Table 2.
COVID-19 Symptoms Reported by Participants (N = 30)
| Symptoms | Total number of participants reporting each symptom | Participants who reported each symptom spontaneously1 | Participants who reported each symptom in response to interviewer probe2 | Participants who reported each symptom as one of the most bothersome3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | |
| Symptoms included on the revised version of the ACSD | ||||
| Cough | 25 (83%) | 15 (50%) | 10 (33%) | 4 (13%) |
| Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing | 21 (70%) | 12 (40%) | 9 (30%) | 5 (17%) |
| Feeling feverish | 14 (47%) | 1 (3%) | 13 (43%) | - |
| Chills | 21 (70%) | 5 (17%) | 16 (53%) | - |
| Fatigue (low energy) | 30 (100%) | 24 (80%) | 6 (20%) | 9 (30%) |
| Body pain or muscle pain or aches | 26 (87%) | 18 (60%) | 8 (27%) | 10 (33%) |
| Diarrhea | 18 (60%) | 5 (17%) | 13 (43%) | 1 (3%) |
| Nausea | 18 (60%) | 8 (27%) | 10 (33%) | 2 (7%) |
| Vomiting4 | 4 (13%) | 4 (13%) | - | 1 (3%) |
| Headaches | 26 (87%) | 22 (73%) | 4 (13%) | 6 (20%) |
| Sore throat | 19 (63%) | 9 (30%) | 10 (33%) | - |
| Nasal obstruction or congestion (stuffy nose) | 20 (67%) | 9 (30%) | 11 (37%) | 3 (10%) |
| Nasal discharge (runny nose) | 18 (60%) | 4 (13%) | 14 (47%) | 1 (3%) |
| Loss of taste4 | 20 (67%) | 15 (50%) | 5 (17%) | 6 (20%) |
| Loss of smell4 | 22 (73%) | 19 (63%) | 3 (10%) | 7 (23%) |
| Other symptoms reported by participants5 | ||||
| Fever | 15 (50%) | 14 (47%) | 1 (3%) | 1 (3%) |
| Confusion/Brain fog4 | 8 (27%) | 8 (27%) | - | 1 (3%) |
| Dizziness4 | 8 (27%) | 8 (27%) | - | 1 (3%) |
| Weakness | 6 (20%) | 6 (20%) | - | 2 (7%) |
| Lack of appetite | 5 (17%) | 5 (17%) | - | - |
| Chest tightness | 4 (13%) | 4 (13%) | - | - |
| Nasal/Sinus drainage | 3 (10%) | 3 (10%) | - | 1 (3%) |
1Symptoms that were introduced by the participant, without prompting from the interviewer, were coded as “spontaneous.”
2If a participant did not spontaneously report a symptom that appears on the ACSD, the interviewer asked about the symptom. If participants responded by indicating that they had experienced the symptom, it was coded as “probed.”
3Statistics in this column are based on responses to the question “Since you were diagnosed with COVID-19, which symptoms have been most bothersome for you?”
4Four changes to the ACSD are recommended for future research: dropping the items assessing vomiting, adding items assessing brain fog and dizziness, and using 4-point response scales (i.e., absent, mild, moderate, severe) for loss of taste and smell rather than dichotomous responses (i.e., yes, no)
5The rows of this table include all symptoms reported by at least three of the 30 participants. Symptoms reported by only two participants included chest congestion, eye symptoms other than vision, chest pain, swollen glands/lymph nodes, burning in sinus cavity/nose, elevated heart rate, pneumonia, and blood clots in lungs. Symptoms reported by only one participant included heart palpitations, ear pain, ear ringing/tinnitus, chest pressure, autoimmune flare-up, throat tickle, inflammation, eczema, swollen ankles, frequent urination, loss of sleep, swelling in cheeks/face, drop in oxygen levels, increased blood pressure, muscle cramps, nose bleeds, clogged ears, feeling like [they are] going to pass out, feeling hot and sweaty, lightheaded, feeling run down, stiffness, joint swelling/inflammation, constipation, loss of muscle mass, feeling like [they are] going to get a headache, rash, spots on lips, swollen tongue, ulcers, and blurred vision