Dr. Arpit Varshney
General Medicine
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Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
I got COVID and today is the nineteenth day. I had symptoms like high fever for two to three days, cold, cough, and lack of taste. I do not have any breathing issues, and my oxygen levels do not decrease. After nine to ten days, all the symptoms were gone except for the cough. Sometimes there is a slight cough with mucus, and I feel fatigued. Currently, I am taking tablet Vitamin C, antibiotics, Zinc tablets, cough syrup, and healthy foods. I was vaccinated with two doses months ago. Should I do the PCR test now on the twentieth day? Will the report still be positive? Kindly help.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern. I want to tell you that RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) for COVID can be positive upto 25 days of illness. The reason is that this test detects viruses (it does not matter that virus is alive or dead). So you might be harboring the dead virus in your body because you are recovering from the illness, despite RT-PCR being positive because of the dead virus. So this test holds no value after 14 days.
For your cough, I suggest Bro-Zedex SF (Guaifenesin, Terbutaline, and Bromhexine) syrup. But it will take five to seven days to resolve. The smell and taste come back by the third to fourth week of illness. So you will have to wait till then. You have passed off the difficult times of COVID illness. Now you are entirely safe, and also, the vaccination has helped you to keep your COVID controlled.
I hope you get well soon.
Kindly revert in case of further queries.
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General Medicine
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