As an epidemiologist, I spend most of my waking hours interviewing people who are #COVID19 positive, suspect cases, & close contacts. Here’s some info on the #symptomatology I’m seeing.

(NB: We’re not yet re-interviewing people post-recovery to capture all late-onset sx.)

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https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square"> #Onset symptoms are all over the map, & can include diarrhea, nausea, runny nose, congestion...things that don’t immediately make people think #COVID19 (so STAY HOME with ANY symptomshttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❗️" title="Red exclamation mark symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Red exclamation mark symbol">)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square">The most common sx at onset is a cough (usually dry), but that’s only half of cases
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https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square">Only a third of cases are reporting fevers within 24h of onset
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square">Headache, fatigue, and/or sore throat at onset are reported in over 20% of cases
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square">Myalgia and/or chills are also not uncommon
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https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square">Symptoms throughout illness are likewise all over the map
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square">Cough is most common, but still reported in under 90% of cases
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square">Fever is only reported in about 60% of cases
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square">Headache, myalgia, and chills are each more common than actual fever
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https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square">Over half of cases report shortness of breath (sometimes in absence of cough)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square">Fatigue is also very common at about 80% of cases
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square">2/3rds of cases report cold-like sx (sore throat, runny nose, and/or congestion) at some point during illness
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Confirmation of reports of more surprising sx:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square">Almost half of cases have GI symptoms, most commonly diarrhea (41%)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="▪️" title="Black small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black small square">Fully half of our cases are reporting sudden loss of taste or smell, often both, unrelated to congestion, & sometimes at onset, even in absence of other sx
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TL;DR:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❗️" title="Red exclamation mark symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Red exclamation mark symbol">Ppl have #COVID19 *without* fever or cough
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❗️" title="Red exclamation mark symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Red exclamation mark symbol">Fatigue, headache, diarrhea are more common than ppl think
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❗️" title="Red exclamation mark symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Red exclamation mark symbol">Don’t leave home with ANY symptoms, even seemingly benign ones like runny nose
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❗️" title="Red exclamation mark symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Red exclamation mark symbol">Be alert for loss of taste or smell
#COVIDsymptoms #coronasymptoms
#anosmia