Your 2024 guide to Covid symptoms and treatment

We’re four years into the pandemic, and at this point most Americans have had Covid at least once. But when the virus comes upon us (again), it can still feel as alarming as your first attack.

Here’s a guide to what Covid looks like now and how to treat it.

Symptoms

The most common Covid symptoms have not changed much since the pandemic began, and they remain consistent for the latest dominant variant, JN.1, said Dr. Soniya Gandhi, the associate chief medical officer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Loose. Angeles. They include fatigue, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, headache, body aches and coughing.

“All or some of those in isolation may still have Covid,” said Dr. Gandhi.

Some people may develop conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, or experience gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but these symptoms are more rare. Anecdotally, experts said, one of the most noticeable symptoms at the start of the pandemic — the loss of taste and smell — also appears to be less common these days.

“The biggest change is that people generally have milder symptoms,” said Dr. Amanda Casto, acting assistant professor of allergy and infectious diseases at the University of Washington. That’s because virtually everyone has pre-existing immunity from vaccines, a previous infection, or both.

While Covid is mild for most people, it can be dangerous and even fatal for some. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that as of mid-February, more than 21,000 people were hospitalized with Covid, and it had been around 10,000 Covid-related deaths in 2024.

Serious illness is much less common now than during the first few years of the pandemic, “but we’re still seeing it,” said Dr. Stuart Ray, a professor in the division of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. The people who get sickest tend to be those with compromised immune systems and underlying health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung problems. Adults over 65 are also at greater risk for serious infections.

Because mild Covid can resemble a cold or flu, it’s important to test yourself if you have symptoms or have had a known exposure, said Dr. Gandhi. Knowing what you have can affect your treatment and how long you isolate from others. The CDC is currently advising Isolate for five days after a positive test and then wear a mask for five days.

Therapy

The antiviral pill Paxlovid is highly effective against severe Covid-19 and reduces the risk of death by 73 per cent if taken within the first five days of an infection, a study has found. prior study conducted by the National Institutes of Health. Experts urged high-risk people to contact their doctor about getting a prescription once they have symptoms or test positive.

“If you are elderly or have comorbidities, you should seek medical care before the disease even worsens,” says Dr. Bernard Camins, medical director for infection prevention at Mount Sinai Health System in New York. “Your healthcare provider will then assess your eligibility for antiviral medications.”

Paxlovid is not recommended for everyone. It can interact with several medications, including common medications used to lower blood pressure or prevent blood clots, and it is also not recommended for people with severe kidney disease. If you cannot take Paxlovid, the drug remdesivir may be an option, but it must be given intravenously, so it is less convenient and more difficult to obtain.

Paxlovid doesn’t seem to do that either offer many benefits to young, healthy adults where the risk of serious infection is low, so it is generally not recommended for those groups.

For most people, Covid symptoms can be managed and managed at home like any other respiratory illness, with an emphasis on rest and staying hydrated. “If you’re constipated or coughing, you’ll lose more fluid than you normally would,” said Dr. Casto. “So I would definitely encourage people to stay aware of fluids.”

If you have a fever or body aches, take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). You can also take over-the-counter cold and flu medications with decongestants or cough suppressants, although experts don’t highly recommend them because they don’t work for everyone and can cause drowsiness.

When should you seek medical help?

If you have shortness of breath, meaning you cannot catch your breath or are breathing quickly and shallowly, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.

“What I worry about most is breathing,” said Dr. Casto. “That’s the most worrying sign because people can get worse very quickly.” If you have trouble breathing, she recommended going to the emergency room instead of your doctor or an urgent care clinic. Experts also said that you should consult a healthcare provider if you experience confusion or chest pain.

If your symptoms don’t improve after several days, or improve and then worsen, it could be a sign that you have a secondary infection such as pneumonia, Dr. Casto said. In that case, or if you are concerned about your symptoms, don’t hesitate to call your doctor.