COVID-19 Blog - 03/24/20

Tung Nguyen, MD
Professor of Medicine, University of California San Francisco (UCSF)
President, PIVOT-The Progressive Vietnamese American Association

What if you think you may be infected with COVID-19?

Remember that what makes COVID-19 so scary is that the number of people infected can be so large that it will overwhelm the healthcare system so that it cannot take care of the very sick, who then will die.

The most important thing to know is that many people who get infected with COVID-19 do not have any symptoms. This should be reassuring to you but also show why it is important that we follow the rules about staying at home. Right now, you do not need to be tested for COVID-19 if you do not have any symptoms. Testing for COVID-19 takes healthcare resources, from personnel to testing kits to protective equipment, so save it for when you absolutely need it.

The second most important thing to know is that most people recover from the infection without needing ANY treatment. Only about 1 out of 6 get seriously sick, and they are usually older people or those with health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, lung diseases (asthma or emphysema, or long-time smoker), and heart, liver, and kidney diseases.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are not very different from the common cold or the flu.

Right now, there are no proven treatment to cure COVID-19. There are some drugs that are being tested and we should know the results soon. Since there are no cures, you do not need to be tested for COVID-19 even with symptoms unless you worry about passing it on to other people through your work or living with people at risk.

You can manage these symptoms by taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever and pains and over the counter cough and cold medications. Drink plenty of fluids to keep from being dehydrated. And if you can, self-quarantine by staying inside your room in your home. If you have to go to work, check with your employer regarding whether you can get testing for COVID-19 before having contact with others.

If the symptoms persist for more than 7 days, contact your healthcare provider. Talk to them on the phone first before going in to avoid exposing yourself or others. They will decide whether you could continue to watch and wait or come in to be seen.

If you develop shortness of breath, chest pain, extreme fatigue, or vomiting, you should either contact your healthcare provider immediately or call 911.