Health officials across the country are responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus, called COVID-19. There are certain things you should know about the disease, how to protect yourself, as well as information on how to safely use over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and dietary supplements during the pandemic.
COVID-19, or coronavirus disease 2019, is the official name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic. It is a new disease, caused by a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans.
COVID-19 is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly cause mild illness, like the common cold. It is believed to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. Get the latest information at: www.coronavirus.gov
According to the CDC, older adults and people with severe underlying medical conditions – like heart or lung disease, or diabetes – seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.
People infected with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms – ranging from mild to severe. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
Children infected with COVID-19 will likely have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness. The CDC has also connected COVID-19 with a very rare but serious health condition called Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). Symptoms of MIS-C can include persistent fever, a rash or changes in skin color, red eyes or conjunctivitis, abdominal pain, and swollen lymph nodes. If parents notice any of these symptoms, they should immediately call their pediatrician.
While most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home, CDC’s website features an interactive symptom checker to help you make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care.
If you develop any of the emergency warning signs below for COVID-19, it is important to seek medical attention immediately:
This list is not inclusive, and you should consult your doctor or other healthcare professional for any symptoms that are severe or concerning.
Allergies
The major difference between allergies and COVID-19 is the presence of fever. A fever is a main symptom of COVID-19, but not a common symptom related to allergies. Another major distinction is that allergies will likely cause itchiness, while COVID-19 will not.
If you are experiencing symptoms, the best way to know if you have COVID-19 is to speak with your doctor or other healthcare professional to see if you should be tested for the disease.
For more information on the different symptoms related to COVID-19 and allergies, check out this summary chart.
Cold or Flu
The symptoms of COVID-19 could be similar to a cold or flu, including fever, cough, and body aches or fatigue. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, some patients with COVID-19 have also experienced gastrointestinal problems or diarrhea.
If you are experiencing symptoms, the best way to know if you have COVID-19 is to speak with your doctor or other healthcare professional to see if you should be tested for the disease and/or the flu or other infections.
For more information on the different symptoms related to COVID-19, a cold, or the flu, check out this summary chart
While there is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, there are some things you can do to keep you and your loved ones from being exposed to the virus:
Additionally, with families staying home right now and potentially stocking up on medicines, it’s important to remember to ALWAYS keep your medicines up and away and out of sight and reach of your children. Doing so will help prevent your children from accidentally getting a hold of medicines and ingesting them.
The same goes for hand sanitizer, as accidentally ingesting even a small amount can cause alcohol poisoning in children. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that during the COVID-19 pandemic, calls to Poison Control related to hand sanitizer have increased by 79%. Therefore, it is very important to store hand sanitizer out of sight and reach and monitor children when they are using hand sanitizer.
Check out this parent’s checklist to keep your kids safe during the coronavirus.
It’s important to maintain current drug therapies and ensure you have the appropriate treatments at home if you or your family members are sick. Remember most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home.
For necessary prescription medications, we recommend contacting your doctor or other healthcare professional to obtain them to have on hand in case there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in your community and you need to stay home for an extended period of time. Additionally, some pharmacies, including mail-order ones, allow you to automatically refill your prescriptions, sometimes for 90 days at a time; some pharmacies are now also offering home delivery of prescription medications at no charge.
It’s important to also have over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and medical supplies on-hand, including:
The recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) allows consumers enrolled in pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), certain Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to purchase most OTC medicines without a need for a prescription through their accounts – depending on what their employer’s plan documents allow. We recommend that you save your OTC medicine receipts and reach out to your HSA, FSA or HRA provider to learn more about eligibility. This provision is retroactive to January 1, 2020.
For more helpful information on how to prepare for COVID-19, including a household checklist, visit CDC’s website.
Be sure to keep all medicines up and away and out of sight and reach of your children, to help prevent accidental ingestions. Avoid an accident with these safe medicine storage tips.
While research supports the use of certain dietary supplements to maintain healthy immune system responses, there are no studies that demonstrate dietary supplements can prevent or treat COVID-19. Also, be aware that no dietary supplement may claim to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19. Consumers should avoid products that suggest they do. All direction for preventing and/or treating COVID-19 should come from a qualified healthcare professional or public health authority. If you have questions about taking dietary supplements, please talk to your doctor.
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, like those containing acetaminophen and ibuprofen, can be used to temporarily reduce fever and relieve minor aches and pains, including pain following a vaccination.
There is no research to date that specifically looks at whether OTC pain relievers can interfere with how well the COVID-19 vaccines work. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people who experience discomfort after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination speak with their doctor about taking an OTC pain reliever.
CDC does not recommend taking OTC pain relievers before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as an attempt to prevent soreness or muscle aches following the injection.
Over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are indicated and labeled under the authority of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to temporarily reduce fever and relieve minor aches and pains. Acetaminophen is also indicated and labeled for this purpose.
Recent reports have questioned whether using NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, could lead to poorer outcomes when infected with COVID-19. However, FDA recently stated that it is “not aware of scientific evidence connecting the use of NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, to worsening COVID-19 symptoms,” and is investigating the issue.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also states that there is “no known evidence” that ibuprofen worsens symptoms of COVID-19, and “does not recommend against the use of ibuprofen.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also currently not aware of scientific evidence establishing a link between NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen) and worsening of COVID‑19.
You should always read and follow the Drug Facts label on all OTC medicines to determine safe and appropriate use and speak with a doctor or other healthcare professional if you have any questions about which OTC medicine is right for you.
Millions of Americans deal with frequent heartburn which interferes with daily life and should not be ignored. When deciding how to self-treat frequent heartburn, OTC proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are an appropriate option. OTC PPIs are indicated and labeled for once-daily use, for a maximum of 14 days every four months.
Recent reports have questioned whether using PPIs increases a person’s risk for COVID-19, however, the few studies have only been observational, results have been mixed, and no causal relationship has been proven. OTC medicines, including PPIs, are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and each OTC medicine has a clear Drug Facts label to help consumers understand what it is used for, to ensure proper dosing and duration of use, and to avoid drug interactions. Any severe or persistent symptoms should be immediately reported to a healthcare professional. Learn more about PPIs.
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