Coronavirus Infections

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KEY POINTS
• Coronavirus (CoV) infections are caused by a group of viruses. Some
CoV infections cause minor illnesses and some cause more serious
illnesses.
• Call ahead and see your healthcare provider for serious symptoms
such as a high fever, cough, and trouble breathing, especially if you
have recently been near people or have traveled to places where
people have been sick from a CoV.
• To prevent getting or spreading a CoV infection, clean your hands
often with soap and running water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner,
especially after using tissues or coughing or sneezing into your
hands. Wash your hands before eating or touching your eyes. Don’t
go to school or work if you are sick.
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What is a coronavirus infection?

Coronavirus (CoV) infections are caused by a group of viruses. Some CoV infections
cause minor illnesses and some cause more serious illnesses. Types of CoV illnesses
include:
• Common cold
• Pneumonia
• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV)
• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV)
• COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2)
A cold is an infection of the head and chest caused by a virus. It is a type of upper
respiratory infection (URI). Colds can affect your nose, throat, sinuses, eyes, and ears,
as well as your windpipe, voice box, and the airways in your lungs. Sometimes a CoV
infection affects the lower respiratory tract and can cause pneumonia.
MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV also cause pneumonia but may also cause diarrhea and
kidney problems. Serious cases can lead to death.
COVID-19 may cause no symptoms, or minor, moderate, or serious respiratory
illness, pneumonia, blood clotting problems, and kidney problems, which can lead to
death.

How does a coronavirus infection spread?

CoV infections spread when viruses are passed to others by sneezing, coughing, or
touching. Moisture from the mouth and nose (droplets) can carry the virus outside of
the body. You may also become infected by handling objects that were touched by

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 someone with the virus. Some of the viruses can live on the skin and on objects, such
as door handles or phones, for hours.
You have a higher risk for getting sick with a CoV if:
• You are age 65 or over.
• You live in a nursing home, other long-term care facility, or other crowded place.
• You have long-term lung problems including asthma.
• You have serious heart conditions.
• You have a weakened immune system because:
• You are taking immunosuppressive drugs such as steroids.
• You have cancer.
• You have HIV/AIDS that is not well controlled.
• You smoke.
• You have had an organ transplant.
• You have severe obesity.
• You have poorly-controlled diabetes.
• You are on dialysis because of kidney disease.
• You have a blood problem such as sickle cell disease.
• You have liver disease.
• You have been around people or have traveled to places where people have CoV.

How can I help prevent catching or passing a CoV?

If you are sick, you can help protect others if you:
• Don’t go to school or work. Stay at home and avoid close contact with others,
including kissing and hugging even within your household, until your healthcare
provider says you can be social again.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the
tissue in the trash after you use it, and then wash your hands with soap and
running water for at least 20 seconds. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze
into your upper sleeve instead of your hands.
• Clean your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner,
especially after using tissues or coughing or sneezing into your hands.
• Do not share silverware, dishes, clothing, towels, or bedding. Wash these items
with hot water and soap before others use them.
• Use a household disinfectant often to clean surfaces that you have touched or
used, including toys, door handles, toilets, and sinks.
To lower your risk of getting a CoV:
• Wash your hands often with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds and
especially after using the restroom, coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
Also wash your hands before eating or touching your eyes. Avoid shaking hands
with people when greeting them. Wash your hands after shopping or handling
packages delivered to your home. If you can’t wash with soap and running water,
use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

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 • Keep surfaces clean especially tables, surfaces in the bathroom, and toys for
children. Some viruses and bacteria can live for hours on surfaces such as tables,
door handles, and desks. Wipe them with a household disinfectant according to
directions on the label.
• Wipe packages and any surfaces in your home where you placed the package or
bag after shopping.
• Stay at least 6 feet away from people who are sick and avoid crowded places if you
can. Putting space between you and other people in a public setting is called social
distancing or physical distancing.
• Wear a face covering over your nose and mouth that tucks under your chin and
fits snugly on the sides when in public or near people who are not part of your
household. Make sure you can still breathe easily. Try not to touch the face
covering while wearing it. When you can remove it safely, discard it or place it in
the washing machine, then wash your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth when out in public.
• Take care of your health. Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Eat a
variety of healthy foods and try to keep a healthy weight. If you smoke or use
e-cigarettes, try to quit. If you want to drink alcohol, ask your healthcare provider
how much is safe for you to drink. Learn ways to manage stress. Stay physically
active as advised by your provider.

