One of the most confusing things about Covid-19 is figuring out if you have already had it.
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a lot of confusion in this country and around the world. Not only is our response to this disease a little scattered and inconsistent, but the political ramifications of the vaccine rollout, and what being vaccinated actually means have further muddied the waters.
Breakout cases in vaccinated people have created a whole new slew of concerns. Breakout cases occur when someone who is vaccinated becomes infected with Covid-19. Many of these cases are asymptomatic or share the symptoms of a common cold. This is a problem because many vaccinated people don’t know they have it, and can spread it without ever getting sick.
So the question becomes, have you had Covid-19 without realizing it? The only way to tell for sure is to get an antibody test, but if you are concerned about lingering symptoms or your own status, here are three ways to tell if you may have had Covid-19.
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Pink Eye- Pink eye infections can be a sign that you have had Covid-19. ACE2 (Angiotensin converting enzyme 2) receptors are thought to be responsible for Covid-19 entering your body, since the virus masks itself as the enzyme. This enzyme is found in the retina and epithelial cell lining of your eyes, so pink eye may be a sign that you have had the virus.
Loss of Taste and Smell- The biggest litmus test to whether or not you have had Covid is your sense of taste and smell. Loss of these senses isn’t typically normal, and it happens in most cases of Covid-19. So if you lost your sense of taste and smell (especially if it didn’t come back), you should consider getting an antibody test.
Chronic Fatigue- Many people who have had Covid-19 suffer from fatigue weeks or months after their infection. Chronic fatigue is considered a long-haul symptom of Covid-19, so if you find yourself significantly more tired than before, you may have been infected.