
avoiding crowds and close contact, regularly cleaning your hands, and coughing
into a bent elbow or tissue. Check local advice where you live and work. Do it
all!
When should I get a test for COVID-19?
Anyone
with symptoms should be tested, wherever possible. People who do not have
symptoms but have had close contact with someone who is, or may be, infected
may also consider testing – contact your local health guidelines and follow
their guidance.
While a
person is waiting for test results, they should remain isolated from others.
Where testing capacity is limited, tests should first be done for those at
higher risk of infection, such as health workers, and those at higher risk of
severe illness such as older people, especially those living in seniors’
residences or long-term care facilities.
What test should I get to see if I have COVID-19?
In most
situations, a molecular test is used to detect SARS-CoV-2 and confirm
infection. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most commonly used molecular
test. Samples are collected from the nose and/or throat with a swab. Molecular
tests detect virus in the sample by amplifying viral genetic material to
detectable levels. For this reason, a molecular test is used to confirm an
active infection, usually within a few days of exposure and around the time
that symptoms may begin.
What about rapid tests?
Rapid
antigen tests (sometimes known as a rapid diagnostic test – RDT) detect viral
proteins (known as antigens). Samples are collected from the nose and/or throat
with a swab. These tests are cheaper than PCR and will offer results more
quickly, although they are generally less accurate. These tests perform best
when there is more virus circulating in the community and when sampled from an
individual during the time, they are most infectious.
I want to find out if I had COVID-19 in the past, what test could I take?
Antibody
tests can tell us whether someone has had an infection in the past, even if
they have not had symptoms. Also known as serological tests and usually done on
a blood sample, these tests detect antibodies produced in response to an
infection. In most people, antibodies start to develop after days to weeks and
can indicate if a person has had past infection. Antibody tests cannot be used
to diagnose COVID-19 in the early stages of infection or disease but can
indicate whether or not someone has had the disease in the past.
What is the difference between isolation and quarantine?
Both
isolation and quarantine are methods of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Quarantine
is used for anyone who is a contact of someone infected with the SARS-CoV-2
virus, which causes COVID-19, whether the infected person has symptoms or not.
Quarantine means that you remain separated from others because you have been
exposed to the virus and you may be infected and can take place in a designated
facility or at home. For COVID-19, this means staying in the facility or at
home for 14 days.
Isolation
is used for people with COVID-19 symptoms or who have tested positive for the
virus. Being in isolation means being separated from other people, ideally in a
medically facility where you can receive clinical care. If isolation in a medical facility is not
possible and you are not in a high-risk group of developing severe disease,
isolation can take place at home. If you have symptoms, you should remain in
isolation for at least 10 days plus an additional 3 days without symptoms. If
you are infected and do not develop symptoms, you should remain in isolation
for 10 days from the time you test positive.
What should I do if I have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19?
If you
have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you may become infected, even if
you feel well.
After
exposure to someone who has COVID-19, do the following:
- Call your health care provider or COVID-19 hotline to find out where and when to get a test.
- Cooperate with contact-tracing procedures to stop the spread of the virus.
- If testing is not available, stay home and away from others for 14 days.
- While you are in quarantine, do not go to work, to school or to public places. Ask someone to bring you supplies.
- Keep at least a 1-metre distance from others, even from your family members.
- Wear a medical mask to protect others, including if/when you need to seek medical care.
- Clean your hands frequently.
- Stay in a separate room from other family members, and if not possible, wear a medical mask.
- Keep the room well-ventilated.
- If you share a room, place beds at least 1 meter apart.
- Monitor yourself for any symptoms for 14 days.
- Stay positive by keeping in touch with loved ones by phone or online, and by exercising at home.
- If you live in an area with malaria or dengue fever, seek medical help if you have a fever. While travelling to and from the health facility and during medical care, wear a mask, keep at least a one meter distance from other people and avoid touching surfaces with your hands. This applies to adults and children.
How long does it take to develop symptoms?
The time
from exposure to COVID-19 to the moment when symptoms begin is, on average, 5-6
days and can range from 1-14 days. This is why people who have been exposed to
the virus are advised to remain at home and stay away from others, for 14 days,
in order to prevent the spread of the virus, especially where testing is not
easily available.
Is there a vaccine for COVID-19?
Yes. The
first mass vaccination program started in early December 2020 and the number of
vaccination doses administered is updated on a daily basis here. At least 13
different vaccines (across 4 platforms) have been administered. Campaigns have
started in 206 economies.
The
Pfizer/BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine was listed for WHO Emergency Use Listing
(EUL) on 31 December 2020. The SII/Covishield and AstraZeneca/AZD1222 vaccines
(developed by AstraZeneca/Oxford and manufactured by the Serum Institute of
India and SK Bio respectively) were given EUL on 16 February. The
Janssen/Ad26.COV 2.S developed by Johnson & Johnson, was listed for EUL on
12 March 2021. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA 1273) was listed for EUL on
30 April 2021 and the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine was listed for EUL on 7 May
2021. The Sinopharm vaccine is produced by Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological
Products Co Ltd, subsidiary of China National Biotech Group (CNBG).
