Coronavirus: alarming Covid symptoms and test

Published by My de Sortiraparis, Manon de Sortiraparis · Published on February 15th, 2021 at 10:50 a.m.
The coronavirus epidemic is hitting France, and if you have any doubts about the symptoms of this virus, here is everything you need to know and do in case of contamination if you happen to be in France.

Despite explanations and recommendations from the Health Department, many French people are still wondering about the symptoms of a virus that keeps spreading and teaching us more about it and how it spreads out.

You think you have coronavirus symptoms? You have doubts about your health and what to do in case of contamination? Sortiraparis editorial board gives you an update about what to do.

Coronavirus symptoms:

On its website, Health Department lists the most common coronavirus symptoms:

  • Cough
  • Fever
  • Fatigue

But among the less frequent symptoms but that should be alerting:

  • Sore throat
  • Headaches
  • Sore muscles
  • Diarrhea
  • Loss of taste and smell
  • Rash or fingers and/or toes turning blue or purple
  • Conjunctivitis

And among the serious symptoms that should lead you to consult quickly:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Loss of elocution or motor function
  • Feeling of pressure or pain in the chest

Caution, some people infected can develop some symptoms and not others. For instance, it is quite common to have no headaches or sore muscles.

By the way, the Health Department has also listed most symptoms in youth: loss of the sense of smell sometimes paired with the loss of the sense of taste. Symptoms that yet remain quite rare, like new ones found in several patients recently, such as the "covid-toe" (purple little toe), according to several studies led by the International League of Dermatological Societies and the American Academy of Dermatology or even a sudden loss of hearing.

In most severe cases, patients can quickly develop pneumonia, or could be victim of an acute respiratory distress symptom, starting with shortness of breath by the 8th day, or even acute kidney failure or multiple organ dysfunction syndrome leading to death.

In elderly people, some signs can be suspicious as for a possible coronavirus infection, and those are not always breathing troubles.

"Diarrhea, loss of balance, change of behavior, blood trouble (lower lymphocyte rate) are potentially forerunners for the Covid-19 breathing infection in fragile elderly people" head of Montpellier university hospital geriatrics Pr Hubert Blain explains.

As for the virus transmission modes, it’s via airborne droplets (spray of spit).

Coronavirus : que faire en cas de symptômes ou en cas de doute ?Coronavirus : que faire en cas de symptômes ou en cas de doute ?Coronavirus : que faire en cas de symptômes ou en cas de doute ?Coronavirus : que faire en cas de symptômes ou en cas de doute ?

What you should do in case of doubt:

In case you have any doubt, you shall not go to the doctor (you better call one before any consultation or get a video consultation), stay home and limit contacts with people around you.

A website has been recently launched in France by oncologist at Le Mand Jean Bernard center Dr. Fabrice Denis to assess you symptoms and avoid overcrowding paramedics. Quick and easy, it doesn't take more than 3 minutes to answer about twenty questions about your medical history (heart failure or kidney failure, diabetes...) and your felt symptoms (cough, fever...).

In case of more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or respiratory distress, call the Samu Centre 15 or 114.

Where to get tested in Paris and Ile-de-France?

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Note that the disease goes generally away in a couple days and symptoms disappear with resting…

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And to protect yourself, follow the required health instructions here:

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