Do I Have Coronavirus?

A ton of information is floating out in cyberspace about our current pandemic…some of it is valuable and relevant. Thus, I decided to research clinical data on the symptoms of COVID-19 because patients can present in different ways. AND, I developed some of the symptoms and wondered, “Do I have coronavirus?”

How This All Started

So, last week I became so fatigued that I debated whether I had enough strength to make coffee (I’m addicted to coffee, so this is highly irregular). Then, I started to second guess the notion that all COVID-19 cases present with fever.

What symptoms did I have? Shortness of breath, mild cough, excessive fatigue (putting it mildly), some congestion, sore throat, and a general feeling like I’d been run over by a truck. But, no fevers.

Definitions to Make You Super Smart

Original name of the Virus: 2019-nCoV (2019 novel coronavirus)

Current name of the virus: SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2)

Actual Disease caused by SARS-CoV-2: COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019; CO= coronavirus, VI= virus, D= disease).

Do I have Coronavirus?

Let’s take a look at the data.

• When 24 asymptomatic coronavirus positive people were evaluated, 5 went on to develop symptoms, 12 showed radiologic findings, and 7 never exhibited any symptoms or clinical findings.
• A study in China on 1099 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients reported the following symptoms: fevers 43.8% on admission (88.7% during hospitalization) and cough 67.8%.
• Out of 3,711 people on a cruise ship exposed to coronavirus, 17.9% were estimated to be positive without symptoms.
• Another study of 41 patients in Wuhan revealed: fever 98%, cough 76%, and muscle aches or fatigue 44%.
• Examiners of 138 patients in China noted: fever 98.6%, fatigue 69.6%, and dry cough 59.4%.
• A review of 72,314 cases showed 1% or 889 patients to be asymptomatic cases.
• The most common symptoms in a 62 patient study were: fever 77%, cough 81%, coughing up sputum 56%, headache 34%, and myalgia or fatigue 52%.

Now What?

My medical takeaway? Really sick patients tend to present in similar ways while carriers of coronavirus can display a myriad of symptoms.

I don’t tell you this to instill fear but a healthy respect for this pandemic. In my personal opinion, the reason the virus has such reach is the long incubation period and the variety of symptoms.

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands (Psalm 31:9, 14-15).

Subsequently, here’s what we can do:

• • Wash your hands
  • Don’t touch your face
  • Try to stay 6 feet from other people
  • Have no large gatherings
  • Spend time outside
  • Stay away from people for 1-2 weeks if you have any type of symptoms

Moreover, we can continue to support small businesses. To explain, people say that the toll on our country with be primarily economic and not directly related to COVID-19. I believe this could be true, however, that’s because we’ve taken steps to flatten the curve.

In addition, I watch the JHU site every day, and while the positive cases in the US climb, the death rate rises at a much slower rate. This is because of social distancing.

Truthfully, I long for the days of hugs at church, large dinner parties, and sports. So while we pray and patiently wait for a resolution, let’s be as safe as we can be.

Love, K.

Author of Ten Iron Principles, Contributor in The Power to Make a Difference

   

Sources:

1. Clinical characteristics of 24 asymptomatic infections with COVID-19 screened among close contacts in Nanjing, China
2. Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China
3. Estimating the asymptomatic proportion of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, Yokohama, Japan, 2020
4. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China
5. Clinical Characteristics of 138 Hospitalized Patients With 2019 Novel Coronavirus-Infected Pneumonia in Wuhan, China
6. Characteristics of and Important Lessons From the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in ChinaSummary of a Report of 72 314 Cases From the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
7. Clinical findings in a group of patients infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) outside of Wuhan, China: retrospective case series.