Can You Have COVID-19 Without a Fever

If you’ve done any research into COVID-19 symptoms, you’ve probably seen that a fever is one of the primary indications of this virus. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website places “fever or chills” at the top of its list of COVID-19 symptoms. With that in mind, if you’re experiencing other symptoms of the virus but your body temperature is normal, you might assume that you’re in the clear.

Don’t be so quick to dismiss the possibility of COVID-19. Although a fever is a common symptom of this virus, it’s still possible to have COVID-19 without a fever, especially within the first few days after being infected. In fact, one study found that just 55.5% of the surveyed COVID-19 patients reported experiencing a fever. Another study found that only 51.2% of COVID-19 patients presenting to emergency medical services had a fever. These findings suggest that a considerable portion of COVID-19 patients don’t experience a fever.

Other COVID-19 Symptoms

If you don’t have a fever, you’ll need to pay particularly close attention to other potential indicators of COVID-19. Some of the most common COVID-19 symptoms include:

• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Congestion or a runny nose
• Sore throat
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Body or muscle aches
• A new loss of smell or taste

In more severe cases, COVID-19 can cause difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure within the chest, new confusion, or difficulty waking up or staying awake. It can also cause the skin, lips, and nail beds to take on a pale, blue, or gray color. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these more serious symptoms, you should seek emergency medical treatment.

What to Do Next

If you’re experiencing the non-emergency symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested as soon as possible. If it turns out that you do have COVID-19, you’ll need to isolate yourself from others to avoid transmitting the virus. And if your test rules out the possibility of COVID-19, you’ll know to start investigating other possible causes of your symptoms.

Luckily, when you turn to PhysicianOne Urgent Care for COVID-19 testing, we've got you. We’re pleased to offer antigen and PCR testing to patients in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.

And if you’re not currently experiencing symptoms but you’d like to know whether you were previously infected with COVID-19, you can receive an antibody test from PhysicianOne Urgent Care. Studies are still being performed to determine whether COVID-19 antibodies fully protect someone from a future infection, but finding out whether you previously had COVID-19 can help public health officials learn more about how the virus spreads. Plus, if you receive a positive result, you may qualify to donate plasma to help other COVID-19 patients. To learn more about all of our COVID-19 testing services, click here.