What is the difference between mild and severe COVID-19? How to identify symptoms
Coronavirus cases might be ebbing, but it's still easy to catch the virus. Newer cases are still being recorded every passing day.
As important as it is to recognize warning, emergent signs of infection, it's also crucial that any COVID+ patient learns to recognize, and distinguish between the pattern of his/her symptoms- whether it is mild, moderate or severe.
How can you distinguish between your symptoms right now?
Given that most people tend to have similar symptoms on Day 01, it can get confusing to know what, and when an infection is severe in nature. With the growth of the pandemic, newer, unusual symptoms have also been discovered, which, as cases have shown, shouldn't be taken lightly. Thus, knowing the nature of your infection sometimes, how mild or dangerous it may be can make a whole lot of difference, and help you manage your condition a lot better. It could also prepare you to spot the signs which need utmost care and attention.
Here's how onset of COVID symptoms differ during the first wave and the second one.
So, apart from the classic signs, how do you really tell your infection apart, whether it is mild or severe?
If so, which symptoms should you pay close attention to from the very beginning? And what should you do if symptoms progress?
Mild COVID-19 case: Here's what you can expect
By nature, most coronavirus cases tend to be mild, and most people suffering from a mild bout of infection tend to recover under home-isolation care. As per doctors, 80% of COVID-19 cases are mild.
ALSO READ: MISTAKES THAT CAN ESCALATE YOUR MILD COVID INFECTION INTO A SEVERE ONE
Now, most people who have mild COVID-19 tend to get better, and recover well under the care and do not require hospitalization.
As in, the common symptoms of the disease can start off in the mannerism of a respiratory, viral or flu-like infection. However, it is important to keep in mind that despite there being a commonality in symptoms, COVID-19 signs and symptoms can be harder to beat and take a longer toll on the body.
Even if your infection is mild, it can still leave lingering marks on the body, and take a while before you fully recover. 1 in 5 people who have mild COVID-19 tend to feel sick weeks after testing negative.
That being said, having less than 5 symptoms usually is a marker that your COVID infection may be on the milder side (do note, it may not be the case with everyone). Here are some of the most common ones reported:
-Dry cough, sore throat and/ or runny nose, congestion
-A low-grade fever and chills
-Acute tiredness or fatigue
-Loss of smell and taste
-Aches, pains and headaches
-Diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting
Patients suffering from mild or moderate COVID-19 may also have symptoms like pink eye, tinnitus, a dry mouth which are now looked after as new symptoms of infection.
A person with mild COVID-19 may have any or all of these symptoms. The intensity of the symptoms can differ. The duration your symptoms last individually can also give you a heads-up about the severity of your disease.
What happens in a severe COVID-19 infection?
It's important to remember that severe COVID-19 cases are seldom fueled by underlying causes, age factor, comorbidity risk. Risk factors for the same include diabetes, high cholesterol levels, kidney failure, poor immunity, obesity, chronic respiratory issues and old age.
READ ALSO: Signs that your COVID infection is turning dangerous
Those suffering from a severe bout of COVID-19 have higher odds of hospitalization than the ones suffering from a milder infection.
A critical distinction for patients in recovery can be noting the intensity and nature of symptom onset. Those suffering from severe COVID-19 can have more symptoms than the ones with milder COVID-19, and the intensity or severity of the same could be on the higher side, and more difficult to battle. Dealing with severe symptoms usually signifies that a person is battling with rapid infection spread and more at the risk of complications.
Apart from suffering from a higher intensity of symptoms listed above (high fever that lasts for longer, malaise, severe aches, terrible gastrointestinal symptoms etc), a person also has a higher risk of encountering upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms, such as:
-Fluctuating oxygen levels
-Chest pain
-Skin irritation, rashes
-Shortness of breath/ difficulty in breathing
-Chronic gut inflammation, digestive symptoms
-Deterioration in vital stats
-Delirium, confusion
-Increased risk of seizures and stroke.
-Heightened risk of blood clots
These symptoms may collectively come up from the beginning, or progress with time, instead of fading away.
Are there particular days to track during your recovery?
A person with COVID-19 tends to recover in around 14 days, which is the incubation period. However, there are days during the recovery period which need special notice. It is said that patients suffering from any form of COVID-19 should keep a track of Day 1, 3, 5,7 and 10 and the severity of symptoms on these days.
If symptoms do not tend to get better by Day 05, it could be a sign that a cytokine storm is acting up and may make your condition worse. To know more about the importance of tracking these days, and the symptoms to watch out for, click here.
What should you do if your 'mild' symptoms take a turn for the 'worse'?
In many cases, as is being witnessed currently, cases may also, unfortunately, take a turn for the worse. New symptoms can show up, or the existing ones can get worsened.
By Day 5, if symptoms do not show improvement, medical attention might be needed. Some of the symptoms which require emergent hospitalisation are:
-Bluish discolouration of the lips/ pale skin
-Dip in oxygen saturation below 90
-A fever that doesn’t go down, or a consistently high fever
-Pneumonia like signs
-Dyspnea, hypoxia
-Difficulty in comprehension, carrying out basic tasks
-Fluctuating heart rate
-Difficulty in passing bowel movements
-Extreme loss of appetite
Is there a difference between severe and critical COVID-19 cases?
There can also be cases wherein some people, at risk, or already exhibiting severe COVID-19 can become critically ill.
Some patients suffering from severe COVID-19 can develop ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) where air sacs become inflamed and fluid builds up, rendering it difficult for the system to do its job.
People with critical COVID-19 are usually very unwell and need intensive care, since they can suffer from life-threatening complications, including severe sepsis. Remember, both severe and critical COVID-19 cases need to be treated in a hospital, however, the intensity of critical COVID-19 is much higher and requires ventilator support.