Coronavirus: Diagnosis, Symptoms & Prevention

Introduction

Wuhan, China, Coronavirus, tragedy. These four words have hijacked our TV screens since December 2019. And by the looks of things, the situation isn’t going to be any different for at least another few weeks. The damage inflicted by Coronavirus is still under assessment. However, the increasing number of victims presents a very gloomy picture. This alarming situation demands that masses must have basic knowledge of this deadly epidemic and the causative agent behind this.

This article is one such effort in this regard. Coronavirus symptoms, diagnosis, and prevention are the main features of this discussion. Hopefully, after reading this discussion, you will be better prepared than ever to fight the Coronavirus!

What is Coronavirus?

The etymology of Coronavirus is interesting. In Latin, corona means crown. The spikes found on the surface of this virus are similar to a crown, hence the name Coronavirus.

Now, Coronavirus is not a new adversary of the human population. You might recall the deadly SARS epidemic, way back in the early 2000s. The causative agent of that outbreak was also Coronavirus. However, normally Coronavirus isn’t associated with fatal diseases. Minor and mild respiratory issues are common problems caused by this virus.

According to the Centre for Disease Control, a mutated strain of the virus is causing havoc in China and other countries. This strain has been dubbed as 2019-nCoV, an acronym fir 2019 novel Coronavirus. The initial investigations have led us to believe the virus originally disseminated from a seafood market in Wuhan.

Coronavirus Symptoms

Here, we are going to discuss the symptoms associated with the 2019-nCoV strain, only. The reported symptom range is a diverse one. From showing no signs to mortality, Coronavirus continues to frustrate doctors and researchers. However, the CDC lists some of the most common symptoms associated with this deadly virus. These include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath.

It can take 2 to 14 days before the virus manifests itself in the form of these symptoms. This prediction comes from an analysis of previous Coronavirus strains and their incubation periods.

Coronavirus Diagnosis

If you are feeling the symptoms we have mentioned already, then you must hurry. Early Coronavirus diagnosis can save you and your beloved one’s lives. In light of recent developments, the first step that you must take is to recall and narrate your travel history to your healthcare provider. Any contact with the animals also has to be reported.

Detecting the virus is an important step in combating and containing it. According to the CDC, respiratory specimens are required for Coronavirus diagnosis. Laboratory tests will be performed on this specimen. Samples of serum are also used for Coronavirus diagnosis. Researchers are currently working on an improved diagnostic kit. This will help in a much more efficient Coronavirus diagnosis.

Coronavirus Prevention

In a massive deadly viral outbreak like this, preventive strategies are more successful than anything else. According to the World Health Organization, there is a lot you can do in this regard. Let’s have a look at these basic measures which can stop the Coronavirus transmission. These include:

• Wash your hands for at least twenty seconds, ideally with a soap.
• Washing hands before food intake of any kind is a must.
• Avoid touching your face or eyes unnecessarily.
• In case of a case reported in your family, immediately report it to the nearest hospital. Quarantine practices then must be followed.
• Disinfect surfaces with chemicals available at your nearest supermarket.

Coronavirus Cure and Treatment

There is no specific treatment available for the Coronavirus 2019 strain. Vaccine development is still in process and it will take some time before it is commercially available. However, some of the antiviral approaches you can adopt for curing and treating the virus on your own are:

• Supportive therapy. Say you have a fever, take a medication which alleviates fever normally.
• Hot showers, which can minimize the dryness of a sore throat.

• Boosting up liquid intake has been found to be extremely helpful in curing Coronavirus patients,

And how do you expect to recover, if you don’t take a due rest?

Conclusion

Despite the rather hopeless current situation, the world is trying to fight back. National health emergencies imposed in various countries reflect the seriousness of governments in this regard. Those researchers in the labs are also trying their best to come up with a magical solution. All we can do at the moment is hope. Hope that this situation doesn’t become one of the darkest images on the canvas of human history!

See more: Polio In Pakistan.