COVID can affect the human body in numerous ways. The country is in a state of humanitarian crisis and the death toll is increasing at a rapid pace. COVID-19 has symptoms alike many other non-specific diseases, making it more confusing to detect it. People who have contracted the virus have shown various symptoms like fever, cough, headaches, diarrhoea, pain in joints, nausea, cramps, and more.
Normal Stomach Flu & COVID-19 Symptom
COVID-19 has many overlapping symptoms by now and is hard to get a clear answer initially. Besides, many of these symptoms are similar to common flu, common cold, and other infections or allergies.
To differentiate COVID-19 symptoms from other gastrointestinal illnesses, tracking the symptoms would be the wisest solution at the moment. However, to look for the signs we need to know what can cause stomach infections. It is generally caused due to viral strains and certain bacteria entering our system. The most common symptoms of stomach infections can be diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, cramps, loose motions, etc.
Symptoms to Look Out for Stomach Flu
People tend to recover from stomach flu within 3 days but recovery from COVID needs a 14-day period and can even take longer. It has been seen that the after-effects of COVID-19 stay on for a longer time in patients. If you have an upset stomach and you are also experiencing headache, body ache, back and joint pain, sore throat and cough and also losing sense of taste and smell then it is definitely not just a stomach or the normal stomach flu. It could actually be COVID.
However, different people have experienced different symptoms. For some, it has not been loose motion all the time or diarrhoea as we know it. It could be that the patient needs to go to the loo more than 3-4 times.
Symptoms That Tell You If It Is COVID
It has been found that COVID can also affect our gastrointestinal system but the impact will be prolonged. Experts say that there are symptoms only specific to COVID-19, like the loss of taste and smell, cough, and chest pain. Generally, these symptoms are not of stomach infection and one needs to look out for respiratory troubles and symptoms.
Symptoms like fever, headache, chills, weakness, cramps can be common to both Covid and Stomach Flu. Therefore, people need to be mindful of the troubles in the upper respiratory system. If one has symptoms like shortness of breath, loss of smell and taste, cold then it could be COVID.
What You Need to Do?
Go for a COVID test immediately. One can now easily monitor their oxygen saturation levels at home with the oximeter as well and this can also help in detecting the severity of one's condition after contracting the virus. Consult your doctor, as immediate intervention and precautionary measures, can only increase the chances of getting better and saving us from the grasp of COVID19. Experts urge people to stay hydrated and take proper nutritious meals.
Also Read: Things You Need to do after Recovering from COVID-19
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