Researchers from King’s College London have identified the following six distinct types of COVID-19, each with a specific set of symptoms:
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 – Headache, loss of smell, cough, fever, hoarseness, chest pain, fatigue.
5. Severe level two – Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain.
6. Severe level three – Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, abdominal pain.
8.6%, 9.9% and 19.8% for clusters 4, 5 and 6 respectively may require oxygen and 50% of the patients in cluster 6 have to be admitted to hospital, compared with just 16% of those in cluster 1.
This valid body of research could help to predict which patients are most at risk and more likely need a respiratory support, thus contributing to saving of lives.
20th July 2020
