Kern Family Health Care | Family Health | Fall 2020

FAMILY HEALTH 4 Clip and save Should I be tested for COVID-19? What is a pulmonologist? These doctors help you if you have a disease of the lungs or respiratory system. That includes looking at your sinuses, nose, throat and windpipe. Does your child often wheeze and seem short of breath? Does your partner snore and gasp for air during sleep? These are times when you might need to see a pulmonologist. They help with: y Asthma. y Trouble breathing. y Chronic cough. y Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). y Cystic fibrosis. y Lung cancer. y Pneumonia. y Pulmonary hypertension. y Sleep apnea. y Tuberculosis. Pulmonologists may also manage ventilators for patients who need help breathing. Sources: American Board of Medical Specialties; American College of Physicians Symptoms COVID-19 Allergies Cold Flu Cough Common Rare Common Common Shortness of breath Sometimes No (unless it triggers asthma) No (unless it triggers asthma) No (unless it triggers asthma) Sneezing No Common Common No Runny or stuffy nose Sometimes Common Common Sometimes Sore throat Sometimes Sometimes (usually mild) Common Sometimes Fever Common No Sometimes Common Chills Sometimes No No Sometimes Fatigue Common Sometimes Sometimes Common Headache Sometimes Sometimes Rare Common Body aches Sometimes No Sometimes (usually mild) Common Diarrhea Sometimes No No Sometimes (in children) Nausea or vomiting Sometimes No No Sometimes (in children) Loss of taste or smell Sometimes Rare Rare Rare Take action! Call 911 if you or a loved one has emergency warning signs for COVID-19. These include trouble breathing, lasting pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, trouble waking up or staying awake, and bluish lips or face. Your symptoms may differ. Call your doctor if you’re concerned about any unusual or severe symptoms. Sources: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; World Health Organization Which is it: COVID-19, allergies, cold or flu? You should be tested if: y You were in contact with someone known to have COVID-19. y You have traveled overseas or to a highly infected area. y You have a cough, fever, or other common COVID-19 symptoms in the table above. Contact your doctor or clinic or call KFHC to find out how to get tested.