Coronavirus test
This article was originally published in Dutch by zorgwijzer.nl
There are now more than 1.2 million registered Coronavirus infections in the Netherlands and more than 16,000 Dutch people have died from the effects of the virus.
However, how do you know if you have or have had the coronavirus? What are the symptoms of corona and how do they progress? These questions are being answered based on medical information from RIVM, the World Health Organization, and other scientific sources.
Corona test
The only way to show whether you are infected with the coronavirus is by means of a PCR test or a recognized corona rapid test. Anyone with complaints that can indicate Covid-19 can have themselves tested at the GGD.
If you want to make an appointment for a corona test, call: 0800 - 1202 or go to Coronatest.nl.
Have your citizen service number (BSN) at hand. The following also applies: stay at home and go outside alone for the test. Do you belong to a high-risk group or are you seriously ill? Then call the doctor. In a life-threatening situation, you call 112.
Self-test
Nowadays there is a self-test for antibodies to find out whether you have had the coronavirus.
It works as follows:
1. The self-test includes a finger prick with which you can take a small amount of blood from yourself.
2. You send in the blood sample and it will then be analyzed at an RIVM-accredited laboratory.
3.You will receive the results within two working days and you will know whether you have antibodies against the virus.
Corona symptoms
In most cases, people who become ill from the coronavirus have to deal with one or more mild complaints, such as:
- Fever (or elevation)
- Dry cough
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Cold complaints, such as a Sore Throat or a stuffy nose
- Pain in the body
- Loss of smell and/or taste (without nasal congestion)
Are you dealing with one or more of these complaints? Then let yourself be tested.
There are more and more studies showing that there are also many corona infections without symptoms. So they do not get sick, but can infect others.
Symptoms with mild complaints
In a study among 1,420 patients from Europe with mild/moderate complaints, the most common complaints were identified:
| Complaint/symptom Percentage of cases present | |
| Headache | 70.3% |
| Loss of smell | 70.2% |
| Stuffy nose | 67.8% |
| Fatigue | 63.3% |
| Cough | 63.2% |
| Pain in the body | 62.5% |
| Running nose | 60.1% |
| Loss of taste | 54.2% |
| Sore throat | 52.9% |
| Fever | 45.4% |
Interestingly, British scientists recently noted that nearly 15 percent of people infected with the coronavirus suffer from tinnitus and nearly 8 percent from hearing loss.
Symptoms among hospital patients
The same kind of study was done, but in approximately 60,000 patients with a more severe course of Covid-19 and requiring hospitalization.
The most common symptoms among this group:
| Complaint/symptom Percentage of cases present | |
| Fever | 68.7% |
| Cough | 68.5% |
| Distress | 65.8% |
| Fatigue | 46.4% |
| Confusion | 27.3% |
| muscle strain | 20.1% |
| Diarrhea | 19.1% |
| Nausea and vomiting | 18.8% |
| Severe dehydration | 14.8% |
| Chest pain | 13.6% |
| Headache | 13.0% |
| Sore throat | 10.5% |
| Pain in the body | 10.4% |
Confusion and falls (elderly)
In elderly people with an average age of 83.5 years, it appears that the coronavirus can also start with an acute geriatric syndrome, such as:
- Confusion
- A crash
- Pass out
- Dehydration
- Acute loss of function
This is evident from a study by doctors, published in the Dutch Journal of Medicine.
Mutations
There is a lot of research into whether the symptoms in the British variants are comparable to the 'standard' Covid-19 variant. This also applies to other variants, such as the South African and Brazilian mutation of the coronavirus.
Differences between flu and hay fever
Incidentally, the complaints associated with corona can also indicate flu, a cold virus, hay fever, or another condition.
Below is an overview of the main differences between Covid-19, flu and hay fever:
Belgium Goes Back Into Lockdown as the coronavirus infections increase
In another development, AP reports Belgium is reintroducing a strict lockdown in response to a surge of new COVID-19 infections, with the government saying Wednesday that schools would close and residents would have limited access to nonessential businesses.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the virus variant first identified in Britain is taking a heavy toll on the nation's health. Confirmed new cases in Belgium increased 40% over the last week and hospital admissions rose 28% following a long stable period.
According to the government, COVID-19 infections are doubling every two weeks in Belgium now, with most clusters detected in schools and workplaces.
“It's difficult to take such a decision, and for many, it will be a disappointment," De Croo said after an emergency meeting with regional leaders. “But I'm convinced that we are going to break this third wave."
Under the government's new order, schools and universities will no longer hold in-person classes beginning Monday, although kindergartens will remain open. Exams can still be held in the week before the Easter holidays and the government's goal is to resume in-person teaching on April 19 after the school break.
“The largest number of infections is in the 10-to-19 age group,” De Croo said, noting that children and young adults who show no or few COVID-19 symptoms can infect parents and grandparents, who become very sick and end up in the hospital.
A total of 22,763 people have died from virus-related causes in Belgium. About 1 million of its 11.5 million residents have received a first vaccine dose, and De Croo said the vaccination program in nursing homes has already helped reduce COVID-19 deaths.
Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said a recent sharp increase of COVID-19 patients in Belgium's intensive care units was worrying.
