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If you’ve been following the news, you know that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary symptoms. While it’s important to be aware of both types of symptoms, it’s also important to understand the difference between them. In this blog, we’ll discuss what Pulmonary and extra-pulmonary symptoms are and how they differ from each other.
Pulmonary Symptoms of Coronavirus
Pulmonary symptoms are those associated with the lungs and breathing. Common pulmonary symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, and difficulty breathing. Other less common symptoms may include blood clots in the lungs or fluid in the lungs. These types of symptoms often require hospitalization as they can be life-threatening.
Extra-Pulmonary Symptoms of Coronavirus
Extra-pulmonary symptoms are those that are not directly associated with the lungs or breathing. The most common extra-pulmonary symptom is fatigue, which is often accompanied by aching muscles or joint pain. Other possible extra-pulmonary symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, headache, sore throat and congestion. Although these types of symptoms can be uncomfortable or even debilitating at times, they typically do not require hospitalization like more serious pulmonary symptoms do.
Conclusion:
It’s important to remember that both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary symptoms can be signs of COVID-19 infection—and if you experience either type you should get tested for the virus as soon as possible so that you can take proper precautions to protect yourself and others around you from getting infected too. Even if your test comes back negative for COVID-19 infection it’s still wise to take preventative measures such as washing your hands often, wearing a mask when out in public places and social distancing when possible to help reduce your risk for getting sick from any type of virus or illness. Stay safe!