Asymptomatic is not Always what it Seems

The recommendation to wear a mask hinges on whether someone has symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection. The CDC does not recommend wearing a mask if you do not have symptoms or asymptomatic.

What defines asymptomatic?

The development of symptoms in diseases are gradual. Often a change in one’s condition is usually blamed for something they usually have. A runny nose may be from common allergies. A headache could be because they are hungry.

The symptoms may also be interpreted according to their situation. Here are 2 examples of patients who thought that they are not infected but were later diagnosed with Covid-19.

The first one is a resident of Shanghai who went to Germany for a business meeting. She was not feeling well, but she thought that it was only jet lag. She met with her German business partner, who later developed Covid-19 along with three other employees.

The second is the former chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners of the U.K. After she came back from New York City, which was just declared a state of emergency from Covid-19. She started to felt different.

Just a little out of sorts was how I felt at first. Initially, I thought I probably had a bit of jetlag.

By Tuesday morning, though, as well as feeling rather tired, I had started with a new dry cough. Yet it was so mild to begin with, I barely gave it a second thought and put it down to the ‘cabin cough’ you sometimes get after a long flight.

In both examples, they attribute their symptoms from a jet lag. The slow development of the symptoms is so gradual that it can even mislead a seasoned physician as in the second case.

The third example is the most striking. It is a 10-year old who went to Wuhan China with his family. The adult members of the family became infected with the coronavirus when they got home. All of them had a C.T. scan and viral tests that showed viral pneumonia.

The 10-year-old’s parents became anxious and insisted on a C.T. scan for the child. Viral pneumonia was seen in the C.T. scan. The Covid-19 test was positive. He did not wear a mask while in Wuhan.

Another child, a 7-year-old, was also with the family when they visited a sick relative with Covid-19 in Wuhan. This 7-year old wore a mask all the time while in Wuhan and had a negative C.T. scan and viral test.

Walking Coronavirus Pneumonia Can Spread the Disease

The Covid-19 virus multiplies rapidly at the start of the symptoms

The first 5 days of infection include very mild symptoms. During that time, the Covid-19 virus can reproduce in the upper respiratory tract at the rate of 1,000 times faster than its cousin, the SARS virus. That makes it much more infectious.

Any cough, sneeze, or unintentional spitting while talking can spread the virus and infect others.

New Covid-19 data confirms the need for 2-week Quarantine

Going back to the three examples above, what would have happened if they wore a mask where they came from and where they went?

I cannot tell you when to wear a mask, but this is what I do.

photo-1524499982521-1ffd58dd89ea — Photo by Ani Kolleshi on Unsplash

When will I wear a mask?

If I’m in a public place, primarily if it is known that community transmission is ongoing.
If I don’t feel right or If I have new symptoms, however mild.
If I’m in a health care facility.
If I am near an elderly or someone with multiple medical problems

Protecting At-Risk People from Covid-19

Wearing a mask protects you but also prevents the transmission of viruses.

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Don’t Get Sick!

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What defines asymptomatic?

The Covid-19 virus multiplies rapidly at the start of the symptoms

When will I wear a mask?

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