Once
vaccines are demonstrated to be safe and efficacious, they must be approved by
national regulators, manufactured to exacting standards, and distributed. WHO
is working with partners around the world to help coordinate key steps in this
process, including to facilitate equitable access to safe and effective
COVID-19 vaccines for the billions of people who will need them? More
information about COVID-19 vaccine development is available here.
What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms?
- If you have any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, call your health care provider or COVID-19 hotline for instructions and find out when and where to get a test, stay at home for 14 days away from others and monitor your health.
- If you have shortness of breath or pain or pressure in the chest, seek medical attention at a health facility immediately. Call your health care provider or hotline in advance for direction to the right health facility.
- If you live in an area with malaria or dengue fever, seek medical care if you have a fever.
- If local guidance recommends visiting a medical center for testing, assessment or isolation, wear a medical mask while travelling to and from the facility and during medical care. Also keep at least a 1-metre distance from other people and avoid touching surfaces with your hands. This applies to adults and children.
Are there treatments for COVID-19?
Scientists
around the world are working to find and develop treatments for COVID-19.
- Optimal supportive care includes oxygen for severely ill patients and those who are at risk for severe disease and more advanced respiratory support such as ventilation for patients who are critically ill.
- Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that can help reduce the length of time on a ventilator and save lives of patients with severe and critical illness. Read our dexamethasone Q&A for more information.
- Results from the WHO’s Solidarity Trial indicated that remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon regimens appear to have little or no effect on 28-day mortality or the in-hospital course of COVID-19 among hospitalized patients.
- Hydroxychloroquine has not been shown to offer any benefit for treatment of COVID-19. Read our hydroxychloroquine Q&A for more information.
WHO does
not recommend self-medication with any medicines, including antibiotics, as a
prevention or cure for COVID-19? WHO is coordinating efforts to develop
treatments for COVID-19 and will continue to provide new information as it
becomes available?
Are antibiotics effective in preventing or treating COVID-19?
Antibiotics
do not work against viruses; they only work on bacterial infections. COVID-19
is caused by a virus, so antibiotics do not work. Antibiotics should not be
used as a means of prevention or treatment of COVID-19.
In
hospitals, physicians will sometimes use antibiotics to prevent or treat
secondary bacterial infections which can be a complication of COVID-19 in
severely ill patients. They should only be used as directed by a physician to
treat a bacterial infection.
Advice for the Public
Keep yourself and others safe: Do it all!
Protect yourself and those around you:
- Get vaccinated as soon as it’s your turn and follow local guidance on vaccination.
- Keep physical distance of at least 1 meter from others, even if they don’t appear to be sick. Avoid crowds and close contact.
- Wear a properly fitted mask when physical distancing is not possible and in poorly ventilated settings.
- Clean your hands frequently with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of used tissues immediately and clean hands regularly.
- If you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19, self-isolate until you recover.
- Wear a mask properly.
To properly wear your mask:
- Make sure your mask covers your nose, mouth and chin.
- Clean your hands before you put your mask on, before and after you take it off, and after you touch it at any time.
- When you take off your mask, store it in a clean plastic bag, and every day either wash it if it’s a fabric mask or dispose of it in a trash bin if it’s a medical mask.
- Don’t use masks with valves.
Make your environment safer:
The risks
of getting COVID-19 are higher in crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces
where infected people spend long periods of time together in close proximity.
Outbreaks
have been reported in places where people have gathered, often in crowded
indoor settings and where they talk loudly, shout, breathe heavily or sing such
as restaurants, choir practices, fitness classes, nightclubs, offices and
places of worship.
To make your environment as safe as possible:
- Avoid the 3Cs: spaces that are closed, crowded or involve close contact.
- Meet people outside. Outdoor gatherings are safer than indoor ones, particularly if indoor spaces are small and without outdoor air coming in.
- If you can’t avoid crowded or indoor settings, take these precautions:
- Open a window to increase the amount of natural ventilation when indoors.
- Wear a mask.
More on:
- Small public gatherings.
- Ventilation and air conditioning (for the general public).
- Ventilation and air conditioning (for people who manage public spaces and buildings).
- Keep good hygiene.
By
following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from
viruses that cause colds, flu and COVID-19.
To ensure good hygiene you should:
- Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with either an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. This eliminates germs that may be on your hands, including viruses.
- Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the used tissue immediately into a closed bin and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently, especially those which are regularly touched, such as door handles, faucets and phone screens.
What to do if you feel unwell:
If you feel unwell, here’s what to do.
- If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately. Call by telephone first and follow the directions of your local health authority.
- Know the full range of symptoms of COVID-19. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, tiredness and loss of taste or smell. Less common symptoms include aches and pains, headache, sore throat, red or irritated eyes, diarrhea, a skin rash or discoloration of fingers or toes.
- Stay home and self-isolate for 10 days from symptom onset, plus three days after symptoms cease. Call your health care provider or hotline for advice. Have someone bring you supplies. If you need to leave your house or have someone near you, wear a properly fitted mask to avoid infecting others.
- Keep up to date on the latest information from trusted sources, such as WHO or your local and national health authorities. Local and national authorities and public health units are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.
Disclaimer:
Coronavirus updates: https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/coronavirus-disease-covid-19
Prevention and control of COVID-19: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Details of the disease: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1
No comments:
Post a Comment