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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
COVID-19 is caused by person to person spread of coronavirus germs. It can affect your nose, throat, and sometimes your lungs with upper respiratory symptoms making it more difficult to breath normally. COVID-19 virus can change, much like other viruses, and over time can lead to new variants emerging with new or different ways of spreading or causing infection. COVID-19 vaccination helps our bodies develop immunity to the COVID-19 virus and staying up to date with the COVID-19 vaccine can lower your risk of severe illness and provide the best protection from currently circulating strains or variants.
Illinois Vaccination Recommendations
IDPH and the Immunization Advisory Committee are currently reviewing up to date vaccination recommendations for Illinois residents. However, there are currently three vaccines available and authorized for use in the United States: Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine.
Understanding COVID-19
It is spread through respiratory droplets and small particles that contain the virus when an infected person breathes out. This can happen when someone coughs, laughs, sneezes, or talks. Other individuals can become infected with COVID-19 by breathing in these infected respiratory droplets or by having the droplets land on their eyes, nose, or mouth. In some circumstances, they may contaminate surfaces they touch.
People with COVID-19 can have had a wide range of symptoms reported - ranging from mild to severe. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and may include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
It is important to note that not everyone with COVID-19 will be symptomatic, but they are still capable of spreading the infection.
If You Get Sick
While most people with COVID-19 infections recover without complications, it is important to remember that steps should be taken to prevent the spread of the virus.
If you get COVID-19:
- Stay home from work or school and away from other people you live with who are not sick
- Get lots of rest, drink plenty of liquids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco
- Take over-the-counter medication to relieve symptoms if necessary (but never give aspirin to children or teenagers with fevers)
- Practice good hygiene that includes frequent handwashing
- Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow or tissue but not your hand
- Wearing a mask and putting distance between yourself and others can lower the risk of transmission
- Remember that serious illness can occur from COVID-19 in certain groups of people: including people 65 years of age and older, pregnant individuals, people with certain chronic medical conditions, and young children
When To Seek Emergency Medical Attention
If someone is showing any of these signs, seek medical care immediately:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
Treating COVID-19
While staying up to date with a COVID-19 vaccine each year is the best way to protect again COVID-19, there is treatment to fight against COVID-19 as a second line of defense. Timely treatment can make symptoms less severe and prevent more serious complications, especially for those at higher risk.
- Antiviral drugs are a prescription medication and specific for the virus they are used to treat and works by targeting the virus inside your body so it can not multiply
- COVID-19 antiviral medications are most effective if taken within the first 5-7 days after symptoms begin
- Seek medical attention for assessment and treatment if you feel your symptoms are severe
There are currently three FDA-approved antiviral medication recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to treat COVID-19 infections.
Antiviral drugs differ in how they are given, their dosage (which can vary depending on a person’s age and/or medical conditions), side effects, and who should receive them. It’s important to remember that antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections will not treat COVID-19 infections.
For more information, see Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)'s Guidelines on the treatment and Management of Patients with COVID-19, CDC's Types of COVID-19 Treatment, or consult the package insert for each drug. Your doctor can help decide whether you should take an antiviral drug and which one is best for you.
