By now, most people are familiar with the most common symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-COV-2 coronavirus. You can’t go anywhere without seeing signs about cough, shortness of breath, fever, difficulty breathing, or muscle aches, in regards to COVID-19. You shouldn’t ignore these symptoms by any means, but new and unusual symptoms should also be to be on your radar.
Worldwide coronavirus cases increase by the week, and some cities or countries are coronavirus hot spots. Scientists and medical professionals explain that the surge in cases came with new, unusual symptoms. This is because a virus like SARS-COV-2 varies dramatically from person to person. The virus affects different organs and systems, and researchers attribute the unusual symptoms to this.
Can You Experience Both Usual & Unusual Symptoms?
Yes, this is 100% possible. The virus itself is unusual, so scientists continue to learn more about it with each passing day. A person with shortness of breath may also experience COVID toes, which you’ll learn about later in this article. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists all possible symptoms on its website. To learn more about the unusual COVID-19 symptoms, please continue reading.
Unusual COVID-19 Symptoms
Loss Of Taste Or Smell
This is a relatively new symptom of COVID-19, and some people experience this phenomenon well after they survive the virus. This occurs without nasal congestion and it occurs out of the blue. It can last 9-14 days, and some research says that this symptom may predict a COVID-19 infection.
COVID Toes
People commonly experience chilblains in colder weather, but new research suggests that a similar occurrence can accompany COVID-19. These red or purple toes look slightly inflamed and often affect young, healthy adults who contract the virus. Scientists claim that other viral infections cause inflammatory responses from the circulatory system, explaining the validity of COVID toes. Just make sure that the inflamed toes don’t develop lesions.
Delirium
For seniors or elderly people, delirium, confusion, or disorientation can accompany the COVID-19 illness. Health care workers have been instructed to question elderly COVID-19 patients about any falls or delirium after infection. One unrelated yet interesting fact is that elderly patients with urinary tract infections often experience delirium. Scientists need more research regarding the link between the COVID-19 infection and delirium.
Silent Hypoxia
A person with hypoxia experiences inadequate oxygen levels at a tissue level in a specific area of the body. As we know, shortness of breath is one of the primary COVID-19 symptoms, so people who experience this have very low blood oxygen levels as a result. Doctors claim that silent hypoxia is more appropriate to describe what they see in some COVID-19 patients. Scientists speculate that this may be due to blood clotting in small blood vessels in the lungs, but more research is needed to support these claims.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Some people who contract COVID-19 don’t experience any respiratory symptoms; rather, they develop nausea, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. According to a new study from Stanford Medicine, one-third of 116 COVID-19 patients experienced either loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or nausea. Studies revealed that SARS-COV-2 binds to ACE2 cell receptors, which exist in the gastrointestinal tract. This may explain the varied gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19 patients.
Strokes Or Blood Clots
Scientists around the world have studied the link between COVID-19 and dangerous blood clots. The sad part is that these blood clots affect people, who would not normally be at risk. If serious blood clots occur in the lungs, the person’s risk of heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism increases exponentially. The New England Journal of Medicine reported that five patients between the ages of 33 and 49 suffered strokes alongside COVID-19. Only one of those patients had prior history of stroke. Health experts say that the likelihood of young people experiencing strokes as a result of COVID-19 is extremely low.
You may or may not experience these unusual COVID-19 symptoms if you contract the virus. The symptoms you experience may be directly related to the cells that the virus infects. The important thing is that you are now aware of these symptoms. Continue to stay healthy and safe during these crazy times.
