The CDC and the medical community at large only consider a temperature of at least 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit a true fever.ĭr. A fever is different from an elevated temperature, though. Back up: Why does COVID-19 cause a fever, anyway?Īt a very basic level, having a fever means your body temperature is higher than normal. But certain symptoms seem to be more common than others-including a high fever, which is your cue to get a doctor on the phone.īut what if you feel sick in other ways, and you don’t have a fever? Here’s everything doctors want you to keep in mind. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now has a list of 11 official COVID-19 symptoms, which still doesn’t encompass every possible sign of illness. When the pandemic first hit, doctors put the country on high alert for three major red flags: a fever, dry cough, or shortness of breath. But given the rising cases of COVID-19 throughout the U.S, you’re probably more worried about the coronavirus if those symptoms start to show up-especially because COVID-19 has a higher death rate than the typical flu.Įverything we know about the respiratory disease has certainly evolved throughout 2020, especially its symptoms. Learn more about pneumonia on our website.In pre-pandemic times, coming down with a cough, body aches, and overwhelming fatigue was a pretty clear sign of a nasty cold or flu. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and encourage others to as well to help prevent the spread of these infections.Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with warm, soapy water.Exercise, eat a well-balanced diet and get adequate sleep.Make sure your pertussis vaccine is up to date (speak with your healthcare provider).Talk to your doctor about getting a pneumonia vaccine (there is no vaccine for viral or mycoplasma pneumonia, but certain individuals should get vaccinated for pneumococcal pneumonia).Get a flu vaccine each year to help prevent getting pneumonia caused by the flu.To reduce your risk of infection, follow these tips and learn more about avoiding pneumonia:
Pneumonia can spread when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes near you. "Too slow a pace of recovery or any worsening of symptoms is information you should share with your healthcare provider."
"Recovery time will vary from person to person and will depend on whether you have other medical problems, such as asthma or COPD," says Dr. Most people start to feel better within three to five days, but a cough from pneumonia can last weeks or months after treatment.
Not everyone can take the same over-the-counter medications, so it is important to come up with a treatment plan with your healthcare provider’s input. "In addition, it's important to get lots of rest, drink plenty of fluids and take fever-reducing medicine if you have a fever," he adds.
Over-the-counter medications can also be used to relieve symptoms, such as antihistamines for nasal congestion or cough medications to help ease cough and loosen any mucus (sputum). Rizzo notes that walking pneumonia is treatable with antibiotics to help you recover more quickly if your doctor believes bacteria to be the cause. Albert Rizzo, American Lung Association’s Chief Medical Officer. "If you have pneumonia symptoms, even if they are mild, you should discuss with your healthcare provider as soon as possible," says Dr. It feels more akin to a bad cold, and despite what the term "walking" implies, taking care of yourself is the best path to recovery. Walking pneumonia can still be miserable and is commonly accompanied by a cough, fever, chest pain, mild chills, headache, etc. Bed rest or hospitalization are usually not needed, and symptoms can be mild enough that you can continue your daily activities, hence the term "walking."īut don't be fooled. A more medically correct term would be atypical pneumonia and can be caused by certain molds, viruses or bacteria often a common bacterium called Mycoplasma pneumonia. "Walking pneumonia" is a non-medical term for a mild case of pneumonia.
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