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Comment by okareaman | Hacker News Reader

I'm a retired programmer who does ride sharing in Silicon Valley. I often pick up people at the San Jose airport. Sometimes they are coming in from China or Seattle. I live in a Chinese neighborhood. I gave a woman who couldn't breath a ride to the emergency room. When I got sick in February, I figured it was the flu, but now realize it was probably Covid-19 based on symptoms. I recovered nicely and have been quarantining myself just in case.

It's like the flu with the added difference that it makes breathing more difficult. Also difficulty swallowing. It was more annoying than anything, not really that bad. I don't have any health problems, but if I did have breathing issues, I imagine it might be very problematic.

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> It's like the flu with the added difference that it makes breathing more difficult. Also difficulty swallowing. It was more annoying than anything, not really that bad.

I had that as well for 3 weeks after being on an event with known covid-19 cases, feels very different from the flu. I asked if they wanted to diagnose me but I didn't fit their profile (being on the same event doesn't count as close contact), so I've self quarantined as well just in case.

It's interesting to read just how differently suspected cases are being handled across countries.

In Singapore once a case was/is discovered, an intense contact tracing effort begins to identify and quarantine everyone who might be infected, to contain the spread.

If you haven't, it might be useful to ring up healthcare workers and people you've met and let them know.

Oh yea they have stopped doing that here just about 4 days ago (Northern California) because there are too many community cases and the plan is to move to phase 2 (containment is now mitigation).

Singapore has a truly excellent infectious disease program.

Thanks for sharing. Did you take any medication to ease the symptoms?

No, I don't like taking over the counter meds. The main thing is just get rest and try not to aggravate the coughing, which was a somewhat painful. I quit smoking last year, thank goodness. Chicken Noodle soup was really good for my sore throat and trouble swallowing.

From what I've read sore throat is relatively rare as a symptom of covid-19:

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-sympto...

Notably, the COVID-19 infection rarely seems to cause a runny nose, sneezing, or sore throat (these symptoms have been observed in only about 5% of patients).

That doesn't mean you didn't have it, of course, but does suggest it might have just been a cold.

Doesn't dry cough imply sore throat (ie you cough since your throat is sore and irritated)? So people having a cough wont also mention that their throat is sore since it is unnecessary information?

Edit: The way I experience is is that there is a constant tickle in my throat. It sometimes get so strong that I can't hold back a cough but most of the time it just stays a tickle. I call that sore throat, when I got it initially it surprised me and I got a cough attack but after that I've been able to suppress it and not cough for days.

Not in my case. I often get a very annoying dry cough from common colds, but my throat is perfectly fine. The irritation starts deeper, and it’s not pain, just irritation which triggers cough.

I guess some people might confuse them? I mean nobody has properly defined what "sore throat" means to me. If it hurts for me deep down int he windpipe I take it as it is still my throat, and sore includes being irritated and not just pain. Like now for example, I'd say I have a sore throat even though I don't feel any pain and I only feel it deep down my windpipe and not at all in the food part of the throat.

> ie you cough since your throat is sore and irritated

The cough is probably because of lung issues. Apparently sore throat is only a symptom in 1/6th of cases but the dry cough is present in 2/3rd. There's also sputum in 1/3rd of cases, that's lungs / trachea mucus.

No, every cold I have ever had involved nasal congestion and runny nose. There was none for me. At the time, I remember thinking that it was unlike anything I had experienced before, which later led me to conclude it was Covid-19.

Would you mind sharing your age?

I'm 62 and very healthy according to my recent physical. No drinking, drugging or smoking.

Smoking is a very big indicator for having extra complications with diseases like these, you will need every bit of lung capacity that you've got.

I don't think I've ever heard the term drugging, but I love it.

Definitely a Boomer word... my Mom would say it when I was growing up.

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