Coronavirus ~ COVID-19

Kätzchen · 02-13-2024, 09:41 AM

Well, for all the shots I got last fall to keep from coming down with anything remotely related to Covid, I got exposed by a parent whose kids were sick and they exposed us at work. I’ve been real sick since a few days ago. Thankfully the shots I got have helped out a lot because I’m pretty sure, as an ex-smoker of nearly 2 years, I wouldn’t be here to say …. “Hey, Covid is still alive and well.”

It’s hard on a person to not hate on others who care nothing about how they get sick and spread their sickness to others. Real hard to resist the temptation to hate other people who won’t care about themselves or others.

Orema · 03-10-2024, 12:53 PM

Your 2024 Guide to Covid Symptoms and Treatment
Rest, fluids and medications are your friends.

We’re four years into the pandemic, and by this point, most Americans have had Covid at least once. But when the virus comes for us (again), it can still feel just as alarming as your first bout.

Here’s a guide to what Covid looks like now and how to treat it.

Symptoms
The most common Covid symptoms haven’t changed much since the start of the pandemic, and they remain consistent for the latest dominant variant, JN.1, said Dr. Soniya Gandhi, the associate chief medical officer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. They include fatigue, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, headache, body aches and cough.

“All or any of those in isolation can still be Covid,” Dr. Gandhi said.

Some people may develop conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, or experience gastrointestinal issues, like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but those symptoms are rarer. Anecdotally, experts said, one of the most notable symptoms early in the pandemic — the loss of taste and smell — also appears to be less common these days.

“The biggest change is that people are having milder symptoms overall,” said Dr. Amanda Casto, an acting assistant professor of allergy and infectious diseases at the University of Washington. That’s because virtually everyone has some pre-existing immunity from vaccines, a prior infection or both.

While Covid is mild for most people, it can be dangerous and even fatal for some. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that, as of mid-February, more than 21,000 people were hospitalized with Covid, and there had been roughly 10,000 Covid-related deaths in 2024.

Getty Images

Severe illness is a lot less prevalent now than during the first few years of the pandemic, “but we’re still seeing it,” said Dr. Stuart Ray, a professor in the division of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. The people who are getting sickest tend to be those with compromised immune systems and underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes or lung problems. Adults over age 65 are also at higher risk for severe infections.

Since mild Covid can look like a cold or the flu, it’s important to test yourself if you have symptoms or have had a known exposure, Dr. Gandhi said. Knowing what you have can affect your treatment and how long you isolate from others.

On March 1, the C.D.C. updated its guidance for preventing the spread of Covid and other respiratory viruses. The agency recommended that people isolate until their symptoms have started to improve and they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours. The agency acknowledged that people may still be contagious at this point and should continue to take precautions, like masking and physical distancing, for the next five days.

Treatment
The antiviral pill Paxlovid is very effective against severe Covid, reducing the risk of death by 73 percent if taken within the first five days of an infection, according to a preliminary study conducted by the National Institutes of Health. Experts urged people who are high-risk to contact their doctors about getting a prescription as soon as they have symptoms or test positive.

“If you’re elderly or you have comorbidities, before you even get worse, you should already seek medical care,” said Dr. Bernard Camins, the medical director for infection prevention at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York. “Your health care provider will then evaluate you if you’re a candidate for antivirals.”

Paxlovid isn’t recommended for everyone. It can interact with several medications, including common ones used to lower blood pressure or prevent blood clots, and it’s also not advised for people with severe kidney disease. If you can’t take Paxlovid, the drug remdesivir could be an option, but it has to be delivered intravenously, so it’s less convenient and harder to obtain.

Paxlovid also doesn’t appear to provide much benefit to young, healthy adults whose risk of severe infection is low, so it isn’t broadly recommended for those groups.

For most people, Covid symptoms can be managed at home and treated like any other respiratory illness, with an emphasis on rest and staying hydrated. “If you have congestion or cough, you’re losing more fluids than you normally would,” Dr. Casto said. “So I would definitely recommend that people stay on top of fluid.”

If you have a fever or body aches, take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). You can also take over-the-counter cold and flu medicines with decongestants or cough suppressants, though the experts didn’t recommend them strongly because they don’t work for everybody and can cause drowsiness.

When to seek medical care
If you’re experiencing shortness of breath — meaning you can’t catch your breath or are taking quick and shallow breaths — it’s important to seek medical attention right away.

“The thing that I worry most about is the breathing,” Dr. Casto said. “That’s the most concerning sign, because people can get” worse really quickly. If you’re having trouble breathing, she advised going to the emergency room rather than to your doctor or an urgent care clinic. Experts also said you should see a provider if you experience confusion or chest pain.

If your symptoms don’t improve after several days, or improve and then regress, it could be a sign you have a secondary infection like pneumonia, Dr. Casto said. In that case, or if you’re concerned about your symptoms at all, don’t hesitate to call your doctor.

