6 new COVID-19 symptoms and other complications you need to know about
By
Staff, AccuWeather
Published Apr 30, 2020 11:19 AM EST
As the novel coronavirus spread around the globe, some hoped warmer weather could slow it down as the seasons changed. A new report tells the White House the data is inconclusive.
As the novel coronavirus pandemic surges to deadly new heights each day, the world’s leading health experts are learning more about what makes coronavirus tick and spread at such an alarming rate. It was only a matter of time before new COVID-19 symptoms surfaced. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is leading the way in the fight against the vicious virus, is adding a half dozen new symptoms to the long list of COVID-19 impacts.
In addition to fever, cough, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, the CDC says COVID patients exhibit the following symptoms:
-
Chills
-
Repeated shaking with chills
-
Muscle pain
-
Headache
-
Sore throat
-
New loss of taste or smell
Coronavirus patients can experience a wide variety of issues, from mild symptoms to severe illness. These symptoms generally appear 2-14 days after exposure to coronavirus. Researchers in China discovered COVID-19 patients may be most infectious days before they began showing symptoms.
Photo by Martin Mejia
(AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
The addition of the 6 new coronavirus symptoms is significant because most testing sites require a patient to have a COVID-19 symptom before they can even be tested. This means patients who may not have a fever but are shaking with chills may now be tested. While the CDC provides guidance for who should be tested, these decisions are left up to state and local health departments and doctors.
Photo by Ksenia Chernaya
Ksenia Chernaya
While the CDC expanded the list of coronavirus symptoms, doctors did not address several other medical conditions that are possibly linked to the deadly virus. Among them, so-called “COVID toes,” a condition some doctors are reporting in otherwise asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. This condition is baffling doctors and is described as bright red and purple lesions or painful bumps that may appear on one or all toes. This affliction is mainly striking children and young adults.
As COVID-19 is ravaging the body with a series of attacks, one specific complication is catching the attention of doctors across the world: tiny blood clots. Dr. Hooman Poor, a pulmonary and critical care doctor with Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City tells CBS News that the COVID-19 coronavirus appears to cause blood clotting throughout the body. Dr. Poor says this may help explain why coronavirus is so much more deadly than other members of its viral family. Doctors suspect these tiny blood clots are likely one reason COVID-19 patients struggle to breathe. The blood clots aren’t isolated to just patients in the United States. An April 10th report in Thrombosis Research outlines that about one-third of 184 Dutch coronavirus patients experienced blood clots in the lungs or legs. Some of these clots were so severe they caused a stroke or heart attack.
Photo by Ashkan Forouzani
Ashkan Forouzani
A small number of young and middle-aged Americans are experiencing strokes after testing positive for coronavirus, according to a new report in The Washington Post. “A few dozen cases” are being reported at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia, NYU Langone Health and Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital, both in New York City. Doctors are finding severe strokes are striking coronavirus patients from 33 to 49-years-old. This is an anomaly to neurologists as the average age of stroke patients is 74-years-old. The CDC says strokes can occur at any age, but the risk increases with age.
Photo by Robina Weermeijer
Robina Weermeijer
Doctors around the globe are getting more concerned that coronavirus patients may also eventually suffer brain damage from the disease. The New York Times cites two cases that are worrying doctors. One case involves a patient in his 70s in Florida who lost the ability to speak. The other involves a Detroit woman in her 50s whose brain scan showed some of her brain cells had already died as a result of a rare complication. Other similar cases were also seen in China and Italy.
Photo by Manu Fernandez
Manu Fernandez
There is mounting scientific evidence that coronavirus affects more than just the lungs, as first thought. We’re seeing it attack the kidneys, brain, heart, liver, and intestines as well. It could be a long time until things return to normal and a coronavirus cure or vaccine is found. We must remain vigilant and do our parts to stop the community spread. It’s important to practice social distancing and contactless food delivery, wash our hands, and wear a cloth mask and gloves when outdoors. It’s also important to keep mental health in good shape for us and our children. You can help the little ones beat the boredom with a teddy bear scavenger hunt, a fun science experiment, or virtual getaway right from the living room.
Photo by Ashkan Forouzani
Ashkan Forouzani
With a wealth of misinformation out there, it’s important to stay informed about the latest COVID-19 developments. AccuWeather has everything you need to know about COVID-19, including an interactive map to see where new cases are popping up, a tracker showing how many people are recovering, and in-depth podcast talking about how weather can impact coronavirus. You’ll also find the latest information on Accuweather TV network, Twitter and Facebook.
