Everything You Should Know About Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Coronaviruses is a deadly disease that can cause common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome or MERS. In the year 2019, there was a new type of coronavirus detected which had been the major cause of a disease outbreak that originated in China. This virus is popularly known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease is called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the COVID-19 outbreak to be a pandemic.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 might take place within two to 14 days after the exposure. This time before having symptoms and after exposure is called the incubation period. Common signs and symptoms before coronavirus testing consist of the following:

• Fever

• Tiredness

• Cough

Early symptoms of COVID-19 might include loss of smell or taste.

Other symptoms are the following:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Sore throat

• Muscle aches

• Chills

• Cheat pain

• Headache

• Runny nose

• Pink eye or conjunctivitis

This list is not all comprehensive and other common symptoms are nausea, diarrhea, rash and vomiting. Children have mild symptoms which may be similar to adults. The severity of COVID-19 symptoms may vary from very mild to severe. Some people might have just a few symptoms while others might not have symptoms any symptoms at all. Some people may suffer from worsened symptoms such as pneumonia and shortness of breath about a week after the symptoms start.

People who are older have higher risks of serious illness from COVID-19 PCR testing in London and the risk increases due to age. People who have chronic medical conditions might even have higher risk of serious illness. Certain medical conditions that can increase the risk of serious illness due to COVID-19 are:

• Serious heart diseases such as heart failure, cardiomyopathy or coronary artery disease

• Type 2 diabetes

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• Cancer

• Obesity or severe obesity

• Chronic kidney disease

• Weak immune system from organ transplants

• Sickle cell disease

• Smoking

• Pregnancy

Other conditions might increase the risk of serious illness, such as:

• Asthma

• Overweight

• Liver disease

• Type 1 diabetes

• Brain and nervous system

• Chronic lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis or cystic fibrosis

• Weak immune system from HIV, bone marrow transplant or certain medications

• High blood pressure

Also, there are other underlying medical conditions that can increase the risk of serious illness due to COVID-19.

Causes

The infection with new coronavirus such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2 may lead to coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

The virus that can lead to COVID-19 spreads easily among people and more will be discovered in due course. As per the data, it spreads mainly from person to person who are in close contact with each other. The virus spreads easily through respiratory droplets that are released when someone with this virus breathes, coughs, sneezes, talks or sings. These droplets are then inhaled in the eyes, mouth or nose of a person.

In certain situations, the COVID-19 virus may transmit from a person being exposed to aerosols or small droplets that remain in the air for several minutes or hours known as airborne transmission. It is still not known how common it might be for the virus to spread this way.

It may even be transmitted when a person touches a surface or an object with virus on it and then touches his/her eyes, nose or mouth though this is not believed to be the way how it spreads. Some re-infections of this virus that can lead to COVID-19 have happened, but these are somewhat uncommon.Thus, you need to contact your nearest clinic for private COVID 19 test in London and know if you are infected with the virus.