This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
Published on August 6, 2020, a study revealed that the novel coronavirus, Covid-19, presents with a range of symptoms beyond the typical fever, dry cough, fatigue, sore throat, aches, and pains.
According to Dr. Yubrine Moraa, an internal medicine physician, respiratory symptoms are the most common, but other organ systems are also affected.
One of the most perplexing symptoms is silent hypoxemia, or silent hypoxia, where the body's oxygen levels are below 90 percent, yet the individual can breathe normally.
Health Ministry Director of Health Dr. Patrick Amoth explained that patients are often unaware of their oxygen deprivation, and may appear perfectly comfortable despite being in a life-threatening state.
Dr. Martin J. Tobin, the lead author of a study on the phenomenon, described it as 'confusing' and 'bewildering', and noted that patients may be comfortable using a phone just before a breathing tube is inserted.
Other unusual symptoms include diarrhoea, acute kidney failure, low blood pressure due to inflammation of the heart muscles, and personality changes or confusion due to the virus affecting the central nervous system.
Dr. Moraa emphasized the importance of learning about these less common symptoms to recognize Covid-19 faster and prevent hospitalizations.
