COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that affects your lungs, airways and other organs. There are different strains that spread between people and affect them differently. Some people with COVID-19 can get very sick, and some people severely sick. Find out about symptoms, spread, treatment and prevention.
For most people, COVID-19 symptoms will be mild and can be managed at home. They can be similar to cold and flu symptoms. Some people have no symptoms. Symptoms tend to show 2 to 5 days after you have been infected with COVID-19, but it can take up to 14 days.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can include 1 or more of the following:
a new or worsening cough
sneezing and runny nose
a fever
temporary loss of smell, or altered sense of taste
sore throat
shortness of breath (this is a sign of possible pneumonia that requires urgent attention)
fatigue or feeling tired.
Less common symptoms include:
runny poo (diarrhoea)
headache
muscle pain or body aches
nausea and vomiting
a general feeling of discomfort, illness or unease
chest, abdominal, and joint pain
confusion or irritability.
These less common symptoms almost always occur with 1 or more of the common symptoms.
It is important to keep an eye on symptoms, whether they are your own, or those of a whānau member or friend.
Worsening COVID-19 symptoms
Worsening symptoms can include:
new or worse trouble with breathing
severe dehydration such as a very dry mouth, not peeing very much, feeling lightheaded or dizzy
severe headache.
If symptoms get worse or you need advice on how to manage them, call your:
Older people, ethnic minorities, and those with underlying medical conditions are more at risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
Call
111
immediately if you or the person you are caring for have severe symptoms.
Severe symptoms include:
finding it difficult to breathe
feeling faint, passing out, or finding it very difficult to wake up
being blue around the mouth, or very pale and cold
having severe chest pain.
Some conditions and treatments can weaken a person's immune system, including:
having chemotherapy or radiotherapy
bone marrow or organ transplantation
some blood cancers
immune deficiencies including HIV infection
some immunity weakening medications, such as high-dose corticosteroids and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs that treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease
long-term haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.
There is information available for people with weakened immune systems:
Most people who get COVID-19 experience mild to moderate illness, and can recover safely at home.
Some people at higher risk of severe illness are eligible for treatment with COVID-19 antiviral medicines. These medicines reduce the amount of virus in your body so you do not get as sick, and are less likely to go to hospital.
Find out where you can get antivirals, and the eligibility criteria.
