CORONAVIRUS cases are rising in the UK and it's important that you know the symptoms so that you can self isolate if you catch the bug.
The NHS states that a high temperature, a new persistent cough and a loss of taste or smell are the key symptoms that you should look out for.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Experts have previously warned that the list should be extended to include symptoms such as a headache, which has been seen in many patients.
Researchers at King's College London also previously said that symptoms in children differ from what adults will experience.
Data from the Covid Symptom Tracker app revealed that the top symptom in children is fatigue.
Other symptoms in kids include, a headache, fever, sore throat and a loss of appetite.
But there are eight common symptoms adults have been suffering that might surprise you.
1. Hair loss
Although hair loss is not one of the common symptoms of coronavirus, some people who have had the virus claim it is a side-effect.
One survivor, who battled the virus in March said she feared she would go bald and be forced to wear a wig after more than half of her hair fell out.
Grace Dudley from Essex said she woke up to clumps of hair on her pillow, while others online also commented that they too had experienced extreme hair loss.
The condition know as telogen effluvium (TE), is when a person temporarily experiences hair loss.
Doctors have said that this usually occurs if a patient has recently experienced a stressful situation. TE occurs when the number of the follices in the scalp changes.
It usually affects the top of the scalp and in most cases the hair line will not recede if someone experiences TE.
Severe cases of TE will spread to the eyebrows and other parts of the body.
2. Confusion
Being delirious and confused could be a sign of the virus as many people have said they experienced a state of confusion or delirium after contracting the bug.
Researchers found that neurological symptoms were present in 36 per cent of patients with Covid-19 in Wuhan, China – the epicentre of the pandemic.
In particular, doctors say those with severe coronavirus who are admitted to hospital often develop an acute brain condition called “ICU delirium".
This is because those with life-threatening symptoms often rely on ventilators to assist with breathing and need to be sedated to minimise the pain and discomfort associated with intubation.
However, these lifesaving measures also come with side effects that include confusion, inability to comprehend what’s happening around you, and inability to focus.
3. Conjunctivitis
Scientists have previously warned that the coronavirus can enter the body through your eyes and that tears could spread the infection.
The results of a study carried out by a team at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore comes after people who had contracted the illness complained of eye irritation and conjunctivitis.
Over the course of the pandemic scientists said various investigators had reported the "presence of the virus in tear and conjunctival swab specimens in a subset of patients with Covid-19".
In their report the team said there had been limited studies carried out regarding transmission of the virus through the eyes and said through their study they found expression of both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 across all human ocular specimens tested.
They said the virus was particularly prominent in the conjunctiva and cornea.
4. Stomach upset
Back at the beginning of the pandemic in March, US scientists claimed that those with Covid-19 might also experience a tummy ache before developingflu-like symptoms.
A study, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, suggests people might experience digestive issues, such as diarrhoea, when they are infected with the coronavirus.
Researchers stated that, for some people, digestive symptoms may present first before the respiratory symptoms of Covid-19.
5. Skin rashes
Last month experts from King's College London, who run the Covid Symptom Tracker app, noticed a rise in users reporting rashes.
They found that nine per cent of people who had tested positive for coronavirus also had either a body rash or a rash on their fingers or toes.
Researchers said rashes were twice as common in children as in adults and may be a better predictor of having a swab test than a fever or cough.
According to the data, rashes may appear before, during or after the presence of other Covid symptoms and sometimes many weeks later.
Rashes were also the only sign of infection for 21 per cent of people with a positive nasal swab.
6. Blood clots
Scientists in the UK previously stated that every patient that has died of the virus has had signs of a blood clot.
While scientists are clear the blood clots aren’t the main cause of death in each case, the findings support previous research that suggests the virus causes vascular issues.
Infectious disease specialist at Imperial College London Professor Graham Cooke looked at data from post-mortems of Covid-19 patients who died.
When blood clots emerged as a complication, blood thinners – designed to stop clots – were also trialled.
Prof Cooke said: "We’ve seen patients who have coronary thrombosis and vascular thrombosis.
"So it does appear to be a very important part of the disease and we see that in terms of activation of the coagulation system."
TOP FIVE CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS IN KIDS
Experts say parents should look out for the following symptoms in their kids.
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Fever
- Sore throat
- loss of appetite
7. Headache
Research by Imperial College London previously found that headaches are a common symptom of the virus.
Experts say 62 per cent of people who experienced any Covid-19 symptoms reported having a sore head.
t is notable that a headache is generally likely to be from stress, emotional distress, migraine or high blood pressure, anxiety or depression.
8. Hearing loss
Experts at the University of Manchester said people who have recovered from the virus have reported a deterioration in their hearing as well as conditions such as tinnitus.
According to audiologists at the University of Manchester, those recovering could also be hit with hearing difficulties.
The study, supported by the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) surveyed 121 adults admitted to Wythenshawe Hospital.
They were questioned over the phone eight weeks after being discharged from hospital.
When asked if they had experienced any changes to their hearing 13.2 per cent said their hearing was worse.
Source: Read Full Article