Mild to moderate COVID-19 - discharge


Definition

You have recently been diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 causes an infection in your lungs and may cause problems with other organs, including the kidneys, heart, and liver. Most often it causes a respiratory illness with fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. You may have mild to moderate symptoms or severe illness.

This article is about how to recover from mild-to-moderate COVID-19 that does not require hospital treatment. People with severe illness will usually be treated in the hospital.

Recovery from COVID-19 may take 10 to 14 days or longer depending on your symptoms. Some people have symptoms that go on for months even after they are no longer infected or able to spread the disease to other people. This is called long COVID.

Alternate Names

Coronavirus - 2019 discharge; SARS-CoV-2 discharge; COVID-19 recovery; Coronavirus disease - recovery; Recovering from COVID-19

What to Expect at Home

You tested positive for COVID-19 and are well enough to recover at home. While at home, try to separate yourself and stay away from other people both inside and outside your home. This can help protect others from getting the virus.

MEDICINES

Your provider may prescribe antiviral medicines to help in your recovery, such as Paxlovid. Be sure to take your medicine as prescribed. Do not miss any doses.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

It's important to manage your symptoms, get proper nutrition, and stay active as much as you can as you recover at home.

Managing COVID-19 symptoms

While recovering at home, keep track of your symptoms. Follow your provider's instructions and take medicines as prescribed. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or the local emergency number.

To help manage symptoms of COVID-19, try the following tips.

Nutrition

COVID-19 symptoms such as loss of taste and smell, nausea, or tiredness can make it hard to want to eat. But eating a healthy diet is important for your recovery. These suggestions may help:

Physical Activity

Even though you don't have a lot of energy, it's important to move your body every day. This will help you regain your strength.

WHEN TO RESUME NORMAL ACTIVITIES

Once you start feeling better, you can go back to your normal activities if both of the following things are true:

Even though you feel better, you may still be able to spread the virus to others for several days. For this reason, once you go back to your normal activities, continue to protect others from illness by taking these steps for 5 days:

If your symptoms or fever return after resuming normal activities, you should go back to staying home and away from others. Once your fever and symptoms improve for more than 24 hours, you can resume activities while taking steps to protect others for 5 more days.

When to Call the Doctor

You should contact your provider if your symptoms are getting worse.

Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have:

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Respiratory virus guidance. www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/. Updated March 1, 2024. Accessed August 14, 2024.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Types of COVID-19 treatment. www.cdc.gov/covid/treatment/. Updated July 12, 2024. Accessed July 25, 2024.


Review Date: 2/22/2023
Reviewed By: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 03/12/2024.
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