Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Definition

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that causes fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. Some people with COVID-19 have died. Some people have none or only mild symptoms.

Alternative Names

Coronavirus - 2019; Coronavirus - novel 2019; 2019 Novel coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2

Causes

COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can affect people and animals. They can cause mild to moderate respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold. Some coronaviruses can cause severe illness that can lead to pneumonia and even death.

COVID-19 was first reported in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China in early December, 2019. Since then, it has spread throughout the world and within the United States.

SARS-CoV-2 is a betacoronavirus, like the MERS and SARS coronaviruses, which both originated in bats. It is thought that the virus spread from animals to humans. Now the virus is mainly spreading from person-to-person.

COVID-19 spreads to people within close contact (about 6 feet or 1.8 meters). When someone with the illness coughs or sneezes, droplets spray into the air. You can catch the illness if you breathe in these droplets. You may also get the illness if you touch a surface with the virus on it and then touch your eyes, nose, mouth or face. But this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

COVID-19 can cause mild to serious illness and even death. It is also spreading from person to person quickly. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) consider COVID-19 a serious public health threat globally and in the United States. The situation is evolving quickly, so it's important to follow current local guidance on how to protect yourself and others from getting and spreading COVID-19.

Symptoms

COVID-19 symptoms have ranged from mild to severe, and some people have died from the illness. Older people and people with certain existing health conditions have a higher risk of developing severe illness:

• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• COPD
• Obesity (BMI of 30 or above)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Organ transplantation
• Sickle cell disease 

Symptoms of COVID-19 may include:

• Fever
• Chills; repeated shaking with chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Headache
• Loss of sense of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Some people may have no symptoms at all or may have some, but not all of the symptoms.

Symptoms may appear within 2 to 14 days after being exposed. Most often, symptoms appear around 5 days after exposure. However, you can spread the virus even when you do not have symptoms.

More severe symptoms that require seeking medical help right away include:

• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain or pressure that persists
• Confusion
• Inability to wake up
• Blue lips or face

Exams and Tests

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, your provider may decide to test you for the disease. Not everyone needs to be tested.

If you do get tested for COVID-19, swabs from the back of the nose or throat will be collected. Samples of blood and sputum may also be taken. In some cases, samples of fluid from the lungs may be collected by bronchoscopy. Urine and stool samples also may be collected for further testing. If a person is thought to have COVID-19, these samples will be tested for SARS-CoV-2.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment at this time. Supportive care is given to help relieve symptoms. People with severe illness will be treated in the hospital. Some people are being given experimental medicines.

Check with your health care provider before treating yourself or a loved one with vitamins, nutrients, or any medicines prescribed in the past for other health problems.

Possible Complications

Complications can include:

• Respiratory failure
• Death

When to Contact a Medical Professional

You should call your health care provider:

• If you have symptoms and think you may have been exposed to COVID-19
• If you have COVID-19 and your symptoms are getting worse

Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have:

• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain or pressure
• Confusion or inability to wake up
• Blue lips or face
• Any other symptoms that are severe or concern you
  

Before you go to a doctor's office or hospital emergency department (ED), call ahead and tell them that you have or think you may have COVID-19. Tell them about any underlying conditions you might have, such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease. If you have a face mask, wear it when you visit the office or ED, unless it makes it hard to breathe. This will help protect other people you come in contact with.

Prevention

There is no vaccine for COVID-19. The best way to avoid infection is to avoid contact with people who have the virus.

If you have COVID-19 or have symptoms of it, you must isolate yourself at home and avoid contact with other people, both inside and outside your home, to avoid spreading the illness. This is called home isolation or self-quarantine.

• As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from others in your home. Use a separate bathroom if you can. Do not leave your home except to get medical care.
• Do not travel while sick. Do not use public transportation or taxis.
• Keep track of your symptoms. You may receive instructions on how to check and report your symptoms.
• Stay in touch with your doctor. Before you go to a doctor's office or emergency department (ED), call ahead and tell them that you have or think you may have COVID-19.
• Use a face mask when you see your health care provider and anytime other people are in the same room with you. If you can't wear a mask, for example, due to breathing problems, people in your home should wear a mask if they need to be in the same room with you.
• Avoid contact with pets or other animals. (SARS-CoV-2 can spread from people to animals but it is not known how often this happens).
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Droplets that are released when a person sneezes or coughs are infectious. Throw away the tissue after use.
• Wash your hands many times a day with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. Do this before eating or preparing food, after using the toilet, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Do not share personal items such as cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding. Wash anything you have used in soap and water.
• Clean all "high-touch" areas in the home, such as doorknobs, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, toilets, phones, tablets, and counters and other surfaces. Use a household cleaning spray and follow instructions for use.

You should remain at home, avoid contact with people, and follow the guidance of your provider and local health department about when to stop home isolation.

It's also important to help prevent the spread of the disease to protect people at high risk of serious illness and to protect health care providers who are at the front lines of dealing with COVID-19.

For that reason, everyone should practice social distancing. This means:

• Avoid crowded public places and mass gatherings, such as shopping centers, movie theaters, concert halls, conferences, and sports stadiums.
• Don't gather in groups larger than 10. The fewer people you spend time with, the better.
• Stay at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) from other people.
• Work from home (if that is an option).
• If you must go out, wear a face mask or cloth face cover in areas where it may be hard to maintain social distancing, such as a grocery store.

To find out what it happening in your community, check your local or state government website.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) -- www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

World Health Organization website. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic --  www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): How to protect yourself & others. www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html. Updated April 24, 2020. Accessed July 6, 2020.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Information for healthcare professionals about coronavirus (COVID-19). www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/index.html. Updated July 7, 2020. Accessed July 21, 2020.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Public health guidance for community-related exposure. www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html. Updated June 5, 2020. Accessed July 6, 2020.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): What to do if you are sick. www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html. Updated May 8, 2020. Accessed July 6, 2020.