COVID Symptoms — Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed Past:

Updated on January 27, 2022

Exercise you know the symptoms of COVID-19? Knowing the warning signs tin can aid you accept the right steps if you or loved ones become ill. Lisa Maragakis, M.D., Thousand.P.H., senior director of infection prevention for the Johns Hopkins Health Organization, explains what to wait for and when to go help.

What are symptoms of COVID-19?

The well-nigh common symptoms are:

  • Cough
  • Fever or chills
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of gustation or smell
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Congestion or runny olfactory organ

Some of these symptoms are very common and tin occur due to many weather condition other than COVID-nineteen, the disease caused past the coronavirus chosen SARS CoV-2. If you accept whatever of the symptoms, contact a md or other health care provider, who can assess your risk and help you decide the next steps.

Emergency Warning Signs of Astringent COVID-xix — When to Call 911

If you lot or someone in your household is experiencing whatever of the post-obit symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency room correct away and allow the operator know that you are calling for someone who might take COVID-xix:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure level in the chest
  • New confusion
  • Disability to wake up or stay awake
  • Bluish lips or face

There are other possible symptoms of COVID-19. Call your dr. or wellness care center regarding any symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

When should I contact a doctor about my symptoms?

If yous feel ill, telephone call your medico'southward office or health care center and explain your symptoms over the phone. The next steps will be discussed, including whether you should have a coronavirus test. If it turns out that you have COVID-19, mild cases can be managed at home with balance and self-isolation. If y'all go severely ill, you may need hospital care.

If I'm exposed to the coronavirus, how long will information technology exist before I might develop symptoms?

Symptoms can brainstorm two to xiv days after you have been infected with SARS-CoV-two. A study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows that the median time for symptoms to show upwards is near five days, however, CDC inquiry suggests that the median time for omicron symptoms to develop is most iii days.

If you suspect you lot were exposed to or had shut contact with someone with COVID-nineteen, you should self-quarantine, watch for symptoms and consider getting tested four or five days following the exposure. Exposure is contact with someone infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in a style that increases the likelihood of becoming infected with the virus. Close contact is beingness less than half-dozen feet abroad from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more than during a 24-hr catamenia.

Please review CDC guidelines for isolation and quarantine to assist forbid the spread of COVID-19

What are the first symptoms of coronavirus infection?

Early symptoms reported by some people include fatigue, headache, sore throat and fever. Others feel a loss of smell or sense of taste. COVID-nineteen can cause symptoms that are mild at first, only then become more intense over five to 7 days, with worsening coughing and shortness of breath. Some people who accept COVID-19 develop pneumonia.

The type and severity of starting time symptoms can vary widely from person to person. This is why it is very important to call your doctor if you have symptoms, even mild ones.

Tin you take the coronavirus without a fever?

Yeah. A fever is one of the common symptoms of COVID-xix, but yous can be infected with the coronavirus and accept a cough or other symptoms with no fever, or a very depression-grade 1 — especially in the start few days. Go on in listen that information technology is also possible to have the coronavirus with minimal symptoms or even no symptoms at all. People infected with the coronavirus who have no symptoms tin can even so spread the virus to others.

Can you lot have the coronavirus without a cough?

Aye. A cough is one of the mutual symptoms of COVID-19, but information technology is not always present. Y'all can be infected with the coronavirus and not have a cough. If you do have i, it may be balmy and exceptional, or you may cough heavily at times. Call back that information technology is possible to have COVID-nineteen with minimal symptoms or even no symptoms at all. People infected with the coronavirus who have no symptoms can still spread the virus to others.

Can COVID-19 symptoms come and get?

Aye. During the recovery process, people with COVID-19 might experience recurring symptoms alternate with periods of feeling better. Varying degrees of fever, fatigue and breathing bug tin can occur, on and off, for days or even weeks.

Tin you have COVID-xix without symptoms?

Yes. Symptoms of COVID-nineteen usually show upwards 2 to 14 days later on exposure to SARS-CoV-2, just some people who are infected do not develop symptoms or feel ill. When this happens, a person is called asymptomatic. This is why it is so important to wear a face mask and to practice physical distancing and hand hygiene. People can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-nineteen and not realize it, but still be able to transmit the virus to other people.

What are COVID-19 symptoms in children?

Like adults, babies and children with COVID-xix tin can accept symptoms including fever, coughing, sore throat, difficulty breathing and diarrhea. Cases have been increasing among children, as indicated past recent data from the American University of Pediatrics.

Children may also be at hazard for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) — an uncommon but serious complication of the coronavirus. Parents and guardians should be on guard for signs of MIS-C and call their kid's doctor immediately if they announced.

Coronavirus Symptoms and Other Conditions:

How are coronavirus symptoms different from allergy symptoms? What about flu, colds and strep throat?

COVID-19 shares symptoms with other conditions such every bit allergies, the flu and strep throat. It may be very difficult to tell the deviation betwixt COVID-19 and flu without a test.

If yous accept symptoms that might be due to the coronavirus, contact a health care provider, draw your symptoms and follow the provider's recommendations.

Learn more about COVID-xix and the influenza.

If I receive the coronavirus vaccine, will I go COVID-xix symptoms?

No. The COVID-nineteen vaccines authorized by the Food and Drug Administration cannot and will not give yous COVID-19. These coronavirus vaccines can crusade side furnishings because they activate your immune system, but this does not hateful you are infected with the coronavirus or that you have COVID-19. As your immune system responds to the vaccine and learns to recognize and fight the coronavirus, fever, pain at the injection site and muscle aches are possible, simply these are usually both mild and temporary. Learn more than almost the rubber of the coronavirus vaccines.

Scientist carefully insets a pipette into a test tube.

Coronavirus (COVID-nineteen)

What yous demand to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.