CDC Announces Six New COVID19 Symptoms
The Centers for Disease and Prevention has added several symptoms to its existing list of symptoms for COVID-19. Some you’ve heard, some you might not have.
For months, the CDC has understood fever, cough and shortness of breath as pretty easy indications that someone might have the disease caused by the coronavirus. It has now added six more conditions that may come with the disease: chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell.
This announcement comes after a recent one from the CDC that loss of taste and smell have been associated with many coronavirus patients.
According to an NPR article, the expanded list of symptoms might be concerning in some regards, but helpful in others. In particular, the list could be important because with a limited number of test kits available, usually those seeking a test must first show symptoms.
The article notes that there is anecdotal evidence for some of those newly listed symptoms. NPR and other news outlets reported last month that loss of smell and taste were common COVID-19 symptoms. Now, many patients are reporting muscle pain, chills and headache.
The symptoms usually appear within two to 14 days after exposure to the virus, says the CDC. It stresses “emergency warning signs” for COVID-19 are trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, and bluish lips or face. People with any of these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately, the CDC says.
The coronavirus has proved highly contagious and potentially deadly, but a large majority of those who have it will show mild or no symptoms. The U.S. has the highest number of confirmed cases in the world, and it is still climbing. The number of deaths from the disease in the U.S. has surpassed the annual death toll for pneumonia and flu, according to the CDC.