Coronavirus (COVID-19)

What is it?

• COVID-19 is one of the many types of coronaviruses that already exist! Most types are known to cause mild illnesses such as the common cold, but others can lead to more severe respiratory problems

• The virus gets its name due to its crown-like, spiky surface that's visible underneath a microscope

• The virus itself is named the novel coronavirus while the disease is called coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19

How does it spread?

• COVID-19 is extremely contagious and can be spread through coughing, sneezing, or touching any surfaces that have come into contact with the virus

Although not known to be affected by the virus, animals are known to be able to carry it

What are the symptoms?

• Dry coughing

• Loss of energy

• Respiratory problems such as difficulty breathing

• Fever

• Rashes or skin irritations (new development shown in patients)

Fever as a Symptom of COVID-19

• A patient is considered to have a fever when the body reaches a temperature of at least 100.4º F

• 83-99% of patients infected get a fever (CDC)

• Fever symptoms tend to be less mild in children and young adults

  • Fever as an early symptom occurred in 56% of infected children (CDC)

• Without the use of medication, a fever should not last past 72 hours (CDC)

Patients Experience Different Symptoms

• Not all patients suffering COVID-19 will have a fever

  • A recent study collected data from 12 hospitals in the New York City area and found that 2/3 of critically ill patients exhibited no signs of a fever

    • This finding contradicts a report published in February 2020 conducted by WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019, which states that a fever is one of the most common symptoms in COVID-19 patients

    • COVID-19 is a disease that is still not fully understood and continues to present new symptoms as time goes on, therefore it's important to stay updated on new findings

• A fever is one of the first symptoms doctors check for to determine whether a patient suffers from COVID-19

  • It's important that people remain cautious of other symptoms that can arise and to not just correlate COVID-19 with having a fever

Use of Fever-Reducing Medications

• Popular choices of medication include Ibuprofen and other NSAIDS (non-inflammatory drugs)

• Some studies have hinted that taking fever-reducing medication can harm the body's natural ability to heal

  • A fever is caused by the body when trying to fight an infection, which many studies have noted can enhance immune-cell function

  • Taking certain fever-reducing medications can disrupt this occurrence, and therefore are sometimes advised to be skipped when suffering from a fever

• Overall, the negative impacts of using fever-reducing medication is very minimal and the best route to take would be to talk to a medical professional

  • Clinical trials have shown no harsh outcomes when taking medication when suffering from a fever

What to Expect

• As stated above, a fever will usually last for about 3 days without the use of medication

• Patients may experience sweating, chills, headaches, and muscle aches

Next Steps

• If your temperature is within the range that is considered a fever for your age group, it's advised to follow the guidelines presented by the CDC

  • Most important steps include

    • Staying home unless for medical emergencies

    • Monitor symptoms

    • Clean your hands often

    • Social distance from others and wear a mask

Should I take fever-reducing medication?

• YouTube video by Dr. Jonathan Schimmel explains the pros and cons of use

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NcwaWirhrc

Where do I go from here?

• Visit the CDC website that outlines what steps to take when diagnosed

  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

I don't know if I have COVID-19 but I'm exhibiting some symptoms, what should I do?

• There are many credible Self-Checkers that are offered online at no cost!

• Please note that these are not 100% accurate and that if you or someone in your family might be sick, the best course of action would be to seek medical care

  • CDC

    • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/index.html

  • Johns Hopkins

    • https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-self-checker.html

  • Mayo Clinic

    • https://www.mayoclinic.org/covid-19-self-assessment-tool

• Krouse, L. (2020, March 20). Why Is It Called ‘Coronavirus’? The COVID-19 Name, Explained. Women's Health.

• Landon, E. (2020, May 8). COVID-19: What we know so far about the 2019 novel coronavirus. Retrieved from https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/prevention-and-screening-articles/wuhan-coronavirus

• Interim Clinical Guidance for Management of Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), Interim Clinical Guidance for Management of Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) (2020).

• Smith, A. (2020, May 6). What are the early symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)? Medical News Today. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/coronavirus-early-symptoms

• Ray, J. J., & Shulman, C. I. (2015). Fever: suppress or let it ride? Journal of Thoracic Disease, 7(12), E633–E636. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.12.28

• Young, P., Saxena, M., Bellomo, R., Freebairn, R., Hammond, N., Haren, F. V., … Beasley, R. (2015). Acetaminophen for Fever in Critically Ill Patients with Suspected Infection. New England Journal of Medicine, 373(23), 2215–2224. doi: 10.1056/nejmoa1508375

• Fever. (2017, July 21). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20352759

• Data taken for thermometer accuracy:

  • Abdi, A., Asadian, S., Khatony, A., Moradi, G. R., & Rezaei, M. (2016). Accuracy and precision of four common peripheral temperature measurement methods in intensive care patients. Medical Devices: Evidence and Research, Volume 9, 301–308. doi: 10.2147/mder.s109904

• Study conducted in New York City area for fever symptom:

  • Richardson, S., Hirsch, J. S., Narasimhan, M., Crawford, J. M., Mcginn, T., Davidson, K. W., … Zanos, T. P. (2020). Presenting Characteristics, Comorbidities, and Outcomes Among 5700 Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 in the New York City Area. Jama. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.6775

• Garami, A., & Székely, M. (2014). Body temperature. Temperature, 1(1), 28–29. doi: 10.4161/temp.29060

• Peachman, R. R. (2020, April 2). What to Know About Fever and COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org/medical-symptoms/fever-and-covid-19-what-to-know/