How do you know if you have passed COVID-19? [WE EXPLAIN]

Fear of coronavirus infection among Poles is diminishing. The number of people willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 is also declining. Some people assume that after such a long pandemic they are certainly convalescents and will not be infected with the Delta variant. Is it right?

Fot. Shutterstock/ JPC-PROD

1. Currently, the highly infectious Delta variant is responsible for infections in Poland and other European countries
2. For 1,5 years, some Poles have been convinced that they must have contracted the coronavirus in the past months
3. Dr. Bartosz Fiałek talks about whether it is possible to somehow recognize or have symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection for MedTvoiLokony.
4. More information can be found on the Onet homepage.

Was it a cold or COVID-19? Is it somehow recognizable?

Some Poles who have seen symptoms of a cold in the past months are now convinced that it was SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, they are not afraid of infection, and they also voluntarily give up vaccinations. They assume that they are already healed and the coronavirus poses no threat to them. However, this is a highly risky assumption.

– The symptoms that we note in the course of COVID-19 are the most common symptoms of a cold, so it is difficult to tell whether we are dealing with a cold or COVID-19 – says Dr. Bartosz Fiałek in an interview with Medonet. – This is what specific tests are for, such as RT-PCR, which detect genes of the new coronavirus. On this basis, we are able to determine whether it is a SARS-CoV-2 infection or, for example, with adenoviruses, rhinoviruses or other coronaviruses, because remember that we have four human coronaviruses that cause a cold.

1. What are the symptoms of Delta now? It’s becoming easier to mistake her for the flu

Cold-like symptoms alone cannot constitute grounds for saying that you are definitely a healed person.

“ It’s hard to tell from the symptoms of a mild upper respiratory tract infection alone that it’s definitely COVID-19. On the other hand, when dyspnea occurs in the course of pneumonia, we will definitely find out what causes it, because then we go to the hospital, perform a test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and high-resolution computed tomography. On this basis, we can determine whether it is pneumonia in the course of COVID-19 or caused by another etiological factor.

The same applies to the symptoms typical of the Delta variant. They are also not a clear symptom of infection.

– In the case of infection with the Delta variant of the new coronavirus, gastric and gastrointestinal symptoms are more frequent, i.e. nausea, vomiting, bowel disorders. However, it is highly irresponsible to say, without testing, when having symptoms of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, “OK, it was Delta for sure. I am a healer “- adds the expert.

The rest of the text is below the video.

How do you know if you are a healer? There is only one way

Self-diagnosis of COVID-19 based on symptoms is neither effective nor safe. In this case, there is only one possible direction that will surely confirm that we are convalescents.

– In order to determine if you really are convalescent, you should simply test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the event of symptoms – says Dr. Fiałek. – And this is not an antibody test that can only tell us about contact with the SARS-2 coronavirus, but a test that detects active infection with the new coronavirus, i.e. the RT-PCR test.

1. Editors recommend: The latest data on COVID-19 in Europe. The disastrous situation in Slovenia, no one knows about Poland

The test should be performed by both people with symptoms of the disease and those who have been in contact with the infected.

– In the case of an active infection, a genetic test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 infection should be performed preferentially. If it is positive, then we are sure that we are infected. If negative – we are not infected. Unless we hit the serological window. Therefore, it is best to do two tests then. The first one immediately after the onset of symptoms, and the second one between the 5th and 7th day after the symptoms appear. And only on the basis of a positive test that detects active infection with the new coronavirus, we obtain the status of a convalescent. This is important for both symptomatic and asymptomatic people. After taking the test, we know if we are sick, and if so, it means that we can infect other people and we should isolate ourselves. Therefore, I will emphasize once again: tests, tests, tests. This is essential in the context of epidemiological safety. And the only condition that allows us to obtain the status of a healer. Just “it seems to me that I am a healer” is not enough.

Do you want to test your COVID-19 immunity after vaccination? Have you been infected and want to check your antibody levels? See the COVID-19 immunity test package, which you will perform at Diagnostics network points.

Also read:

1. Thousands of deaths in emergency rooms. The politician publishes the data, and the ministry translates
2. Prof. Kołtan: now you won’t have to break the law to get the third dose
3. In Israel, a record high number of patients on respirators
4. Record number of infections in highly vaccinated Singapore
5. Geneticist: we can expect up to another 40. deaths due to COVID-19

The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.