Medical experts have called for strict adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols, lamenting that the viral infection is presenting with new and strange symptoms. Head of the Department of Genetic Epidemiology and Leader of the COVID-19 symptom study app at King’s College, United Kingdom, Prof. Tim Spector, says health officials are beginning to see new symptoms that call for concern, such as increasing numbers of COVID tongues and strange mouth ulcers.The official symptoms, according to Public Health England, are a continuous cough, a fever, and a loss or change in sense of taste and smell.
Prof. Spector, however, said, “Other symptoms have been flagged by the medical profession, including headaches, fatigue and a sore throat, and a leading coronavirus survey revealed that COVID tongue is becoming increasingly common.
“A fifth of sufferers display symptoms that vary from those on the official government list.”
He noted that concerns about these new symptoms were raised to encourage people to observe preventive measures such as wearing of face mask, observing social distancing and practising regular hand hygiene.
According to the World Health Organisation, aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, headache, loss of taste or smell, a rash on skin and discolouration of fingers or toes are common symptoms of COVID-19.
Speaking in an interview with PUNCH HealthWise, Director/National Coordinator, Neglected Tropical Diseases Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, said Nigerians should improve on their health-seeking behaviour and observe the safety protocols, warning that COVID-19 is an emerging viral infection which people react to in different ways.
Dr. Anyaike, a consultant public health physician, explained that each disease comes with its own signs and symptoms.
He, however, said the issue of increase in COVID tongue has to be documented before including it on the list of existing symptoms.
The public health physician said, “Before we can say we have increase in COVID tongue or discoloration of the tongue among COVID-19 patients, there must be a documented evidence.
“The new symptoms, like loss of smell and taste which were not there before, have been documented.
“But we need to find out if COVID tongue has become a new trend in the country. Now, because it is an emerging virus, any symptom that comes, we will try and document it.
“Since this is happening in the UK, people in the clinic in Nigeria will start looking out for it. If they see it, they will document it as an evidence that it is happening here.
“As a viral infection, it keeps changing and mutating from its original nature. Now, as the virus changes, it comes with different symptoms. Viral infection gives a lot of problems.
“However, people react to COVID-19 in different ways.”
Dr. Anyaike pointed out that the first principle of preventing COVID-19 and its attendant consequences is for people to wear their face masks, wash their hands regularly and observe social distancing.
He also enjoined those that are feeling unwell to go to the hospital for check up and avoid self medication.
source: Punch
