What are Human Coronaviruses: Symptoms, Treatments, and Variants

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been much debate on internet forums and social media about the human coronaviruses. So, what is coronavirus and how do you avoid it?

Numerous strains of the coronavirus have been circulating the population since the 1960s’. According to the National Institute of Health, most people will get some variation of coronavirus in their lifetime at least once. That’s why you may have seen ‘human coronavirus’ already listed on some of your household disinfectants.

However, this is not to be confused with the new (novel) COVID-19 that has been spreading throughout the world since December 2019. Before we delve into the different variants, let’s take a look at the common and novel coronavirus symptoms.

Symptoms

Depending on the health and immune strength of the person who contracts coronavirus, symptoms can vary dramatically. Some people have shown no symptoms or experienced a mild sore throat and fever for just day or two. Others have suffered from extreme respiratory problems, pneumonia and even death due to coronavirus.

Most frequently reported coronavirus symptoms are:

• High fever (normal body temperature should be around 37°C (98.6°F)
• Dry cough
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue and muscle pain

As you can see, these symptoms are all similar to seasonal influenza, so it’s a good idea to build your immunity to the coronavirus, flus and colds as much as possible.

What to do if you experience any of these symptoms?

Follow the advice of your local health services and the World Health Organization. If possible, call the clinic before visiting to confirm if and when you should go in for testing.

How long does coronavirus last in the body?

The length of time that coronavirus symptoms can last in the body will vary from person to person. It can take around two weeks for the virus to fully clear, providing there were no serious complications from the disease.

How long does coronavirus last on surfaces?

The short answer is, we don’t know how exactly long COVID-19 lasts on surfaces or in the air. Different materials and surfaces may show different results. Temperature also has an effect on how long coronaviruses can last, most become inactive after reaching above 30 degrees Celsius.

A recent study published March 11, 2020 by Medrxiv analyzed the length of time the coronavirus lasted in the air and on different surfaces. Results showed that it can last for up to 3 hours in the air, on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and up to a few days on stainless steel. However, this study is very new at time of writing and has not yet been peer-reviewed.

A regular clean with a good disinfectant on all surfaces will wipe out any lurking coronaviruses.

Treatments

There is no specific medicine for coronavirus and since it is a virus, antibiotics do not work. While research labs work on creating antiviral drugs and vaccines, there are plenty of natural treatments to boost your health and immunity. Coronavirus treatment for non-critical cases has so far been just like treating the flu. Things like staying hydrated with drinks containing electrolytes, intaking plenty of nutrients from foods and supplements like D-Lenolate, Vitamin D and Vitamin C, really helps build your immunity from the inside, out. A natural medicine for coronavirus would be foods like honey, lemon and high-quality Olive Leaf Extract.

Variants

While the US government and public health are preparing for potentially more cases, there are numerous things you can do to help improve your immunity against the coronavirus infection:

1. MERS – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
   MERS-CoV was first recognized in 2012 after people suddenly began suffering with severe respiratory illnesses in Saudi Arabia. It quickly spread to other countries and according to a 2019 study, MERS was fatal for 35.2% of people who contracted the disease.
2. SARS – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
   SARS-CoV breakout happened back in 2002, originating in Southern China and rapidly spreading around the world. This type of coronavirus attacks both the lower and upper respiratory tracts, causing a life-threatening form of pneumonia. Symptoms of SARS also included flu, chills, and diarrhea, with a morality rate of 9.6%. In 2019, a dangerous new strain called SARS-CoV-2 started circulating, causing the disease COVID-19.
3. COVID-19 – Corona Virus Disease 2019 (SARS-CoV-2)
   The new strain of coronavirus has not been previously identified in humans and can affect people of all ages. However, the people most likely to suffer with severe symptoms are the over 60s’ and people with compromised immune systems. At the time of writing there has been 118 322 confirmed cases and 4292 deaths globally from COVID-19 which was first reported in Wuhan, China.
4. HCoV-oc43 and HCoV-HKU1 – Betacoronavirus
   These common coronaviruses cause common cold symptoms and respiratory tract infections in babies, children and the elderly.
5. HCoV-229E – Alphacoronavirus
   Similar to the above, this type of human coronavirus causes cold and flu like symptoms as well as more serious complications in those with underlying medical conditions.
6. HCoV-NL63 – Alphacoronavirus
   This strain of coronavirus has been considered as cause of croup and bronchitis in children. It is most common in winter and shown to affect those at a younger age and with a shorter fever duration.

Conclusion

The most important thing is to remain calm and not get into a state of anxiety over coronavirus. Fear itself can cause a myriad of unwanted chemical reactions in the body that are not good for health.

If you haven’t already, check out our blog on how to protect yourself from Coronavirus by building your immunity, stock up on the highest quality vitamins and supplements like D-Lenolate to support your food intake, and follow the guidelines from the World Health organization for precaution.