What are the symptoms?

You may have no symptoms or very mild symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they
will usually start 1 to 3 days after contact with a CoV, though it can be longer.
Symptoms may include:
• Cough
• Ears that are stuffy or blocked
• Feeling tired
• Fever
• Headache
• Loss of sense of taste or smell
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Scratchy or sore throat
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
For more severe infections, shortness of breath is very common.

How is it diagnosed?
Call ahead before visiting your healthcare provider and tell him or her about your
symptoms. You should wear a face covering over your nose and mouth when you are
in the same room with other people and when you visit a healthcare provider.
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and recent
activities and travels, and examine you.

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 You may have tests to check for possible causes of your symptoms such as:
• A test that takes a sample of mucus from the back of your nose and throat to look
for a specific virus
• Blood and urine tests
• Chest X-ray

How are they treated?

See your healthcare provider for serious symptoms, such as a high fever, cough, and
trouble breathing, especially if you have recently been near people or have traveled to
places where people have been sick from a CoV.
For mild symptoms, medicines that you can buy at most drugstores can help relieve
your symptoms.
You should:
• Get plenty of rest.
• Drink extra liquids such as water, fruit juice, and tea.
• Use a humidifier to put more moisture in the air. Avoid steam vaporizers because
they can cause burns. Be sure to keep the humidifier clean, as recommended in the
manufacturer's instructions. It's important to prevent bacteria and mold from
growing in the water container.
• Take nonprescription medicine, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen,
to treat pain and fever. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended
by your healthcare provider, you should not take these medicines for more than 10
days.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen,
naproxen, and aspirin, may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These
risks increase with age.
• Acetaminophen may cause liver damage or other problems. Unless
recommended by your provider, don't take more than 3,000 milligrams (mg) in
24 hours. To make sure you don’t take too much, check other medicines you
take to see if they also contain acetaminophen. Ask your provider if you need
to avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.
• Try decongestants pills or a nasal spray to help reduce swelling in your nose and
sinuses and lessen the amount of mucus. Use decongestants as directed. If you are
using a nonprescription nasal-spray decongestant, generally you should not use it
for more than 3 days. After 3 days it may make your symptoms worse. Ask your
healthcare provider if it is OK for you to use a nasal spray decongestant longer
than this.
• Use cough drops, pain relievers, or saltwater gargles for a sore throat. You can
make a saltwater gargle with 1 teaspoon table salt in 1 cup (8 ounces) of warm
water.
You can buy many different medicines for coughs without a prescription. However,
there is no proof that they will help your cough. Cough medicines may cause harm to
young children, but they are generally safe for older children and adults.

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 • If you need relief from a dry, hacking cough, choose a medicine labeled "cough
suppressant." A cough suppressant may help you cough less and sleep better.
Cough medicines with the initials DM in the name contain the suppressant drug
called dextromethorphan.
• If you need to loosen mucus, choose a medicine labeled "expectorant."
Expectorants may help keep your mucus thin and bring it up from the lungs when
you cough. This may relieve chest congestion and make it easier to breathe. The
drug used most often as an expectorant is guaifenesin.
• If you are pregnant, check first with your healthcare provider before taking any
cold or cough medicines.
Contact your healthcare provider if you have new or worsening symptoms or your
symptoms last longer than 2 weeks.
You need to be in the hospital if you are very ill. Treatment may include:
• Giving you extra oxygen to breathe. In serious cases, you may need to have a tube
in your throat and a machine to help you breathe and to make sure you are getting
enough oxygen. You may be in the intensive care unit.
• Giving you IV fluids and medicines to treat your symptoms

How can I take care of myself?

Follow the full course of treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider. Ask your
provider:
• How and when you will get your test results
• How long it will take to recover
• If there are activities you should avoid and when you can return to normal
activities
• How to take care of yourself at home
• What symptoms or problems you should watch for and what to do if you have
them
• Make sure you know when you should come back for a checkup. Keep all
appointments for provider visits or tests.
• Stay up to date with the recommended immunizations (shots) including flu,
COVID-19, and pneumonia shots. Ask your healthcare provider about any other
vaccines you or your family may need.
For more information, contact:
• World Health Organization
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-pu
blic
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
888-232-3228
https://www.cdc.gov/
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to
inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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