A rapidly spreading infectious disease that hit us around March 2020 is the coronavirus (COVID-19) . The most common symptoms of this infectious disease are shortness of breath, headaches, fever, dry cough and fatigue. Other symptoms that you might experience include:
- Muscle pain
- Loss of taste/smell
- Diarrhoea
- Sore throat
- Chills
- Loss of appetite, confusion
- Shortness of breath
- Nasal congestion
- Pain in the chest
One could experience either two or three symptoms together, just one symptom or be asymptomatic- that makes the COVID RT-PCR Test more useful in this case.
People having existing health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension are at high risk, along with old aged people- especially in these cases, taking a COVID RT-PCR Test becomes more crucial.
The COVID RT-PCR Test is an oral or nasal swab test which provides an indication if one has caught the coronavirus infection. It also checks the presence of any active SARS COV-2 virus.
The COVID-19 disease spreads chiefly through saliva droplets or expulsion of nose discharge when an infected person coughs or sneezes which could linger in the air for sometime. It is also possible to experience itchiness in patches, so it is absolutely essential that everybody practice proper sanitary and respiratory hygiene.
If you have had an interaction with a person who has tested positive for the coronavirus, then you must immediately choose to isolate yourself in a room for 10 days. A mask must be worn and at least a 2-meter distance must be maintained from the people who possibly might be near you. In any case, opt for a COVID RT-PCR test in your city or at the comfort of your home as soon as possible.
In case you get tested positive for the COVID test, it indicates that you have an active coronavirus infection and must continue to isolate yourself from other people till you are tested negative for the same. You may choose to self-isolate at home or choose to opt for isolation in a COVID care facility or hospital if you are experiencing many symptoms till you are tested negative for the same.
If you are tested negative for the COVID RT-PCR test, you may resume to work but still practice the safety precautions in order not to make contact with the virus.
In case you were wondering if an COVID antibody test could be used to detect an active coronavirus infection, that is a common misconception. The antibody test could be used only to check if your body has developed the antibodies for the coronavirus infection. However, only the COVID RT-PCR test could be used for this diagnostic purpose.
If someone around you has been diagnosed with this infection in the past and has now recovered, they can opt for a COVID antibody test to know the strength of their immunity to fight this coronavirus infection.