By Dana G. Smith, March 1, 2024. Dana G. Smith is a Times reporter covering personal health, particularly aging and brain health.

https://www.nytimes.com/article/covi...treatment.html

GeorgiaMa'am · 03-10-2024, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orema

Your 2024 Guide to Covid Symptoms and Treatment
Rest, fluids and medications are your friends.

We’re four years into the pandemic, and by this point, most Americans have had Covid at least once. . .

I'm pretty sure Covid is what I had earlier in February. I even got pink eye.

Kätzchen · 04-04-2025, 10:04 AM

Hey everybody,

I just went to my pharmacy to find out if I could still get a Covid booster shot, since the nut case (RFK, jr) is dismantling anything we’ve done to protect our health and I got a booster shot. The shot was charged against my Medicare health policy for $185.00. Wow, they were free during the past four years, but now we get charged a hefty price for a booster shot.

I had Covid before kingkong (T——p) would even admit Covid was killing people…. So one round of badass sickness and one JJ Shot and three boosters later, I plan to NEVER be infected again with Covid.

Please know that the strains of COVID 19 are alive and well and you can be re-infected. I hate that so much Mis- and Dis- information surrounds COVID 19.

Don’t believe the tyrant and his force of well equipped liars.

Stay healthy and give yourself a big round of applause for taking steps to protect your health.

Orema · 05-13-2025, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kätzchen

Hey everybody,

I just went to my pharmacy to find out if I could still get a Covid booster shot, since the nut case (RFK, jr) is dismantling anything we’ve done to protect our health and I got a booster shot. The shot was charged against my Medicare health policy for $185.00. Wow, they were free during the past four years, but now we get charged a hefty price for a booster shot.

I had Covid before kingkong (T——p) would even admit Covid was killing people…. So one round of badass sickness and one JJ Shot and three boosters later, I plan to NEVER be infected again with Covid.

Please know that the strains of COVID 19 are alive and well and you can be re-infected. I hate that so much Mis- and Dis- information surrounds COVID 19.

Don’t believe the tyrant and his force of well equipped liars.

Stay healthy and give yourself a big round of applause for taking steps to protect your health.

Thanks for this reminder, Kätzchen. I finally got around to getting my update Covid shot today.

I asked the pharmacist if I needed the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. He said it's unlikely I'll need it since I was born before 1957. He said if my MMRs are low in my next blood test, my PCP can write a prescription for the vaccine. That's the only way they'll give it to me. Have never been told I would need a prescription for a vaccine.

02-13-2024, 09:41 AM	#1
Kätzchen Member How Do You Identify?: Femme Relationship Status: Involved with someone special in my hometown Join Date: May 2010 Location: In a small community Posts: 16,282 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,209 Thanked 33,642 Times in 10,733 Posts Rep Power: 21474868	Well, for all the shots I got last fall to keep from coming down with anything remotely related to Covid, I got exposed by a parent whose kids were sick and they exposed us at work. I’ve been real sick since a few days ago. Thankfully the shots I got have helped out a lot because I’m pretty sure, as an ex-smoker of nearly 2 years, I wouldn’t be here to say …. “Hey, Covid is still alive and well.” It’s hard on a person to not hate on others who care nothing about how they get sick and spread their sickness to others. Real hard to resist the temptation to hate other people who won’t care about themselves or others. __________________ “The way someone treats you is not a reflection of your worth: It’s a reflection of their emotional capacity,” — Jillian Turecki. ”Without justice, democracy dies,” — Jess Michaels (Epstein survivor). ”The planet can provide for human need, but not human greed,” — Dr Jane Goodall. ”The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few.” — Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982).

