Runny nose is not a typical symptom of a coronavirus infection.
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Sat 01 February 2020
The first confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Germany are currently scaring many people. If you suffer from runny nose and sore throat, you do not have to worry: the coronavirus manifests itself through other symptoms.
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Runny nose and sore throat, the classic symptoms of a cold, are not typical for an infection with the new Coronaviurs. The new pathogen with the abbreviation 2019-nCoV appears to primarily affect the lower respiratory tract. Therefore, typical cold symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose do not appear in the specialist literature, according to previous reports. The main symptoms are fever, cough and shortness of breath.
Coronavirus primarily affects the airways
In a report in the journal “The Lancet”, Chinese scientists have examined the first 41 cases from China in more detail. All patients with 2019 nCoV infection who were treated in the hospital had pneumonia. 98 percent had a fever, 76 percent (dry) cough, 55 percent suffered from shortness of breath and 44 percent from fatigue. Only three patients complained of headache, one had diarrhea. However, other reports suggest that many infections with the new corona virus could also be mild to asymptomatic. There is a case report that a positive child in an affected family was symptom-free.
In addition to a dry cough and sudden onset, often high, fever, a strong feeling of illness as well as headache, muscle and joint pain are typical for an influenza infection, i.e. a flu. In terms of symptoms, flu diseases for laypeople are difficult to distinguish from infections with the new corona virus. According to the current status, the possible exposure is decisive for the suspicion of a 2019 nCoV infection: Those who were in the affected areas in China, especially in the Hubei province, and those who had close contact with people from these areas are particularly at risk ,
Anyone who notices the symptoms described above should go to the doctor. If necessary, the latter will send a sample with sputum to a qualified laboratory to have it checked for respiratory viruses.
Cold and coronavirus can be easily distinguished
In contrast, banal colds are easier to distinguish. The typical symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, slimy cough, slightly elevated temperature, fatigue and mild to moderate headache usually occur gradually over several days. Often only the throat hurts at first, the cough usually comes later. You feel sick, but not as completely weak as with a real flu.
ie / PZ / NK
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