How to look after yourself if you think you have coronavirus
If you think you have coronavirus and can manage the symptoms yourself the best thing you can do is stay at home – this way you will avoid spreading the virus to others and making the outbreak worse. Symptoms are:
Fever
New, continuous cough
A feeling of general tiredness and listlessness
Click here for more information on symptoms.
If you live alone you must stay at home for seven days from the day you first became ill. If you live with others you and the people you live with must stay at home for 14 days. See our separate piece on how to self isolate here.
Should I go to my GP?
No, this is the worst thing you can do as you will spread the virus to others, potentially infecting vulnerable and sick individuals. If you feel you can look after yourself at home, stay there. Ask others who are not ill to go out and get food and any medication you might need.
Wash your hands regularly and stay away from others in your household if possible. For tips on how to self isolate see our separate feature here.
Are there any specific treatments I can use?
There are no specific treatments for coronavirus – you can only take things that will relieve the symptoms. Paracetamol will help to bring down a fever and relieve any aches and pains. Do not take ibuprofen – in popular brands such as Nurofen and Anadin – because it can dampen the immune response and aggravate pneumonia symptoms.
While there is no definitive evidence the government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, has said the sensible thing to do would be to not take it.
How can I soothe my cough?
The NHS general advice on coughs is for people to drink hot lemon and honey (although this is not suitable for children under one year old). Squeeze half a lemon into a mug of boiled water, add one to two teaspoons of honey and drink while still warm. But take care when giving children hot drinks.
What should I drink?
It’s really important to keep hydrated when you’re ill and feverish and you should drink enough so your urine is clear. Water is best but you can try weak tea or very diluted juice as an alternative.
Eat food with a high water content such as soups, jelly and fruit such as melon.
Children and the elderly can become dehydrated quickly – signs are dry mouth and lips, dark yellow and strong smelling urine, feeling dizzy or lightheaded and going to the toilet regularly.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine as these can dehydrate.
How do I treat a fever?
Younger children find it harder to regulate their body temperature so they can develop a fever more quickly. The best way to treat them is to give them plenty of fluids, medicines containing paracetamol (but do not give to a baby who is less than two months old) and don’t cover them up in too many clothes or bedclothes. There is no need to undress them or sponge them down as fever is the body’s natural response to infection.
What should I eat?
It’s not unusual to lose your appetite when you’re ill. Nutritious, simple food is best and try to eat lots of fruit and veg. Soup is your friend – batch cook some now or get some tins in (if you can find any).
When should I go to hospital?
If you feel you cannot manage your symptoms at home – for example, you are breathless or you or your child develops a very high temperature to the NHS 111 website and you will be taken through a series of questions.
Do not go to A&E or the GP as you may infect others. You can also call 111 but this number is very busy at the moment.
What treatment will I be given in hospital?
There are no specific coronavirus treatments and, depending on the severity of your condition you are likely to be given fluids, antiviral drugs and may get help with your breathing. Some patients may develop a bacterial infection so may be given antibiotics.
Doctors are trialling various existing therapies for conditions such as malaria, HIV and Ebola. French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi says it will release 300,000 doses of the drug chloroquine after doctors in France reported a positive trial of this malaria drug on a small number of patients.
A clinical trial has also begun on a drug called remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral treatment developed for Ebola. It was used to treat the Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey when she suffered a relapse 18 months after being cleared of the disease which she contracted while volunteering in Sierra Leone.
HIV antiviral drugs have also been flagged as potential options, and there are several studies ongoing in China looking at a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir, both of which work to lower the levels of HIV in the bloodstream.
Is there a vaccine?
No – but lots of teams around the world are working on them. The first human trials have already started in the United States – breaking records for the speed with which such trials can get off the ground but it is highly unlikely that a vaccine will be ready by the end of the year.
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