03-10-2024, 12:53 PM	#2
Orema Superlative Soul Sister How Do You Identify?: Lesbian stone femme Preferred Pronoun?: She, her Relationship Status: Moving in a single file and sometimes a sinner. Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Cottage of Content Posts: 13,738 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 41,505 Thanked 34,772 Times in 8,978 Posts Rep Power: 21474861	Your 2024 Guide to Covid Symptoms and Treatment Your 2024 Guide to Covid Symptoms and Treatment Rest, fluids and medications are your friends. We’re four years into the pandemic, and by this point, most Americans have had Covid at least once. But when the virus comes for us (again), it can still feel just as alarming as your first bout. Here’s a guide to what Covid looks like now and how to treat it. Symptoms The most common Covid symptoms haven’t changed much since the start of the pandemic, and they remain consistent for the latest dominant variant, JN.1, said Dr. Soniya Gandhi, the associate chief medical officer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. They include fatigue, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, headache, body aches and cough. “All or any of those in isolation can still be Covid,” Dr. Gandhi said. Some people may develop conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, or experience gastrointestinal issues, like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but those symptoms are rarer. Anecdotally, experts said, one of the most notable symptoms early in the pandemic — the loss of taste and smell — also appears to be less common these days. “The biggest change is that people are having milder symptoms overall,” said Dr. Amanda Casto, an acting assistant professor of allergy and infectious diseases at the University of Washington. That’s because virtually everyone has some pre-existing immunity from vaccines, a prior infection or both. While Covid is mild for most people, it can be dangerous and even fatal for some. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that, as of mid-February, more than 21,000 people were hospitalized with Covid, and there had been roughly 10,000 Covid-related deaths in 2024. Getty Images Severe illness is a lot less prevalent now than during the first few years of the pandemic, “but we’re still seeing it,” said Dr. Stuart Ray, a professor in the division of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. The people who are getting sickest tend to be those with compromised immune systems and underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes or lung problems. Adults over age 65 are also at higher risk for severe infections. Since mild Covid can look like a cold or the flu, it’s important to test yourself if you have symptoms or have had a known exposure, Dr. Gandhi said. Knowing what you have can affect your treatment and how long you isolate from others. On March 1, the C.D.C. updated its guidance for preventing the spread of Covid and other respiratory viruses. The agency recommended that people isolate until their symptoms have started to improve and they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours. The agency acknowledged that people may still be contagious at this point and should continue to take precautions, like masking and physical distancing, for the next five days. Treatment The antiviral pill Paxlovid is very effective against severe Covid, reducing the risk of death by 73 percent if taken within the first five days of an infection, according to a preliminary study conducted by the National Institutes of Health. Experts urged people who are high-risk to contact their doctors about getting a prescription as soon as they have symptoms or test positive. “If you’re elderly or you have comorbidities, before you even get worse, you should already seek medical care,” said Dr. Bernard Camins, the medical director for infection prevention at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York. “Your health care provider will then evaluate you if you’re a candidate for antivirals.” Paxlovid isn’t recommended for everyone. It can interact with several medications, including common ones used to lower blood pressure or prevent blood clots, and it’s also not advised for people with severe kidney disease. If you can’t take Paxlovid, the drug remdesivir could be an option, but it has to be delivered intravenously, so it’s less convenient and harder to obtain. Paxlovid also doesn’t appear to provide much benefit to young, healthy adults whose risk of severe infection is low, so it isn’t broadly recommended for those groups. For most people, Covid symptoms can be managed at home and treated like any other respiratory illness, with an emphasis on rest and staying hydrated. “If you have congestion or cough, you’re losing more fluids than you normally would,” Dr. Casto said. “So I would definitely recommend that people stay on top of fluid.” If you have a fever or body aches, take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). You can also take over-the-counter cold and flu medicines with decongestants or cough suppressants, though the experts didn’t recommend them strongly because they don’t work for everybody and can cause drowsiness. When to seek medical care If you’re experiencing shortness of breath — meaning you can’t catch your breath or are taking quick and shallow breaths — it’s important to seek medical attention right away. “The thing that I worry most about is the breathing,” Dr. Casto said. “That’s the most concerning sign, because people can get” worse really quickly. If you’re having trouble breathing, she advised going to the emergency room rather than to your doctor or an urgent care clinic. Experts also said you should see a provider if you experience confusion or chest pain. If your symptoms don’t improve after several days, or improve and then regress, it could be a sign you have a secondary infection like pneumonia, Dr. Casto said. In that case, or if you’re concerned about your symptoms at all, don’t hesitate to call your doctor. By Dana G. Smith, March 1, 2024. Dana G. Smith is a Times reporter covering personal health, particularly aging and brain health. https://www.nytimes.com/article/covi...treatment.html __________________ Our power lives in knowing what they want to hide. —Ava DuVernay

04-04-2025, 10:04 AM	#4
Kätzchen Member How Do You Identify?: Femme Relationship Status: Involved with someone special in my hometown Join Date: May 2010 Location: In a small community Posts: 16,282 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,209 Thanked 33,642 Times in 10,733 Posts Rep Power: 21474868	Update! Hey everybody, I just went to my pharmacy to find out if I could still get a Covid booster shot, since the nut case (RFK, jr) is dismantling anything we’ve done to protect our health and I got a booster shot. The shot was charged against my Medicare health policy for $185.00. Wow, they were free during the past four years, but now we get charged a hefty price for a booster shot. I had Covid before kingkong (T——p) would even admit Covid was killing people…. So one round of badass sickness and one JJ Shot and three boosters later, I plan to NEVER be infected again with Covid. Please know that the strains of COVID 19 are alive and well and you can be re-infected. I hate that so much Mis- and Dis- information surrounds COVID 19. Don’t believe the tyrant and his force of well equipped liars. Stay healthy and give yourself a big round of applause for taking steps to protect your health. __________________ “The way someone treats you is not a reflection of your worth: It’s a reflection of their emotional capacity,” — Jillian Turecki. ”Without justice, democracy dies,” — Jess Michaels (Epstein survivor). ”The planet can provide for human need, but not human greed,” — Dr Jane Goodall. ”The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few.” — Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982).