Covid-19 was just one of the many scary stories we heard about while growing up. Most people thought of the pandemic in terms of morbidity and mortality. While there have been major improvements in the last few months, there is still much we need to learn about this new strain of the virus. Hopefully this article will shed some light on this terrifying yet fascinating disease and help you to navigate these uncertain times safely.
Basic Facts About Covid-19
First off, thanks for the well-wishes! I am doing okay. Despite some initial fears, I’ve been lucky enough to avoid any major complications from the disease. Still, there are a lot of things I don’t know about it. I was fortunate enough to be one of the first people in my community to be affected. This gave me an opportunity to learn a lot about Covid-19 and how to manage this new condition. Since then, I’ve read a lot of books and articles about the disease. Here are some basic facts about Covid-19 that you should know:
The Symptoms Of Covid-19
The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are dry cough and fever. Many people have also reported shortness of breath, aches, and fatigue. Some people even report having diarrhea and stomach pain. These symptoms can appear several days or even a few weeks after being infected with the virus. They usually go away in a few days or a week at the most. It’s important to note that for some people, especially the elderly, these symptoms can be quite severe. In fact, it was already quite tragic that on March 24th alone, there were over 170,000 cases of Covid-19 and over 5,600 deaths in the U.S. alone.
How Is Covid-19 Spread?
Though there is no known cure for Covid-19, there are steps you can take to prevent the spread of the disease. The primary way people get infected with Covid-19 is by touching a surface or object that has been contaminated with the virus and then touching their mouth or nose. This could happen when you are cleaning your house or caring for a sick family member. It can also happen when you are visiting someone who is infected.
Treatments For Covid-19
There are several treatments for Covid-19. The most effective ones appear to be (in order of recommended strength)
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Zinc
- Remdesivir
- Tocilizumab
- Lopinavir/ritonavir
- Ribavirin
- Interferon Beta
Covid-19 Vaccine
To combat this pandemic, several countries have initiated mass vaccinations. While there are still many challenges associated with mass vaccinations (like side effects from the vaccine), it appears that the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. The U.S. is now offering a vaccine for Covid-19 as well. The main advantages of the vaccine are that it appears to work for most people and it has been shown to decrease the amount of severe cases and deaths from the disease.
Vaccination Side Effects
One of the many things I didn’t know about the vaccine for Covid-19 is that it has been shown to have some very side effects. The side effects of the vaccine are largely similar to those of a commonly used pain medication called Vicodin. One of the main side effects is that it can cause some people to become more irritable and agitated. In fact, over 2 percent of people who took part in a small clinical trial testing the vaccine had to be removed from the study because of adverse reactions to the drug. These symptoms typically go away after a couple of days. Still, it’s good to know what the risks are before getting vaccinated.