What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Consensus Meter
Symptoms of COVID-19: A Comprehensive Overview
Common Symptoms of COVID-19
Fever, Cough, and Fatigue
Fever, cough, and fatigue are the most frequently reported symptoms among COVID-19 patients. Studies have shown that fever is present in approximately 80-88% of cases, making it the most common symptom . Cough is also prevalent, affecting around 60-63% of patients . Fatigue is another common symptom, reported by 38-46% of individuals infected with the virus .
Respiratory Symptoms
Respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath (dyspnea) and chest tightness are also significant indicators of COVID-19. Dyspnea is particularly associated with severe cases of the disease . Other respiratory symptoms include expectoration (41.8%) and chest tightness (35.7%).
Less Common Symptoms
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Gastrointestinal symptoms, though less common, are still notable. These include diarrhea (12.9%), nausea and vomiting (10.2%), and abdominal pain (4.4%) . Anorexia, or loss of appetite, is reported in 38.8% of cases.
Neurological and Sensory Symptoms
Neurological symptoms such as headache (15.4%) and pharyngalgia (13.1%) have been observed. Olfactory dysfunction, including anosmia (loss of smell) and hyposmia (reduced sense of smell), is a highly prevalent symptom, affecting up to 80% of patients . This symptom can sometimes be the first indication of infection.
Musculoskeletal Symptoms
Muscle soreness (myalgia) is reported in about 33% of cases. Joint pain and muscle pain are also common persistent symptoms in patients recovering from the acute phase of the disease.
Cutaneous and Other Symptoms
Skin Manifestations
COVID-19 can also present with various skin manifestations, including maculopapular, chilblain-like, urticarial, vesicular, livedoid, and petechial lesions. These symptoms can appear in patients of all age groups, including children.
Persistent Symptoms Post-Recovery
Many patients experience persistent symptoms even after recovering from the acute phase of COVID-19. These long-term symptoms include fatigue, cough, dyspnea, chest pains, joint pain, loss of taste or smell, and sleep difficulties.
Conclusion
COVID-19 presents a wide range of symptoms, from common ones like fever, cough, and fatigue to less frequent manifestations such as gastrointestinal issues, neurological symptoms, and skin lesions. Understanding these symptoms is crucial for early diagnosis and effective management of the disease. Persistent symptoms post-recovery highlight the need for ongoing medical support for patients even after the acute phase of the infection.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic