What Are the Early COVID-19 Symptoms?

If you have yet to contract the coronavirus, it’s probably safe to say that you’re on high alert for when you will, if ever, experience the virus. While COVID-19 symptoms tend to be irregular and tough to pinpoint, some are more common and happen earlier than others.

Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Knoxville explains.

What Are the First Symptoms?

A recent study at the University of Southern California showed that most COVID-19 symptoms occur in this order: fever, cough and muscle pain, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.

It’s important to know, however, that COVID-19 symptoms vary in every case. While fever is generally the first symptom to reveal itself, there have been many cases where those who have tested positive for COVID-19 have shown no symptoms. This is why it’s so important to follow the necessary health-safety precautions, which we’ve listed below.

Health-Safety Precautions to Follow

  • Wear a mask over your nose and mouth in public.
  • Remain six feet apart from others when outside your home.
  • Frequently wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
  • If you don’t have access to soap and water, use alcohol-rich hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

What About Back Pain?

Back pain is grouped with muscle and body aches, so it can be fairly common. What tends to be more common with back pain, though, is its lingering effect on recovered COVID-19 patients.

Studies have shown that COVID-19 “long-haulers” have said that they experienced lingering, upper, middle and lower back pain. In addition to back pain, we’ve listed some more common symptoms below.

Common COVID-19 Symptoms

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

COVID-19 is a serious virus. If you are experiencing back pain and have been recently exposed to COVID-19, schedule a test at our AFC Urgent Care Knoxville center ASAP! As a reminder, we’re here for you now and always.