What we don't know: The pattern of COVID symptoms has changed
Fever, runny nose and sore throat are no more the top symptoms of COVID right now. People experiencing muscle pain is seen more often right now than before.
Also, the symptoms seen in vaccinated, partially vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals differs a lot.
Hoarse voice, cough with phlegm, altered sense of smell, sneezing and blocked nose are also seen commonly in COVID patients these days.
What we know: COVID symptoms are similar to common cold, flu
Fever, runny nose and headache are the classic symptoms of COVID we know so far. The symptoms are similar to those seen in common cold and flu.
This was one of the reasons why COVID testing was so low during the initial stages of the pandemic. Coupled with less awareness around the infection, the similarity in symptoms did not compel people to go for testing.
What we don't know: The effects of the symptoms differ in case of COVID
Though COVID symptoms are similar to that of common cold, the way the virus affects the human body is very different in both the cases.
In the third year of the pandemic we have already learnt that COVID is not just a respiratory disorder and it affects major body organs too. We also know that it leads to a much long term problem known as long COVID.
What we don't know: COVID affects reproductive health too
A recent study led by AIIMS Patna has found that COVID infection adversely affects the semen quality.
The study included 30 males and found that COVID infection negatively affects the semen quality. The study was done between October 2020 and April 2021.
Apart from testicular pain has also been seen in patients with COVID.
What we know: Virus can have severe effects
We know that the coronavirus, which was a novel virus in 2020, can have severe effects on the human body after it infects it.
Since 2020, we have seen the ups and downs of the pandemic. We have witnessed several waves of infection driven by the COVID causing coronavirus. The virus, which has mutated several times by now, has driven major infection waves every time it mutated.
For more than a year, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been circulating worldwide. Several sub variants of the Omicron have been detected so far. One of the recent ones, XBB, is currently dominant in India. The BF.7 variant of Omicron is currently dominant in China.
The Delta variant led COVID wave had a disastrous effect in India.
What we don't know: Virus affects people in different ways
There is no single route to this viral infection. The coronavirus affects people differently depending on the immunity, co-morbidity and several other factors.
No two people are likely to have the same experience with COVID.
Unfortunately, to this date many people consider another infected person as a reference and skip testing. The symptoms of COVID also vary from one individual to another. While some people can experience headaches and fever, some others can experience only sore throat. Asymptomatic COVID cases are also seen, which made it extremely difficult for the health agencies to track the rate of infection.
What we know: Virus transmits easily
We all know that COVID spreads easily. Having experienced three severe waves of the COVID so far, one of which was devastating, we have understood that COVID spreads faster.
COVID spreads from an infected person to a healthy person through air droplets released through the mouth and nose.
What we don't know: One virus can spread the infection to more than 15 people
While we know that coronavirus is a fast spreading virus, what we don’t know is how fast it spreads.
The BF.7 variant, which is causing mayhem in China, has the potential to infect more than 15 people at a time. This number might seem small in a smaller population, but just imagine the number of infected people among a population of billions.
What we know: Long COVID is a reality
In the third year of COVID, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has acknowledged long COVID as a major health complication arising out of COVID infections.
By now, we have also felt the long term impact of COVID like fatigue, breathlessness, cognitive decline and sleeplessness.
But a lot more is needed from the authorities to address this issue.
What we don't know: The exact definition of long COVID
Till date, we are unaware of long COVID the way we should be. Long COVID impairs daily activities and many people confuse it with other health complications.
The symptoms of long COVID appear subtle and people try to drag themselves through it even when their body does not cooperate.
We need to understand long COVID and heal our body accordingly following a COVID infection.
What we know: Wearing masks and practicing social distancing works
Ever since the pandemic started, people were urged to wear masks and practice social distancing.
Three years later, it has become a normal human tendency to pull up the masks covering our nose and mouth, particularly whenever we are in public or in a crowded area.
We have learnt that wearing the right kind of mask can cut down the odds of the virus entering our body.
What we don’t know: Indoor air circulation is crucial to prevent COVID
To avoid COVID, we all stayed indoors. Work-from-home became a new normal. To this day many people prefer to stay indoors out of fear of contracting the virus.
However, not many know that proper ventilation in the indoor air is the key to prevent the infection.
Clean and fresh air circulation within the rooms does not make the atmosphere conducive for the virus to thrive.