Report a Typo
News / Health
6 new COVID-19 symptoms and other complications you need to know about
By Staff, AccuWeather
Published Apr 30, 2020 11:19 AM EST
As the novel coronavirus spread around the globe, some hoped warmer weather could slow it down as the seasons changed. A new report tells the White House the data is inconclusive.
As the novel coronavirus pandemic surges to deadly new heights each day, the world’s leading health experts are learning more about what makes coronavirus tick and spread at such an alarming rate. It was only a matter of time before new COVID-19 symptoms surfaced. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is leading the way in the fight against the vicious virus, is adding a half dozen new symptoms to the long list of COVID-19 impacts.
The 6 new symptoms
In addition to fever, cough, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, the CDC says COVID patients exhibit the following symptoms:
Chills
Repeated shaking with chills
Muscle pain
Headache
Sore throat
New loss of taste or smell
Coronavirus patients can experience a wide variety of issues, from mild symptoms to severe illness. These symptoms generally appear 2-14 days after exposure to coronavirus. Researchers in China discovered COVID-19 patients may be most infectious days before they began showing symptoms.
Photo by Martin Mejia
Why the expanded list of coronavirus symptoms is significant
The addition of the 6 new coronavirus symptoms is significant because most testing sites require a patient to have a COVID-19 symptom before they can even be tested. This means patients who may not have a fever but are shaking with chills may now be tested. While the CDC provides guidance for who should be tested, these decisions are left up to state and local health departments and doctors.
Photo by Ted S. Warren
Other coronavirus complications
Photo by Ksenia Chernaya
“Covid toes”
While the CDC expanded the list of coronavirus symptoms, doctors did not address several other medical conditions that are possibly linked to the deadly virus. Among them, so-called “COVID toes,” a condition some doctors are reporting in otherwise asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. This condition is baffling doctors and is described as bright red and purple lesions or painful bumps that may appear on one or all toes. This affliction is mainly striking children and young adults.
Photo by Geralt
Tiny blood clots
As COVID-19 is ravaging the body with a series of attacks, one specific complication is catching the attention of doctors across the world: tiny blood clots. Dr. Hooman Poor, a pulmonary and critical care doctor with Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City tells CBS News that the COVID-19 coronavirus appears to cause blood clotting throughout the body. Dr. Poor says this may help explain why coronavirus is so much more deadly than other members of its viral family. Doctors suspect these tiny blood clots are likely one reason COVID-19 patients struggle to breathe. The blood clots aren’t isolated to just patients in the United States. An April 10th report in Thrombosis Research outlines that about one-third of 184 Dutch coronavirus patients experienced blood clots in the lungs or legs. Some of these clots were so severe they caused a stroke or heart attack.
Photo by Ashkan Forouzani
Strokes in younger patients
A small number of young and middle-aged Americans are experiencing strokes after testing positive for coronavirus, according to a new report in The Washington Post. “A few dozen cases” are being reported at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia, NYU Langone Health and Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital, both in New York City. Doctors are finding severe strokes are striking coronavirus patients from 33 to 49-years-old. This is an anomaly to neurologists as the average age of stroke patients is 74-years-old. The CDC says strokes can occur at any age, but the risk increases with age.
Photo by Robina Weermeijer
Brain damage
Doctors around the globe are getting more concerned that coronavirus patients may also eventually suffer brain damage from the disease. The New York Times cites two cases that are worrying doctors. One case involves a patient in his 70s in Florida who lost the ability to speak. The other involves a Detroit woman in her 50s whose brain scan showed some of her brain cells had already died as a result of a rare complication. Other similar cases were also seen in China and Italy.
Photo by Manu Fernandez
What does this mean?
There is mounting scientific evidence that coronavirus affects more than just the lungs, as first thought. We’re seeing it attack the kidneys, brain, heart, liver, and intestines as well. It could be a long time until things return to normal and a coronavirus cure or vaccine is found. We must remain vigilant and do our parts to stop the community spread. It’s important to practice social distancing and contactless food delivery, wash our hands, and wear a cloth mask and gloves when outdoors. It’s also important to keep mental health in good shape for us and our children. You can help the little ones beat the boredom with a teddy bear scavenger hunt, a fun science experiment, or virtual getaway right from the living room.
Photo by Ashkan Forouzani
With a wealth of misinformation out there, it’s important to stay informed about the latest COVID-19 developments. AccuWeather has everything you need to know about COVID-19, including an interactive map to see where new cases are popping up, a tracker showing how many people are recovering, and in-depth podcast talking about how weather can impact coronavirus. You’ll also find the latest information on Accuweather TV network, Twitter and Facebook.
Related: