Doctors Identifying New Symptoms Of Coronavirus (COVID-19)

By now many of us have a basic understanding of COVID-19. But what about the hidden dangers of the virus?

Experts, along with the country, said they are learning more every day.

Doctors at SSM Health said data suggests a variety of new symptoms, and suggests genetic play is a factor.

“Why males seem to be getting sicker than females, and perhaps certain races seem to be getting sicker than others,” said Dr. Kevin Lewis, President of SSM Health.

Data by the Oklahoma State Department of Health shows 70.4% of the cases have been reported as white so far.

While those in older age groups, and pre-existing conditions are still at risk, symptoms continue to change from person-to-person and are not always related to respiratory illness.

Dr. Lewis said sometimes they appear as cardiac complications, body aches, abdominal issues, vomiting, and that even a sore throat could mean much more.

Not knowing who could have COVID-19, and who doesn’t, poses a risk for those visiting the hospital.

“Where we are getting fooled in the hospital is someone may come in with gastrointestinal symptoms and they may not be evaluated for COVID-19, and if you didn’t do everything you need to do, then you could have people exposed to it,” said Dr. Lewis.

Then you have people that show no symptoms at all. Dr. Lewis that is a big mystery in the pandemic.

He added that COVID-19 is not like the flu. It’s far more contagious and could span beyond winter.

“What we still have to learn, why is it so contagious? Is it because the survival on surfaces of this virus is so much longer, it appears that it may be, it can sustain as droplets in the air for longer,” said Dr. Lewis. “Is it going to be as bad as predicted, we don’t know. The models continue to change almost on a daily basis.”

Experts said they are still preparing for more hospitalizations, and more deaths until Oklahoma reaches the estimated peak later this month.