Scientists from Austria divided the symptoms of a mild form of a new coronavirus infection into groups, and also identified blood biomarkers that allow monitoring treatment. The research results are published in the journal Allergy. Experts from the Center for Pathophysiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology of the Medical University of Vienna conducted a study in which 109 patients with mild COVID-19 and 98 healthy people took part, from which a control group was formed. Experts managed to identify seven groups of manifestations of the mild form of COVID-19: 1) symptoms of "flu"; 2) symptoms of "cold"; 3) pain in joints and muscles; 4) inflammation of the eyes and mucous membranes; 5) breathing problems; 6) gastrointestinal problems; 7) loss of smell and taste. Researchers attribute the first three groups to systemic symptoms, and the last two to organ-specific ones. Scientists believe that such a division will help to correctly diagnose the primary disease. For example, they found that loss of smell and taste is most common in people with a fresh immune response. At the same time, a mild coronavirus leaves behind noticeable changes in the immune system, which are clearly visible within ten weeks after the onset of infection, for example, a low level of granulocytes - leukocytes responsible for the fight against bacterial pathogens.
