The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially added four additional symptoms to its growing list of possible COVID-19 symptoms. Since March 2020, the CDC's list of symptoms for the novel coronavirus disease has grown to include 11 varying symptoms that encompass everything from digestive issues to respiratory troubles, and it is still believed that there could be even more symptoms associated with the virus.
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The CDC does not officially add symptoms to its list until a certain number or percentage of confirmed COVID-19-positive patients experience the same symptom. This ensures that each symptom is actually related to a novel coronavirus infection. The CDC's website states that the current list does not include all possible symptoms.
There is a wide range of COVID-19 symptoms.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, the CDC's list of possible symptoms has grown to include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, and sore throat. Many COVID-19 patients have experienced seemingly random combinations of all of these symptoms, as well as additional symptoms that have not yet been added to the CDC's list, such as skin changes and eye problems.
New symptom: Congestion
In July, several additional symptoms were added to the CDC's list, including nasal congestion. Nasal congestion isn't one of the trademark COVID-19 symptoms many of us know about, which include a dry cough, fever, and shortness of breath, but it has occurred in COVID-19 patients frequently enough that it has been added to the list. Keep in mind, though, that a stuffy nose alone is not an indicator of the novel coronavirus disease.
New symptom: Runny nose
A runny nose can be attributed to a multitude of conditions, including allergies and the common cold, which can make it pretty confusing for anyone concerned about the coronavirus. If your runny nose appears along with sneezing, facial pain, postnasal drip, etc., it's probably not COVID-19, but it might be worth getting tested.
New symptom: Nausea
Nausea is apparently a symptom associated with COVID-19 patients who have had a more mild form of the virus, and there is some evidence to suggest that it may be among the very first signs of a coronavirus infection. Some findings have indicated that as many as half of novel coronavirus patients experience digestive issues.
New symptom: Diarrhea
Similarly, despite COVID-19 being categorized as a respiratory illness, diarrhea has been added to the CDC's list of symptoms. Studies have shown that a significant number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 experience diarrhea and no respiratory symptoms or fever. Some experience diarrhea as one of the earliest symptoms, and some experience diarrhea in conjunction with other, more common novel coronavirus symptoms.
COVID-19 cannot be diagnosed by symptoms alone.
Because of the wide range of symptoms possibly associated with COVID-19 and the fact that many of those symptoms can also be symptoms of other illnesses and conditions, the novel coronavirus disease cannot be diagnosed by symptoms alone. It's important to get a COVID-19 test if you are experiencing any combination of the symptoms on the CDC's list and/or any other causes of those symptoms have been ruled out.
