According to the CDC, people may start to experience symptoms 2–14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms may include:
- a fever
- chills
- a cough
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- sore throat
- congestion or a runny nose
- fatigue
- headache
- muscle pain
- new loss of taste or smell
- nausea or vomiting
- diarrhea
According to the CDC, the following groups have a higher risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19:
- people aged 65 years or older
- people living in nursing homes or care facilities
- people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions, including chronic lung disease, serious heart conditions, severe obesity, a compromised immune system, or diabetes
- The CDC note that although there have been reports of complications in young children, these are rare. COVID-19 most commonly produces mild symptoms in children.
There is currently no cure for the cold-like illnesses caused by coronaviruses. Treatments include self-care and over-the-counter medications.
Taking the following steps may help:
- resting and avoiding overexertion
- drinking plenty of water
- avoiding smoking and smoky areas
- taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) to reduce pain and a fever
- using a clean humidifier or cool mist vaporizer
- A doctor can identify the virus responsible in a sample of fluid from a person’s body, such as a sample of blood or mucus from the nose.
Coronaviruses belong to the subfamily Coronavirinae in the family Coronaviridae.
Different types of coronavirus vary, in terms of the severity of disease that they cause and how far they spread.
Doctors currently recognize seven types of coronavirus that can infect humans.
Common types include:
- 229E (alpha coronavirus)
- NL63 (alpha coronavirus)
- OC43 (beta coronavirus)
- HKU1 (beta coronavirus)
- Rarer strains that cause more severe illnesses include MERS-CoV, which causes the disease MERS, and SARS-CoV, the virus responsible for SARS.
In 2019, a new strain, called SARS-CoV-2, started circulating, causing the disease COVID-19.