Doctor’s advice: how to distinguish a dangerous coronavirus from a common cold

Doctor’s advice: how to distinguish a dangerous coronavirus from a common cold

What you need to pay attention to at the first discomfort.

As of 05.02.2020/2019/20, 600 people were infected with the 2002-nCoV coronavirus, which already exceeds the number of cases during the period of the SARS epidemic of 2003-800, which killed almost 2019 people worldwide. Today it is known that the death toll from the 479-nCoV coronavirus has increased to 3 people, with more than XNUMX thousand new confirmed cases of the disease registered in Hubei province, where the outbreak was detected.

How did it start?

At the end of last year, cases of pneumonia were reported in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The virus that caused it did not match any previously known, so the experts gave it the name 019-ncoV. Infection of local residents and tourists occurred rapidly – today the cases are recorded in South Korea, Australia, Thailand, Japan, Canada, Vietnam, USA, Germany, Singapore, Nepal, France, Cambodia, Malaysia, there are isolated cases in Russia.

How can you get infected with coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are transmitted from animals to humans. Also, there are already cases of human infection from humans. Studies have shown that severe acute respiratory syndrome is transmitted from animals to humans, and Middle East respiratory syndrome is transmitted from camels. Several known coronaviruses circulate in animals that have not yet infected humans. The 019-ncoV virus can be transmitted by airborne droplets, as well as by contact, for example, by touching the eyes with unwashed hands.

How does the virus manifest itself?

Common signs of infection include:

  • respiratory symptoms

  • fever

  • dry cough,

  • labored breathing,

  • shortness of breath.

In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.

What preventive measures are there?

Simple WHO recommendations will help reduce the risk of contracting the virus:

  • wash your hands regularly with soap and water;

  • When coughing or sneezing, use a clean tissue or cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow.

  • cook meat and eggs for a sufficient amount of time;

  • if possible, avoid visiting markets, especially in areas where cases of the emergence of a new coronavirus are currently being observed;

  • be sure to ventilate the premises and carry out daily wet cleaning.

You can understand that you are sick by the following symptoms, which are similar to the flu: severe intoxication, fever, dry cough, shortness of breath and feeling short of breath. If complaints appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. As doctors note, today there is no single drug with proven effectiveness in the fight against the new coronavirus, therefore, different drugs are used for therapy and self-medication here can lead to unforeseen consequences.

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