What is the body temperature during the early symptoms of COVID-19 infection?
Mar 17, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Jiang Weimin
Introduction
The main symptoms of COVID-19 infection include cough, fever, and chest tightness. Patients may experience fever of varying severity, typically with body temperature exceeding 37.3°C. Even mild cases may present with fever; the majority of patients have temperatures around 38°C, while severe cases may reach 39°C, and in rare critical cases, temperatures can rise to 40°C.
“COVID-19 infection” is the abbreviated term for infection with the novel coronavirus. This novel coronavirus is a newly identified human coronavirus, highly contagious and transmissible primarily via respiratory droplets, as well as through direct contact. So, what are the differences between early symptoms of COVID-19 infection and those of the common cold?
Differences Between Early Symptoms of COVID-19 Infection and the Common Cold
The primary clinical manifestations of COVID-19 infection include cough, fever, and chest tightness. Patients may develop fever of varying severity, typically exceeding 37.3°C. Even mild cases often present with fever; most patients exhibit temperatures around 38°C, while severe cases may reach 39°C, and in rare critical cases, temperatures may climb as high as 40°C. However, it is crucial to note that some critically or severely ill patients—as well as elderly or immunocompromised individuals—may not develop significant fever; instead, they may only exhibit low-grade fever or even no obvious fever at all.
Fever is a predominant clinical feature of novel coronavirus infection, directly resulting from infection with SARS-CoV-2. The degree of fever correlates closely with the virulence of the infecting viral strain, the viral load, and the host’s immune status. Fever is typically persistent and difficult to resolve spontaneously, lasting generally 3–5 days. The fever pattern may be either continuous (sustained) or remittent. Although antipyretics can temporarily reduce body temperature, fever frequently recurs after a period of time.
The above outlines key distinctions between early symptoms of COVID-19 infection and those of the common cold. We hope this information proves helpful.
