“Coronavirus symptoms?”
I tested positive at a local health center three weeks ago, experienced mild flu-like symptoms for 7 days. I felt better for several days, but now have a slight fever and flu-like symptoms have returned. Is this normal?
Male | 77 years old
Complaint duration: 21 days
Medications: over the counter
Conditions: SARS 19
7 Answers
It is important to follow up with a primary care doctor for to repeat a chest Xray and blood work in order to make sure you don’t have a pneumonia as a complication of your prior viral infection.
The answer to your question depends on how you define "normal". Coronavirus (or any viral infection) is not "normal" because humans do not normally display symptoms, even though viruses are present everywhere. If your question is rephrased as "Is this typical?", then my response would be that your symptoms are typical, and the time course of disease, while not typical, is not uncommon. Many people display a "biphasic" pattern of symptoms after exposure to a virus (any virus, even influenza). The pattern depends on the way your immune system makes antibodies, and, in particular, neutralizing antibodies. The first week or so of an immune response revolves around using (any) IgM antibodies that your immune system can produce, some of which may not be neutralizing. In the second "phase" of the immune response, a different type of immune cell is activated - the B-cells - and the immune system systematically refines the antibodies into producing and storing the IgG antibody type, which tend to be neutralizing (assuming one survives the infection).
This can occur with Covid or any viral illness however you should still be evaluated for secondary non-Covid infections than\t may require treatment
You should not experience the symptoms again after you recover from COVID -19. There is a high propensity of developing pneumonia or superimposed lung infection during and after COVID -19. I would recommend follow up with your doctor and chest Xray to check for infection.
You may have a secondary infection or are a long-hauler. You need close monitoring if symptoms get worse.
COVID-19 symptoms can come back with more severity, specifically with respiratory symptoms. Keep checking your oxygen saturation. If it falls below 92%, or overall condition gets worse, go to the nearest hospital for close monitoring and other related investigation.
No. It is not what it should be happening. You may have another upper respiratory tract infection, possibly viral in cause, such as the actual flu, which developed after your CORONA infection. I would suggest you connect with your PCP or a telemedicine platform to discuss further your symptoms.
