Symptoms

COVID-19 stands for “coronavirus disease 2019.” It is a respiratory virus that has the potential to cause severe illness and death. It was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. 

For the most up-to-date information from UCLA Health, please visit our coronavirus site.

Some other trusted resources: LA County Department of Public Health(Link is external) (Link opens in new window) | CDC Coronavirus Information(Link is external) (Link opens in new window) | WHO (World Health Organization) COVID-19 Report(Link is external) (Link opens in new window)

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever, cough, shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing.

Other symptoms can include:

• Fatigue, body aches, runny nose and sore throat.

More symptoms to be aware of include

• Chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache and new loss of taste or smell

For complete list, visit the CDC’s COVID-19 symptoms page(Link is external) (Link opens in new window).

If you need a primary care doctor, please call 310-825-2631(Link opens phone app) (Link opens in new window) or visit the Primary Care site.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are generally similar in children and adults. Children with COVID-19 have generally presented with milder symptoms, a milder clinical course and faster recovery. Symptoms mimic many common respiratory illnesses in children, such as fever, runny nose, and cough. Vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported more commonly in children.

If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, follow these steps:

• Contact your doctor.
• Keep track of your symptoms.
• If you are experience emergency warning signs, including trouble breathing, get emergency medical care immediately or call 911(Link opens phone app).

Steps for COVID-19 testing:

• Call your primary care physician toset up a video visit(Link opens in new window).
• Discuss your symptoms or exposures with the physician during this visit. Your physician will determine if you require a test order or recommend another plan of care.
• If a test is ordered, the physician will provide information on how to schedule the test.
• Visit your testing site at your scheduled time and complete the test.
• Test results available on myuclahealth.org(Link is external) (Link opens in new window) within 24 hours.

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your health care provider for medical advice. Call 911 for severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Wrestling with intense emotions day after day drains your energy, causing pandemic fatigue. The fatigue can stem from several emotions you’ve experienced during the pandemic, including:

• Fear
• Anxiety
• Loneliness
• Hopelessness

Here are concrete steps you can take(Link is external) (Link opens in new window) to feel better while staying safe.

If you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, go to the Emergency Department, COVID-19 concerns or not. Learn what symptoms to look out for and why you should never wait(Link is external) (Link opens in new window) to seek emergency care.