Learn About COVID 19, a New Coronavirus That Caused Illness in 2019
Coronaviruses, a family of viruses, can cause a variety of illnesses, from the common cold to severe diseases. Learn about COVID-19, a new coronavirus that caused illness in 2019.
The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and small particles released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. This is why it’s important to follow CDC guidance on social distancing, hand hygiene, and travel.
Symptoms
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This virus spreads easily when someone coughs, sneezes, or talks in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor settings.
Symptoms may start 2–14 days after you're exposed to the virus. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms and get better without going to a doctor or hospital.
But some people develop more serious symptoms that can lead to pneumonia and death. These symptoms are more likely if you're older or have a health condition like diabetes or heart disease.
The most common symptom is fever, but the body's temperature can be higher or lower than normal. A fever is any temperature over 100 F on an oral thermometer or 100.4 F on a rectal one.
Diagnosis
COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and can cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe illness, with older adults and people with underlying medical conditions at higher risk. However, the disease can be treated successfully, and people who are vaccinated are less likely to get sick or die from COVID-19.
Diagnostic tests are important for confirming the diagnosis of COVID-19 in symptomatic patients. Molecular tests can detect viral RNA, and antigen tests can detect viral proteins.
The test most commonly used for diagnosing COVID-19 is the nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), which detects the presence of RNA in the throat or saliva swab sample. It should be performed for all symptomatic patients with clinical suspicion of infection and can provide direct evidence of infection within 2 weeks after the onset of symptoms.
A positive result confirms the diagnosis of COVID-19 and should be managed accordingly. A negative result is often inconclusive and should be followed by repeat testing with another nasopharyngeal swab or a lower respiratory tract sample such as sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, or tracheal aspirate.
Treatment
If you have mild symptoms of COVID-19, resting at home and taking medicine to lower your fever will help you feel better. For more serious cases, talk to your health care provider about treatment options.
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from infection. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a COVID-19 vaccine, and updated boosters should be given to children 5 years of age and older, if eligible.
Antiviral medications can treat and prevent COVID-19 infections. These medications are pills you take by mouth or IV infusions that stop the virus from making copies of itself.
Several medicines are being studied to treat and prevent COVID-19, but not all of them have been approved yet. Some of these drugs may help reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 and the chances of complications such as pneumonia, heart problems, or liver damage.
Prevention
It's important to know how COVID-19 spreads and what you can do to help prevent the virus from getting into your body. The best way to protect yourself and others is to get vaccinated against the virus.
Vaccines are the most effective tool we have to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. You should receive a primary series and booster doses when you are eligible for them.
The most common way COVID-19 spreads is through person-to-person contact. This happens when someone coughs, sneezes, or laughs, and droplets from their nose and mouth go into the air. If you breathe these droplets into your lungs, the virus can enter your bloodstream and cause disease.
To prevent the virus from entering your lungs, it's important to avoid crowds and other activities that increase ventilation. If you must go out, wear a face covering and stay away from other people as much as possible. Using a 60% or greater alcohol-based hand sanitizer is also recommended.
Coronaviruses, a family of viruses, can cause a variety of illnesses, from the common cold to severe diseases. Learn about COVID-19, a new coronavirus that caused illness in 2019. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and small particles released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. This is why it’s important to follow CDC…