Coronavirus symptoms: What exactly does a mild COVID-19 case mean?

Despite the list of problematic symptoms associated with novel coronavirus, 80% of COVID-19 cases are said to be mild in nature. That means, most people who end up catching COVID-19 may not have serious complications or a severe COVID prognosis.

In comparison to the many complications and potentially life-threatening symptoms of COVID-19, having a case of mild COVID can feel easy. Mild, and sometimes moderate cases of COVID-19 do not require hospital support and recover fairly easily. All of this makes a mild diagnosis reassuring for many.

Representationally, a mild brush with COVID-19 seems fairly easier to deal with. However, that’s far from reality for many suffering from mild or moderate cases of COVID-19. Studies also say that even those who have a light case of COVID-19 can end up suffering from long COVID-19 symptoms.

In COVID terminology, people with mild illnesses are suspected to have a substantial viral load in the upper respiratory tract, air cavities, making them experience symptoms of slight inflammation (causing low-grade fever) and some respiratory signs, such as cough, cold.

Dry cough and low-grade fever are the two most commonly associated symptoms seen in mild COVID- 19 cases. Symptoms like dry cough, cold, anosmia, mild-grade fever, chills, headache and sore throat can be present too. In many cases, the fever may not cross the 100 degrees Fahrenheit mark, which makes it clearly distinguished from severe COVID-19 cases.

Apart from this, mild COVID-19 cases may make a person feel sick, but many of the more difficult symptoms- breathlessness, appetite loss, gastrointestinal infection, chilblains, fatigue are missing from the list, making it a little more manageable. Experiencing tiredness, fatigue, muscle aches and pain can be common too.

That being said, it should be noted that mild COVID-19 cases should not be taken lightly, and symptoms can go from bad to worse in no time if due attention to recovery is not paid.

While it can feel reassuring to suffer from a mild case of COVID, in a lot of cases, even a brief COVID bout can zap people out of their energy, leaving them extremely tired, achy and irritated- just like a bout of flu would. Hence, the symptoms can match that of a bad cold or flu, but feel a lot more miserable as well.

For many, a mild bout of COVID-19 could prepare them to manage a cold or fever, but it could leave them exposed to atypical symptoms of the viral infection, such as loss of smell and taste, or anosmia.

A lot of people have also come forward and said that the presence of a single symptom, or just a blocked nose, cough, with a diminished sense of smell can feel infuriating and confusing to have. In some cases, loss of smell/taste could be the ONLY symptom of mild COVID.

Right now, it is largely believed that mild COVID takes the earliest to recover, or goes away in two weeks time. That may not be fully true.

Mild COVID-19 also indicates an ‘easier’ recovery period and lesser chances of hospitalization.

In many COVID-19 cases, respiratory symptoms, such as cough or cold can take a fairly long time to recover, sometimes even weeks after testing negative for the virus. Body aches, pains and debilitating tiredness can be present too. In some cases, anosmia can also linger on for a longer period of time.

Hence, people with mild COVID-19 could go on to make healthier recoveries, yet continue to experience lingering, persistent symptoms.

Again, the type of COVID-19 infection you have doesn't really define how high of a viral load you have, or how contagious you can be. People with COVID could feel well, yet be highly contagious and spread the infection onto others. Plus, most people are at the peak of their infectiousness in their presymptomatic days.

Mild COVID symptoms may indicate suffering from just some of the baseline symptoms of the infection, but as experts are now seeing, even the young and healthy, who suffer from mild forms of COVID-19 can have serious complications in the future.

Even those without comorbidities run the risk of developing lasting side-effects, ramifications like blood clotting, severe strokes, brain fog, mental illnesses, lung problems (post-COVID fibrosis) and cardiac myopathy. While the risk for complications exists the most for those with comorbidities, it could just about strike anyone.

It is true that 80 per cent of the cases may have light, mild symptoms after the virus infects their body.

That being said, the figure isn't reassuring. Not assuming the risks, taking the infection lightly could leave you at a greater chance of developing complications, passing on the infection onto others or even increase mortality risk.

Even if your symptoms are mild, all prevention measures need to be followed to the fullest.