LONDON (UK) – British scientists analysed data collected from a widely-used COVID-19 symptom-tracking app and have found that there are six distinct types of the disease, each exhibiting a cluster of symptoms.
A King’s College London team found that the six types also have a connection with severe levels of infection, with a patient likely to need help with breathing – such as oxygen or ventilator treatment – if they are hospitalised.
The findings could be of help to doctors to assess which COVID-19 patients are most at risk and which one of them to need hospital care because of the epidemic.
Claire Steves, a doctor who co-led the study, said, “If you can predict who these people are at Day Five, you have time to give them support and early interventions such as monitoring blood oxygen and sugar levels, and ensuring they are properly hydrated.”
Other than cough, fever and loss of smell, which are often pointed out as three key symptoms of COVID-19, the app data indicated others such as headaches, muscle pains, fatigue, diarrhoea, confusion, loss of appetite and shortness of breath.
The results also varied significantly. While some got mild, flu-like symptoms or a rash, others suffered acute symptoms or even succumbed to death.
The study, released online on June 16, though not peer-reviewed by independent scientists, described the six COVID-19 types as:
1 ‘Flu-like’ with no fever: Headache, loss of smell, muscle pains, cough, sore throat, chest pain, no fever.
2 ‘Flu-like’ with fever: Headache, loss of smell, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, fever, loss of appetite.
3 Gastrointestinal: Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, sore throat, chest pain, no cough.
4 Severe level one, fatigue: Headache, loss of smell, cough, fever, hoarseness, chest pain, fatigue.
5 Severe level two, confusion: Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain.
6 Severe level three, abdominal and respiratory: Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, abdominal pain.
Patients with level 4,5 and 6 types had more chances of getting admitted to hospital and were more likely to need respiratory support, the researchers said.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.