About Me

Allergies: The Unbearable Sniffing, Sneezing and Drainage

My name is Marilyn Baker, and I have horrible allergies. I’m 42 years old and have been suffering from allergies since I was a child. I have seasonal and environmental allergies. Allergies plague me year round. When I was young, my parents even moved to a dryer area in the hope of helping me. Over the past eight years, I have done extensive research both through doctors and online. I have managed to come up with some combinations that have helped me a great deal. My allergies aren’t gone, but they have become manageable. I do have to have allergy shots, but I also use some natural remedies. I am happy to be able to share my findings with you here on my blog. I hope you can find some of this of value.

Allergies: The Unbearable Sniffing, Sneezing and Drainage

Important Details To Know About COVID-19 Testing

by Clifton Davidson

COVID-19 testing can offer greater assurance to people who are worried that they may have contracted the coronavirus. Whether the result turns out to be positive or negative, COVID-19 testing can be a useful tool for people who want to keep themselves and other people better protected. Here are some of the most important details to know about COVID-19 testing.

Testing Isn't Always Recommended for Asymptomatic Individuals

Many testing sites discourage people who aren't experiencing any symptoms to undergo testing. COVID-19 testing is considered a priority for symptomatic individuals as well as health care providers and first responders, and asymptomatic people may put greater strains on testing facilities if they try to get tested. Testing supplies may also run out sooner if too many asymptomatic people who don't need testing try to get tested.

According to the CDC, symptoms of COVID-19 include:

  • Fever or chills
  • A persistent cough or sore throat
  • Trouble with breathing
  • Runny nose
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Nausea or other digestion problems
  • A recent loss of taste or smell

The Different Types of Tests

COVID-19 testing is usually performed by taking a sample of fluid and cells from a person's nose or mouth with a swab that's inserted gently into the oral or nasal passageway. The sample is then examined to look for certain genes or proteins that are found in this type of coronavirus. A blood test can also be performed by taking a blood sample with a syringe and needle to look for antibodies that may determine if a person was infected with COVID-19 previously. 

A Positive Result May Not Show Immediately After Exposure

People who become infected with the coronavirus usually won't show a positive test result immediately after exposure. Yahoo! Life explains that the virus can lie dormant in the body, and most people won't convert to being positive until three to five days after contracting the virus. Even before getting tested, a quarantine period of 14 days is recommended for people who believe that they may have been infected with COVID-19, and testing can still be performed within this quarantine period if symptoms start to show. 

Wait Time for Results

As MedicalNewsToday.com explains, most people receive the results of their COVID-19 test in three to five days after testing. In some cases, test results may be available within 24 hours. Depending on the testing site, the results may also not be available for a week after testing. Rapid testing that can produce results in just two minutes can also be performed, but Healthgrades.com reports that this type of COVID-19 testing isn't always accurate.

COVID-19 testing has provided a medical breakthrough that can help keep people safer during this unpredictable pandemic. Learning all the important pieces of information about COVID-19 testing can allow individuals to determine if this testing is right for them.

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