COVID Symptoms, Prevention & Treatments Update

In March 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their recommendations for how people can protect themselves and their communities from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.

“Over the years, we’ve made improvements to help protect against viruses. However, we still need to follow best practices to reduce our risk,” said Erica Kaufman West, MD, an infectious disease expert at Franciscan Health.

Changing Symptoms Of COVID-19

The symptoms of COVID-19 have evolved, leading us to experience the virus differently. Dr. Kaufman West has observed that different variants of the virus tend to affect the upper part of the respiratory system. “This means people are more likely to experience symptoms like sinus pressure, headaches and sore throats instead of the severe chest and breathing problems more common earlier in the pandemic,” she said.

Another noticeable change is that fewer people report loss of taste and smell when they get sick with COVID-19. “In the beginning, before testing, that was how many people knew they had COVID-19. The loss of taste and smell is not the predominant complaint anymore.”

These shifts in symptoms suggest the virus has changed its behavior. While the reasons behind these changes are complex and tied to how viruses mutate over time, they reflect the dynamic nature of COVID-19.

Fortunately, despite these changes, the number of people needing hospital care for COVID-19 has significantly decreased. Several factors may contribute to this reduction, including the broader availability of vaccines, improvements in treatment options and the population’s increasing immunity, whether through vaccination or previous infections. 

COVID-19 Prevention

The CDC recommends preventive measures to slow the spread of viruses such as COVID-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These measures continue to be essential in reducing the spread of viruses.

Stay Up To Date With Vaccinations

The CDC advises getting the latest COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Novavax to safeguard against severe COVID-19 effects. “People can get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously,” Dr. Kaufman West said.

“Providers cannot give the >new vaccine for RSV with the COVID-19 vaccine,” Dr. Kaufman West said. “If you need the RSV vaccine, then you need to space that out. So, talk to your doctor about the timeline and how you should do that.”

COVID-19 vaccination recommendations from the CDC:

• Individuals 5 years and older should receive a single dose of the revised COVID-19 vaccine to prevent serious health issues caused by COVID-19.
• For children between 6 months and 4 years old, staying current with COVID-19 vaccination involves multiple doses, including receiving at least one dose of the newly updated vaccine.
• Those with moderate to severe immune system challenges are eligible for extra doses of the updated COVID-19 vaccine.
• Adults 65 and older who have already received an initial dose of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine should get another dose four months following their last updated dose.

People who keep their vaccinations up to date are at a reduced risk of experiencing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

Practice Good Hygiene

“Keeping those germs away from other people is the best prevention anybody could offer,” Dr. Kaufman West said. “Washing your hands regularly, covering your cough and cleaning frequently touched surfaces is very important.”

Keep The Air Quality Healthy

One of the CDC’s core prevention strategies is to ensure you surround yourself with clean air.  Let in fresh outside air, use air purifying devices with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA), and when possible, gather outdoors.

Stay Home When Sick

“One of the biggest things you can do when you are sick is to stay home and not go to work,” Dr. Kaufman West said. “There is a shift in the perception of calling in sick. Today, businesses understand that staying home when sick is the right thing to do.”

Build Your Immune System

“There are things that we all know, but often we push to the wayside when we are busy, and those are things like good nutrition and sleeping for eight hours a night and spending 20 minutes exercising every day,” Dr. Kaufman West said. “Those are things that build up the immune system and are ways we can be a little bit more proactive as opposed to reactive and take care of ourselves.”

Additional prevention strategies from the CDC include:

• Wearing a mask if you are sick to help lower the risk of respiratory virus transmission
• Putting physical distance between yourself and others and avoiding being near someone who is ill
• If you feel sick, use the at-home tests that are available at your local pharmacy or talk to your provider about getting tested for COVID-19, the flu or RSV

Treating COVID-19 Infections

An essential development in treating COVID-19 is the availability of oral antiviral medications. These oral treatments are effective, particularly for individuals at high risk of severe illness.

“We have the IV medication for hospitalized patients, and that’s been there for a long time. Now we have pills and two different oral antiviral medications we can give to patients with COVID-19,” Dr. Kaufman West said. “Both treatments seem effective against new variants, maybe a little less effective, but still very good for preventing death.”

If you are at high risk for complications or severe illness and you test positive for COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. They can guide you to the most appropriate treatment option for your situation.