There is so much misinformation everywhere about coronavirus that it becomes too confusing to identify the early signs of the virus. Almost every website, news source, talk show on TV, and even social media post is centered on the COVID-19 pandemic. However, about 80% of the information these offer are directed towards achieving a common goal- to create hype and sensationalize the issue.

In such chaotic scenario, it is not out of the ordinary for people to feel scared. The rate of stress and anxiety has twofold among the masses as people feel that they are infected even if they sneeze. This is why, it is important to understand the earliest signs and symptoms of COVID-19 to be able to assess the situation properly instead of panicking unnecessarily.

Feeling Tired and Exhausted:

Just like it happens with any viral infection, coronavirus also drains your energy. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that between 44 to 70% of coronavirus patients reported feeling less active fatigued, and lethargic as the earliest sign they observed after contracting COVID-19. So, if you haven’t stayed up late at night or drank too much before going to bed and still wake up feeling a little dizzy or lazy, you should be alarmed. There has to be an explainable cause behind persistent full-body fatigue, therefore, better check for other symptoms of coronavirus.

Experiencing Dry Cough:

As per the CDC, dry cough is the most common symptom of Coronavirus and between 59-82% patients reported it as their first sign of infection. Dry cough refers to cough without any traces of phlegm or mucus. It is caused when the virus reaches the back of your nasal pathways and crosses the throat’s mucus membranes. When this happens, you start getting regular rounds of dry cough (coughing a lot for over an hour and having up to four episodes of coughing throughout the day). However, do keep in mind that several allergies also cause dry cough, so instead of jumping over to conclusions either get tested if the cough gets worse or practice social isolation.

Breathlessness and Suffocation:

The Mayo Clinic claims that up to 40% of coronavirus patients experience difficulty in catching their breath, which in clinical terminology is referred to as shortness of breath. It is basically an intense and uncontrollable feeling of tightness around the chest area making the person feel breathless and suffocated. This symptom is not necessarily associated with coronavirus because you may feel so after having a long and intense exercising session. However, if you find it difficult to breathe for no apparent reason, you may have contracted the virus.

Having High Fever:

Another most commonly reported symptom of coronavirus infection is experiencing very high body temperature. About 99% of patients of COVID-19 experienced fever touching 104° Fahrenheit. The Harvard Medical School asserts that if your body has 100.4° Fahrenheit temperature or higher than that, this means you have fever, and this will be followed by many other symptoms such as muscle ache, chills, nausea, and sweating. Fever is developed when our body is trying to fight off inflammation or infection. The problem with fever is that it will develop at almost every viral infection including flu, which is why it is important to be able to distinguish between fever caused because of coronavirus and any other viral infection. The best strategy would be to call your doctor immediately and get tested.

Experiencing Anosmia:

If you cannot smell the coffee while it is brewing or the omelet while frying, you should be concerned. Losing the sense of smell is perhaps the subtlest symptom of COVID-19. This condition is called anosmia, and the medical specialists at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery identified it as a potential sign of coronavirus. Around 30% of coronavirus patients in South Korea complained of experiencing anosmia much before noticing other signs of coronavirus.

Getting Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye:

Though it is a rare occurrence, but according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, between 1 to 3% of coronavirus patients may develop conjunctivitis early on. They will also experience fever, anosmia, dry cough, and other respiratory systems. This symptom is particularly noticed among patients who have traveled to key areas of COVID-19 outbreak such as China, USA, Spain, Italy, or South Korea. Or else, one of their family members traveled to high intensity regions of pandemic. If after returning home, you or your family member develops pink eye followed by other symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

Nausea, Diarrhea and Stomach Issues:

In a research published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and several other stomach related issues are also common symptoms of coronavirus infection. The study examined more than 200 COVID-19 patients and nearly half of them complained about experiencing stomach issues including either or both diarrhea and nausea. However, if you just feel nausea or digestive issues because of munching too much on snacks while quarantining, and there aren’t any other symptoms associated with coronavirus, you are good.

Losing Sense of Taste:

Coronavirus is basically a viral infection that affects the respiratory pathways and prompts all those early symptoms that you may experience when having common cold or flu. Just like you would lose the sense of taste when having cough or cold, you will experience it when infected with coronavirus. The condition when you find it difficult to identify the taste of food is called dysgeusia. According to assistant professor of otolaryngology Dr. Rachel Kaye associated with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, many patients of coronavirus complained that everything they tasted felt like cardboard.

Having a Runny Nose:

Runny nose is caused due to congestion in sinuses, and it can be a symptom of allergies, sinus infection and common cold. But, it could be an early sign of coronavirus too. Though it is not as common among adult patients of coronavirus but children are vulnerable to developing a runny nose if they contract the virus. CDC explains that it is among the most frequently complained about symptom in children diagnosed coronavirus positive. Other symptoms that accompany a runny nose include cough and fever.

Muscle Soreness and Body Aches:

A fever is a common sign of coronavirus infection, and it is generally accompanied by body and muscle aches. So, if you are having fever because of another health condition such as inflammation or common cold and you feel body ache, there is nothing to worry about. But, if the aching continues without any other sign of a common ailment like flu, you should take notice. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 15% of coronavirus patients experience joint pain and body aches.

Noticing Flu Symptoms:

As mentioned above, the symptoms of coronavirus are quite similar to flu and common cold. So, you will notice similar signs, and this will make it difficult for you to identify which infection you are suffering from. Cure Urgent Care founder and director Dr. Jake Duetsch claims that it is almost impossible to differentiate between COVID-19 and flu as you will experience coughing, fever, sneezing, body aches, and tiredness with both. This is why many patients of coronavirus are diagnosed very late as they keep ignoring these symptoms. Don’t make this mistake, get tested nevertheless.

Having a Persistent Headache:

Headache that never goes away is possibly an early sign of coronavirus. About 14% of the COVID-19 cases in China complained of experiencing a sore throat and headache simultaneously. Headache may not go away easily, like it normally does, and this is primarily an outcome of several other symptoms emerging collectively such as dry cough, which happens when the virus travels from the back of nasal pathways to the area at the back of your throat where the mucus membranes are located. A combination of different symptoms in the body causes persistent headache.

Having Pain in the Chest:

If you are feeling persistent chest pain or excessive pressure in the chest area, it is quite possible that you have contracted the virus. In fact, the CDC suggests that it is one of the more serious warning signs of coronavirus infection. As soon as you start experiencing severe chest pain followed by regular rounds of dry cough, immediately seek medical help and get tested to determine the actual reason and subsequent treatment.

Skin or Lips Discoloration:

Another one of the warning signs identified by the CDC is that your face will turn bluish for no particular reason. This condition is called Cyanosis, and it happens because of poor circulation of oxygen in the blood. Sometimes, the entire face may turn bluish and sometimes just the lips. No matter which is the case, seeking medical help is the best solution because it happens when the condition of the patient is getting serious after contracting infection.

Being Confused and Perplexed:

Not just the physical and quantifiable issues, coronavirus also causes some neurological disturbances that cause a variety of issues such as confusion, seizures and stroke. Neurological issues are more common in patients having severe infection, and who are in need of urgent medical help. It is although one of the rare symptoms but whenever it is noticed, it becomes apparent that the condition of the patient is deteriorating.