Coronavirus infection can be asymptomatic. How to recognize it? [WE EXPLAIN]

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The asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic course of coronavirus infection is common, especially among young people. The number of asymptomatic cases around the world varies between 50 and 70 percent. According to experts, this percentage may be even higher in Poland. Unfortunately, the absence of symptoms does not mean that there will be no complications either. How do you know you have had the coronavirus?

1. Scientists have observed characteristic opacities in the lungs of some asymptomatic patients, which may indicate an inflammatory process
2. What may indicate that you have passed COVID-19? You should pay attention to chronic fatigue (lasting for several weeks), changes in exercise tolerance, or the emergence of exercise dyspnea
3. Alarming symptoms are: cardiovascular complaints, low temperature, red or blue toes, rash
4. Dr. Zbigniew Martyka points out that if someone does not have typical symptoms, it cannot be judged without research whether it is SARS-CoV-2 virus
5. More information about the coronavirus can be found on the TvoiLokony home page

How can you tell if you have been infected with the coronavirus asymptomatically?

Prof. Anna Boroń-Kaczmarska, an infectious disease specialist, estimates that the number of asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections in our country reaches even 80 percent. Therefore, it is worth paying close attention to signs that may indicate an infection.

Doctors mainly indicate chronic fatigue (lasting for several weeks) and a change in exercise tolerance or the emergence of exercise dyspnea.

Warning signals may be sudden breathing discomfort, chest tightness, wheezing, chest pain when taking deep breaths, or simply feeling out of breath.

Scientists from the Scripps Translational Research Institute in California observed characteristic opacities in the lungs of some asymptomatic patients, which may indicate an inflammatory process. They were detected, among others in passengers of the cruise ship “Diamond Princess”, which in March became a major focus of the coronavirus epidemic. Of the 3711 people on board, 712 had the infection, but as many as 331 passengers showed no symptoms. After some time, 76 people from the asymptomatic group underwent tomography, every second had lung lesions.

According to prof. Aileen Marty, infectious disease specialist at Florida International University, opacity in the lungs occurs in 67% of people. People infected with SARS-CoV-2, who do not show symptoms or have mild disease.

Do you have symptoms of unknown origin and want to check if they are not a complication of COVID-19? Perform post-SARS-CoV-2 infection e-packet to assess your health and detect any damage it may have caused to your body.

1. Also Read: What Happens in the Lungs of COVID-19 Patients? Explains the pulmonologist

Atypical symptoms of coronavirus infection

The SARS-CoV-2 virus can attack the heart and circulatory system, so it is worth paying attention to sudden cardiac symptoms. This could be palpitations, coronary pain, or problems with the venous circulation.

Another unusual symptom of infection may be a drop in body temperature. Disco polo singer Damian Krysztofik (pseudonym NEF) mentioned it in an interview with WP: “I was weakened, my temperature dropped to 36.1, 35.8, not a fever, like most patients. I have to admit that I smoke and that also made me think, because I was not able to take a puff ».

We should also be alerted by the appearance of skin changes, e.g. reddened or blue toes. Such signs have been observed in both patients with severe symptoms of the infection and those who have had mild or asymptomatic infection. The fact that we probably had COVID-19 is also evidenced by the rash that resolves on its own.

If we notice any of these symptoms, it is worth using an e-medical advice. Due to the precautions related to the coronavirus epidemic, teleportation is recommended in the first place, which will allow the doctor to conduct an interview and make a preliminary assessment of the patient’s condition.

1. Learn more: What could the symptoms of the coronavirus be on the skin?

Coronavirus: Test result is decisive

Zbigniew Martyka, MD, PhD, specialist in internal and infectious diseases, head of the observation and infectious ward at the Hospital. Sebastian Patrycego in Dąbrowa Tarnowska in an interview with Medonet says that the test result is the most reliable source of knowledge. However, if symptoms of an infection have been observed, it is no longer asymptomatic.

– We can infer about the infection from the presence of antibodies – he explains. – If there were no symptoms, and the examination detects antibodies, we probably passed the infection asymptomatically. The test is performed in analytical laboratories and probably most of these laboratories have the ability to perform such a determination.

Some patients asked Dr. Martyka to test such antibodies. Including this concerned people who already in January showed symptoms that might suggest SarS-CoV-2 infection (fever, olfactory and taste disorders) – at that time it was not officially reported that the virus infected anyone in Poland.

1. See also: Scientists have described more than 50 symptoms of COVID-19. Among them, toothache and photophobia

— If someone does not have the typical symptoms, it is impossible to judge without research whether it is SARS-CoV-2 virus – says Dr. Martyka. – All the more so, it is impossible to suspect such an infection when someone has no symptoms at all. On the other hand, fatigue syndrome, inflammation of organs such as liver, lungs, kidneys, etc., may result from infection with any other virus.

It is possible to individually apply for a private test for the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. However, it should be taken into account that although the specificity of the said test is 100%, its sensitivity reaches 94%. The immunological test is not used to confirm the infection, because for this purpose the RT-PCR genetic test must be performed – make an appointment now.

Dr. Martyka explains that infection with any virus can lead to four situations:

1. you can not get infected (immune barriers will prevent the virus from entering the cells)
2. you can become an asymptomatic virus carrier
3. you can get sick (light, medium or severe)
4. you can die (you can learn a lot about the pathomechanisms of infection and disease on the basis of autopsy tests, but in Poland such tests are usually not done in people infected with SARS-CoV-2).

What can you do?

Dr. Martyka replies: – Be careful, but do not panic. If someone has any infectious symptoms, they should avoid contact with other people, no matter what infectious agent they are.

See also:

1. Will Poland lift the restrictions? Lifeguard warns against scenario from Portugal
2. Do people at this age spread the coronavirus the most? They are not vaccinated
3. Three new symptoms of COVID-19. You can see them in the mouth, palms and soles of the feet

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