![What are the symptoms of COVID-19? [Video]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fjnbz686p%2Fhioscar_production%2Fcc5bc15431e7e446f8dd57c6852d8668f7b8fa5b-1694x946.png%3Fw%3D3840%26fit%3Dmax%26fm%3Dwebp&w=3840&q=75)
In our “From the Frontlines” series, our board-certified telemedicine doctors share clinical advice and guidance. Watch this episode (opens in new tab) featuring Oscar’s Dr. Stephanie Camaglia Reznick, an internal medicine physician, to learn about COVID-19 symptoms (opens in new tab).
Video Transcript
“Hi, my name is Dr. Stephanie Camaglia Reznick. I'm an internal medicine physician and one of the doctors on call available through Oscar. Today, I'll be answering some questions about the novel coronavirus also known as COVID-19.
A lot of patients have been asking "what are the symptoms?" Well, initially we thought the symptoms were limited to those of pneumonia, meaning shortness of breath, fever, and cough. These still remain the most common symptoms but as we've learned more about the virus, we have seen that it can cause a lot of other symptoms too. In fact, up to 25% of patients might not have any symptoms at all and still be contagious.
For those who do have symptoms and it's not just the original cough, shortness of breath or fever, some have explained that they have felt chest tightness or something not quite right with their lungs. Some have experienced a loss of the sense of smell or taste. I've heard of patients having a sore throat, increased phlegm production, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches that remind them of the flu.
So what do you do if you don't feel well?
Well as long as you're not sick enough to require emergency care, stay home, stay isolated, and you can take the same over-the-counter medications you usually would for a bad cold or flu or stomach upset.