Forum Topic

Covid -19 symptoms much more than a cough or fever

I am on Day 16 of self imposed isolation.Symptoms rolled from 1 - 5 with headaches almost continuous 1. Runny nose2. Headaches3. Sweats4. Shortness of breath5. Heavy fatigue NHS 111 call on 21 March 2020 you do not have persistent dry cough and temperature. You do not have Corona virus 19. If you develop a cough or fever call us. Chiswick Health Practice telephone assessment 23 March 2020 - you do not have persistent dry cough or fever - it is not Coronavirus 19. It may be a virus. If your breathlessness gets worse contact 111. An interesting article on Newsnight on 31 March 2020 on which Professor Karl Heneghan suggests Public Health England data shows patients might have Coronavirus with wide ranging symptoms. It’s much more than a fever and a cough. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p088967b

Chris Green ● 2408d13 Comments

Good Morning ChrisForgive me for being slightly confused. Do you have the virus?

Georgina Flint ● 2408d

Just curious, do you have any loss of smell or taste?I'm sorry you have the infection Chris. It is horrible and recovery really drags on. 
Take care. If breathlessness gets worse, call 999. 

Angela Knight ● 2408d

I thimk your symptoms relate back to a GP in the clip who collected data. No person or persons was mentioned as being tested as positive to Covid-19.Id say you without being tested have a virus .Think in some cases we are ignoring the symtoms as being anything else. I tend to think that to much talk and thought from too many people can become confusing. Too many experts on the radio has made some issues very confusing. Ive even had two travel experts in two days layely give opposite advice on the same issue. But without full support at hand and not being tested,i guess the best action to take is self isolate just incase. Question......Has anyone else close to you or a family member had or have come down with same symtoms you mention. The symptoms you gave in your 1-5 i can safely say ive had at some stage in my life.

Julian Pavey ● 2408d

I have 1,2,3 and 5. I guess I have the common cold/flu. I’d be very wary of a shortness of breath though Chris. You really should get checked out in hospital. I wish you all the best.

Georgina Flint ● 2408d

I think Chris is telling us he has the virus - it just hasn't been confirmed yet.But all those symptoms correlate to Covid-19 - although could be dismissed as a cold/flu.What he is saying that's important is: - don't rely on "fever and shortness of breath and persistent cough" to think you have C-19.-If you have a whole load of flu like symptoms you might have it and should act as if you do. Self isolation for you and your family. You are highly infectious.- Most people don't get tested and don't see a medical professional- lots of people report loss of taste and smell but that doesn't mean everyoneThe persistent cough, fever and difficulty breathing is when NHS gets concerned because it's the stage that you might have to go to hostpital (if severe).

Richard Potts ● 2408d

Thank you Richard. Very clear advice.Chris, I hope you’re ok.

Georgina Flint ● 2408d

In S.Korea up to 23rd Mar, of their almost 9000 cases admitted for some form of care at hospital they are reporting  30 percent do notice a loss of taste or smell to a high degree and this lasts for about 5 - 10 days

Andrew Craig ● 2408d

I’ve heard the list of symptoms endlessly.  I also hear that there are various degrees of the illness, including no symptoms.  Whether it’s the virus or not I assume the advice would be the same try not to pass your illness on and yes would agree, difficulty in breathing is when most people would feel the need for medical intervention.

Maggie Dodge ● 2408d

I can't be certain, but I think that the symptoms are a lot wider than the cough and fever.I know someone who had the cough and fever, yet his wife had about five days of headaches (maybe with some aches and tiredness).I know of a primary school (not in Chiswick) where a large number of the staff have had some kind of lurgy, and the symptoms vary massively.  Three lost their sense of taste, while others were reporting headaches, while others were more cold like symptoms.  We don't know for sure if it's Covid-19, but the loss of taste suggests it is.  Also, the fact that it went through so many staff so quickly suggests it might be.  If it had been a regular cold/flu virus, you would expect some of the staff to have some level of immunity from having seen something similar before.Where there has been extensive testing in a town in Italy, and on the Diamond Princess, very large numbers of positive tests had no symptoms at all - 60% in the Italian town had no symptoms.  Based on that, it's highly likely that there are also people with mild symptoms who don't exhibit the cough and fever.  That seems to be the more serious cases.

Al Webber ● 2408d

I think that what Chris has said is so true.  I am sure that I have had C19 but because it didn’t start off with a cough or a temperature, but chills, tiredness and a headache, I didn’t recognise it.  I didn’t lose my sense of taste or smell, but I lost my appetite.  My mouth also became swollen inside.  I developed the cough some way in and my main symptom now is really heavy fatigue.  It is as if someone has tied weights to my legs.It is definitely more than a fever and a cough.

Sandra Jones ● 2408d

We'll find out when tests become available.  Meanwhile best not to speculate or entertain understandable hypochondria.I may have had it – ages back in late February.  A slight fever up to about 37.8..  a persistent dry cough which I self-diagnosed as bronchitis.  Unable to lie flat without coughing... slight ache/pain from the upper respiratory system...  Feeling lousy... Who knows eh..But It'd be good to find out....

Stuart Kerr ● 2408d

Yes, I may have had it too, Stuart. Textbook symptoms in my case: fever, dry cough, aching bones. Kept me indoors for ten days but never bad enough to seek medical advice let alone help.Roll on the antibody tests.

Susan Kelly ● 2408d

Would still appreciate your definition of "it" from a previous posting, Susan>

Jeffrey Cope ● 2407d