It’s more than a year since the COVID 19 has been triumphing over this world and people are clueless about its end date. The novel coronavirus has had 114 million infected cases causing 2.54 million deaths and above 90 million recoveries globally.
The US has been the worst-hit accompanied by India and Brazil at second and third. Researchers have still been tracking why it affects everyone differently. Those with underlying cases are considered to fall under more risk.
Asymptomatic COVID Infections
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The infection has been categorized as asymptomatic, mild, moderate, severe, and critical. More than 45 per cent of the total infected have not shown any symptoms and this is concerning.
Asymptomatic means without any symptoms and imagining COVID19 patients walking around without even showing a sign of infection would be even spookier.
People who have been infected and asymptomatic for a short time or a longer timer don’t show any symptoms like cough or cold. The time taken by the virus to show any symptoms is called the incubation period.
Even though the symptoms are not visible, the infected can still spread the virus to others around them. The virus is said to be more contagious when symptoms are developed by the person but spreading the virus is possible even without developing symptoms.
Research shows that out of 3 people tested, 1 person has been seen carrying the virus without showing any symptoms. This was noticed among those who are very healthy and young. Even children were spotted asymptomatic.
Think of a situation where 4 members of a family are infected and 2 are asymptomatic, it would be a tough time though. The latest research shows that the number of asymptomatic cases has come down and about 1 in 5 people are expected to be infected and show no signs.
The risk has never been less when comparing someone with symptoms and those who are asymptomatic.
Now that there are stronger versions of the virus, the spreading is expected to ramp up. This will also increase the number of asymptomatic cases to around 50%. This means that the risk will always be high when the virus has mutated and taken lives.
- The current variants of the virus are potentially riskier than the older strains.
- Chances are, more than 40% of asymptomatic cases can infect each person silently.
- The estimation of silently transmitting the virus in populous countries are more
- Asymptomatic cases are not risk-free as they might silently turn the infected person fall into a critical health condition.
- Widening the testing of COVID19 among populations by including asymptomatic people will be a safer idea to stop the spread
Also, read Factors Affecting COVID-19 Transmission
Identifying an asymptomatic person
This has been a great challenge for common people and health officials to identify an asymptomatic person. This is because of the low test rate among communities with a higher population.
Only those people with symptoms are urged to take a COVID19 test. This makes it hard for identifying an asymptomatic infected person who carries the virus.
The only way to find out an asymptomatic person is by actively testing more people, even those who never showed any signs. Testing every person who visits the hospital will be a better way to identify asymptomatic people.
Symptoms and Results
You will go through fatigue, loss of smell and taste, shortness of breath, cough, headache, and chills. But being an asymptomatic carrier, none of these symptoms would be shown.
Some people living in a highly-populated area develop symptoms more easily than others. So results based on the population of a certain locality might show symptoms differently when compared with a thinly populated area. Older people are more susceptible to show symptoms than the younger healthy groups.
What’s important for you to know about the Asymptomatic COVID infection?
Everywhere
The number of asymptomatic cases was on a rise in every part of the world. This created a lot of panic among residents where precautions were not followed strictly.
Whether they went to a supermarket, church or a mall, it’s unpredictable if the priest or the mall attendants are infected or not. They might be carrying the virus around unknowingly.
Surveys were carried down and it was shocking to know that around 40% of the infected people were asymptomatic and this has created panic among the healthcare officials and residents.
The best way to escape from the spread is by following the protocols laid down by the government to wear masks, sanitize, leave a safe distance, and get out of home only when necessary.
Age doesn’t matter
Based on the statistical data released by WHO, asymptomatic infections were found in people of all age groups. It was also confirmed that the majority of these asymptomatic carriers were healthy.
Youngsters are having a higher spread rate of asymptomatic cases, even though people in their 30’s and 40’s also silently spread the virus unknowingly. This has been a high-risk exposure for people who are old and dealing with underlying health conditions.
Even children are unaware of the fact that they also remain to be a silent spreader of the disease. They can carry the virus for a longer time after testing positive. This makes them a potential transmitter of the disease.
Loads of virus
Studies have proved that asymptomatic people are expected to carry more quantities of the virus, which would be spread along through their bodily fluids.
A Test on 200 asymptomatic patients proved this right. This makes it essential to test the primary and secondary contacts of the patient, to restrict the spread of the virus.
Asymptomatic people won’t have a critical Damage
Earlier stages of the COVID19 spread reported that asymptomatic people were having stronger immunity. But researchers and doctors have come up with a new finding that asymptomatic patients have been going through long-term illnesses.
Patches found in x Rays of asymptomatic patients exhibit that they are infected. They happen to carry the infection for a longer period than those who had been showing symptoms. The patches would go away soon but for some, it leaves a permanent residue of the virus.
Getting the COVID test alone won’t be enough, instead, you should be getting your lungs scanned to reveal the depth of any silent infection.
People who need to take extra care from the asymptomatic virus
- Old aged people especially those who are 55 and above
- Those with pre-existing conditions of heart, kidney, or lungs
- Those under chemotherapy
- People having a very high level of diabetes.
- Those who have been part of an organ surgery or bone marry transplant.
Read more about: Myths And Facts On COVID-19 And Reinfection
