Since last year, the COVID-19 pandemic has opened our eyes in many areas, economically, financially, emotionally. It proves that even though we have all the richness today, without health, it is all wasted, thus the saying goes, health is wealth.
Before we go through the less common symptoms of the
Coronavirus also known as COVID-19, let's briefly go through the common
symptoms that most people know today.
Fever, dry cough, flu,
difficulty in breathing, muscle aches, chills, sore throat, headache, chest
pain. These are the common symptoms as for now what we know today. Respiratory
symptoms are the most common symptoms, but in fact it can also involve other
organ systems. What are the less common symptoms?
- Gastrointestinal
Symptoms
Let's start with the Gastrointestinal
symptoms. It is known that COVID-19 causes nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea. It
can happen with the common symptoms or without it. These symptoms tend to
appear first before the respiratory symptoms. How does COVID-19 cause nausea?
It happens because the ACE2-mediated reacts with the SARS-COV-2 and invades the
gastrointestinal epithelium, and starts replicating leading to the decrease in
ACE2 levels and causing decrease in organ protection resulting in the increased
inflammation and decrease in it’s function.Therefore, vomiting and nausea is
caused due to the COVID-19 virus attacking the gastrointestinal tract.
- Loss of sense of
taste and smell
This symptom is more common than the other less common
symptoms with almost a large number or patient having it. Patients having these
symptoms do not have nasal congestion associated with it. Experts believe that
the loss of sense of taste and smell will return after you have been cured within
30 days but there are a handful of people that are still suffering with this
symptom even after being cured more than 5 months ago resulting with smell and
taste therapy to try to return their sense. It is believed that patients who
suffered with these symptoms and their sense did not return is because the
nerve pathway has been damaged by the virus. The virus enters into the
epithelium/mucous membrane and interferes with the nervous pathway, blocking
the nerve endings, resulting in inability to pass information to the brain.
- Skin Symptoms
These symptoms appear most commonly in children and
adolescents. The common symptoms associated with this condition are swelling,
discoloration, blisters, itchiness, painful raised bumps and rough skin. A
small amount of pus may also form beneath the skin. These symptoms normally can
last from 10 to 17 days, or even months after recovery. Normally, the swelling
on the fingers and toes could also be confused with chilblains, a type of
inflammatory skin condition.
- Central Nervous
System Symptoms
For this system, confusion also known as delirium in the
medical terminology is the main or might be the only symptom of COVID-19 in olderly patients. There are two types of delirium,
there are hyperactive delirium and hypoactive delirium. Hyperactive delirium is
when the patient is suffering with delusion or hallucinations. Hypoactive
delirium on the other hand is when the patients appear sleepy, responds slowly
and is not communicating with others. In some rare occasions, it is possible to
have a mix of both in certain patients.
In conclusion, all these symptoms listed above are some
of the lesser common symptoms of the Coronavirus known as COVID-19 these days.
It is not impossible in fact quite common that some patients only exhibit the
less common symptoms than the common one, some might only be a carrier without
any symptoms. It is vital to get yourself checked regularly to ensure your
COVID-19 free.
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