Insightful Guide on the 2019 Coronavirus and COVID-19: Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment Details
In the ongoing battle against COVID-19, understanding the virus and its implications is crucial. Here's a guide to help you navigate through the key aspects of the disease.
Transmission of COVID-19 can occur before and after showing symptoms, within 1 to 2 days before symptoms appear and in the first 8 to 10 days after. This underscores the importance of maintaining good hygiene and physical distancing practices.
For those seeking to test for COVID-19, at-home over-the-counter tests are available without a prescription and can be bought online or at most pharmacies. However, it's essential to check the expiration date before testing, as authorized by the FDA. Testing locations also include the CDC, state health departments, commercial companies, certain pharmacies, clinics and hospitals, emergency rooms, and community testing centers.
Currently, there is no cure for COVID-19, and the FDA has deauthorized monoclonal antibody medications due to their lack of effectiveness against newer Omicron subvariants. However, if hospitalized for COVID-19, treatments may include IV steroids, Actemra (tocilizumab), tofacitinib, molnupiravir (Lagevrio), convalescent plasma, supplemental oxygen, and other medications depending on symptoms and severity.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can persist for several weeks or even months in some cases, and this is known as long COVID. The rate of death from COVID-19 has decreased, but the most serious complication is still acute respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or multiple organ failure that can lead to death. Other possible complications include secondary bacterial or fungal infections, post-COVID-19 syndrome (long COVID), multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), and neurological and psychiatric symptoms.
To prevent the transmission of coronaviruses, the best way is to avoid or limit contact with people who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or any respiratory infection. Good hygiene and physical distancing practices, such as washing hands, not touching the face, staying home when sick, wearing masks, and cleaning objects, can help prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses.
Vaccination is a crucial tool in the fight against COVID-19. The CDC recommends annual COVID-19 vaccination for most people ages 18 years and older, and vaccination is recommended for children 6 months and older by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and all pregnant people by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Older adults, people with compromised immune systems, and those with certain underlying medical conditions may need more than one dose or a booster shot for optimal effectiveness.
Research teams worldwide are working on COVID-19 vaccines, antiviral drugs, and therapies. Examples include the team led by immunologist Akiko Iwasaki collaborating with the biopharma company Invivyd in New Haven, focusing on treating Long Covid patients with monoclonal antibodies and antivirals. Another example is the joint effort involving the medical institute of Bals, the Institute for Clinical Pharmacy (Prof. Dr. Thomas Lehr and Dr. Dominik Selzer), the Institute of Virology, and the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), which research Azelastin nasal spray for antiviral protection against COVID-19.
The FDA has approved antiviral medications for COVID-19, including Nirmatrelvir with Ritonavir (Paxlovid), Remdesivir (Veklury), and Molnupiravir (Lagevrio).
If you test positive for COVID-19, it's recommended to stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least 24 hours after symptoms have reduced and you no longer have a fever without medication.
Stay informed, stay safe, and remember that together, we can combat COVID-19.
