The majority of COVID-19 positive patients are most likely to experience mild symptoms and can recover at home, a national medical body says.
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The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) says 80 per cent of patients, particularly those fully vaccinated, can recover at home without hospitalisation.
But it's important to remember COVID-19 symptoms change over time. Some people will have no symptoms and others might worsen over a couple of weeks.
The RACGP has produced a guide for people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have mild to moderate symptoms.
A key tip needed to be heeded early on is to keep a daily symptom diary. Should you, or someone in your house develop the following symptoms, it indicates more severe or serious illness:
- worsening shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- blue lips or face
- pain or pressure in the chest
- cold and clammy, or pale and mottled, skin
- fainting or collapse
- being more confused
- becoming difficult to wake up
- little or no urine output - less urine than usual, even though you have been drinking lots of fluid
- coughing up blood
- your oxygen level is 92 per cent* or less when you test using the pulse oximeter, even if you feel okay
There is specific information on available financial supports, mental health support structures, how care givers can deal with infection and more.
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Janine Graham
Onetime sports reporter, chief-of-staff, editor and national digital news editor. Email me: janine.graham@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Onetime sports reporter, chief-of-staff, editor and national digital news editor. Email me: janine.graham@austcommunitymedia.com.au
