US Medical Body Identifies Six New Symptoms Of The Novel Coronavirus

New Delhi: The Novel Coronavirus is a battle that the world has been fighting for over three months now and with each passing day, as the world learns more about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the guidelines and advisories are being updated even as the fight continues. In another turn of events, on Monday (April 27), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a leading national public health institute of the United States added six new symptoms of COVID-19 to the existing list of symptoms.

The six new symptoms include chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell. Earlier CDC had listed only three symptoms for the diagnosis of COVID-19 – fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing.

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People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. The symptoms may appear between 2-14 days after exposure to the virus, reads the statement on CDC’s website.

CDC has very categorically stated that the above mentioned symptoms are not inclusive. An individual must seek medical advice for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) have not added these symptoms on their website yet. The WHO still states,

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but only have very mild symptoms.

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To get more clarity on the new symptoms of COVID-19 being added, NDTV spoke to Dr Prabhakar Koregol, Consultant, Interventional Cardiologist at Fortis Hospital in Bengaluru. Talking about varied symptoms of COVID-19, Dr Prabhakar said,

As it happens in case of any other viral infection – virus affects one dominant system; in the case of coronavirus, it affects the respiratory system. The classical symptoms that were described so far are based on the ones that occur in majority of the patients. But at the same time, viruses can impact other systems as well. Now we are seeing patients who have gut symptoms that are abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and we also have patients coming with skin changes – dermatological manifestations, and certain neurological and cardiac manifestation as well.

In China’s Wuhan where the COVID-19 originated, it was reported that the skin of two Chinese doctors who survived COVID-19 turned black after they were infected with the Novel Coronavirus. But the change was temporary.

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Further talking about whether the virus has different manifestations in different people, Dr Prabhakar said,

As per whatever information we have so far, it looks like that the virus has different manifestations which happens with any other viral infection also. What we have seen is, it is more common in younger people – children and people who already have dermatological issues.

At a time when the symptoms of COVID-19 are changing, self-diagnosis of the infectious disease becomes a matter of concern. Answering to the common question – when should one seek medical help, Dr Prabhakar said,

For atypical symptoms it’s very difficult to make self-diagnosis. Whenever there is a pandemic or epidemic going on, any non-routine symptom should be weaved with the suspicion of being related to the pandemic or epidemic. So, in case of anything that is unusual or new, one should consult the doctor.

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