Most people infected with the new coronavirus (COVID-19) are able to achieve a cure and fully recover, as the immune system is able to eliminate the virus from the body. However, the time that can pass since the person presents the first symptoms until it is considered cured can vary from case to case, ranging from 14 days to 6 weeks.
After the person is considered cured, it is important that care is maintained, such as the use of masks, social distancing and hand hygiene and disinfection, because despite the initial protection, it is possible to be infected by SARS-CoV-2 more at once, and there is also the likelihood of transmission of the virus even if there are no signs or symptoms of infection.
1. When is the person considered cured?
A person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 can be considered cured in two ways:
With COVID-19 test
The person is considered cured when he gathers these three variables:
- Has not had a fever for 24 hours, without using medicines for fever;
- It shows improvement in symptoms, such as coughing, muscle pain, sneezing, and difficulty breathing;
- Had negative result in 2 tests of COVID-19, made more than 24 hours apart.
This form is most used for patients admitted to the hospital, who have diseases that affect the immune system or who have had severe symptoms of the disease at some point during the infection.
Generally, these people take longer to be considered cured, as, due to the seriousness of the infection, the immune system has a harder time fighting the virus.
No COVID-19 test
The person is considered cured when:
- Has not had a fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of medications;
- Shows improvement in symptoms, such as coughing, malaise, sneezing and difficulty breathing;
- More than 10 days have passed since the first symptoms of COVID-19. In more severe cases, this period can be extended by the doctor to 20 days.
This form is generally used in milder cases of infection, especially in people who are recovering in isolation at home.
2. Can the cured person pass on the illness?
So far it is considered that the person cured of COVID-19 has a very low risk of transmitting the virus to other people. Although a person who is cured may have some viral load for several weeks after the symptoms subside, the CDC considers the amount of virus released to be extremely low, and there is no risk of contagion.
In addition, the person also no longer has constant coughing and sneezing, which are the main form of transmission of the new coronavirus.
Despite this, it is important to maintain basic care such as washing your hands frequently, covering your mouth and nose whenever you need to cough, as well as avoiding being in closed public places.
3. Is being discharged from the hospital the same as being cured?
Being discharged from the hospital does not always mean that the person is cured. This is because, in many cases, the person can be discharged when symptoms improve and no longer need to remain under continuous observation in the hospital. In these situations, the person should continue in isolation in a room at home, until the symptoms disappear and he is considered cured in one of the ways indicated above.
4. Is it possible to get COVID-19 more than once?
After infection with SARS-CoV-2, the body develops antibodies, like IgG and IgM, which seem to guarantee protection against a new infection. In addition, according to the CDC, after infection a person is able to develop immunity for about 90 days, decreasing the risk of re-infection.
However, after this period, it is possible for the person to develop SARS-CoV-2 infection, so it is important that even after the symptoms disappear and the cure is confirmed through tests, the person maintains all the measures that help to prevent new infection, such as the use of masks, social distancing and hand washing.
In addition, due to the existence of variants of COVID-19, it is possible that personnel are infected with different types of SARS-CoV-2 and may develop the disease.
5. Is it possible to transmit the disease even without symptoms?
Yes, this is because the virus can remain in the nasopharyngeal mucosa and multiply without causing any signs or symptoms of infection. In some cases, the person may not have any signs or symptoms, while others may have symptoms about 5 days after the start of viral replication.
During this replication period, the virus can be transmitted to other people when the asymptomatic infected person speaks, for example. Therefore, it is important to wear protective masks, wash your hands well with soap and water regularly, and use alcohol gel.
6. Are there long-term sequelae of the infection?
In the case of the most serious infections of COVID-19, in which the person develops pneumonia, permanent sequelae can occur, such as reduced lung capacity, which can cause shortness of breath in simple activities such as walking quickly or climbing stairs . Still, this type of sequel is related to pulmonary scars left by pneumonia and not by coronavirus infection.
Other sequelae may also appear in people who are hospitalized in the ICU, but in these cases, they vary according to age and the presence of other chronic diseases, such as heart problems or diabetes, for example.
According to some reports, there are patients cured of COVID-19 who seem to have excessive tiredness, muscle pain and difficulty sleeping, even after having eliminated the coronavirus from their body, which has been given the designation of post-COVID syndrome. See more about the possible sequelae of COVID-19.
In our podcast to Dr. Mirca Ocanhas clarifies the main doubts about the importance of strengthening the lung:
