Covid-19 is an infectious illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, first identified in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019.

Since then, the disease has spread worldwide, including Indonesia. As of February 8, 2022, there were 4,580,093 confirmed cases and 233,062 active cases in Indonesia. The symptoms that develop vary between individuals; some have no symptoms, while others experience mild, moderate, or severe complaints.

Asymptomatic or Presymptomatic Infection

This is the mildest situation because you do not have symptoms consistent with Covid-19 infection. Even so, an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) returns a positive SARS-CoV-2 result. People in this category are considered asymptomatic (OTG) and need to self-isolate.

Infection with Mild Symptoms

You are considered to have mild symptoms if you have complaints without evidence of viral pneumonia or signs of low oxygen. Oxygen saturation remains above 95%. People with mild illness can self-isolate, and close contacts should be notified to do the same.

Symptoms that may appear include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Anorexia
• Shortness of breath
• Myalgia

Other nonspecific symptoms can include:

• Sore throat
• Nasal congestion
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Anosmia (loss of smell)
• Ageusia (loss of taste)

Symptoms in older adults or people who are immunocompromised (weakened immunity) can include:

• Fatigue
• Decreased level of consciousness
• Reduced mobility
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Delirium

Infection with Moderate Symptoms

Infection with moderate symptoms is usually shown by lower respiratory tract infection symptoms based on clinical evaluation and imaging test. Oxygen saturation is less than or equal to 93%. People with these findings should be admitted to the hospital.

In adolescents or adults, there are clinical signs of pneumonia such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, and rapid breathing.

In children, there are signs of pneumonia of lesser severity, including cough, difficulty breathing, and a fast respiratory rate.

Infection with Severe Symptoms

Severe illness is categorized by oxygen saturation less than 93%, with a respiratory rate of less than 30 breaths per minute. People in this category should be hospitalized.

Accompanying symptoms include:

• Clinical signs of pneumonia such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, and rapid breathing
• Signs of serious breathing difficulty such as fast breathing and chest indrawing

In children, this may include:

• Inability to breastfeed or drink
• Decreased level of consciousness
• Seizures

Critical Condition

A person is considered critically ill if there are signs of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), sepsis, septic shock, or other problems that require life-support equipment such as a ventilator.

ARDS is indicated by the following symptoms:

• Severe shortness of breath
• Extremely rapid and labored breathing
• Low blood pressure
• Confusion
• Extreme fatigue

Sepsis is indicated by the following symptoms:

• Altered mental status
• Systolic blood pressure less than or equal to 100 mm Hg
• Respiratory rate greater than or equal to 22 breaths per minute

Septic shock can occur due to a marked drop in blood pressure that disrupts how cells function. Progression from shock to septic shock raises the risk of death. Symptoms that may appear when septic shock develops include:

• The need for medicines to maintain systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 65 mm Hg
• High levels of lactic acid in the blood, which signals that cells are not using oxygen properly

To reduce the severity of illness and the risk of death related to Covid-19, the WHO advises completing the primary vaccination series and also receiving a booster dose, especially if you have comorbidities (coexisting conditions) or are immunocompromised.

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