COVID-19 Testing in Rockwall

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and produces symptoms similar to the flu. However, it may cause life-threatening complications in some people, including those with immunocompromised systems, and children.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

COVID-19 can cause an extensive range of symptoms, but some of the most common include:

• Cough
• Chills
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Shortness of breath
• Tiredness
• Body aches
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• New loss of taste or smell
• Congestion or runny nose

Some people experience mild COVID-19 symptoms, while others have such severe symptoms that may require hospitalization. Early detection and treatment can help ensure a faster recovery.

How is COVID-19 diagnosed?

There are two types of COVID-19 tests, including:

Viral tests

Viral tests involve quick nasal or mouth swabs. There are rapid tests, which can give you an answer almost immediately, or lab tests, which are more in-depth viral tests that can take up to 48 hours.

Antibody tests

Antibody tests check for specific viral antibodies in your blood. If you have these antibodies, it’s likely that you’ve had COVID-19 in the past or have been immunized. However, antibody tests don’t tell you if you have an active infection. Therefore, they’re not a reliable way to determine whether you have immunity to the virus.

In most cases, you’ll take a viral test to determine if you have COVID-19.

How is COVID-19 treated?

There are now several medicines that can help you through COVID-19 recovery. One of these treatments include antiviral drugs, which are primarily used for those who have mild-to-moderate symptoms and are at risk of more serious illness. COVID-19 medicines include injections, infusions, and oral medications.

If you don’t qualify for any of those treatments, the Merak Health team can still help by prescribing medications that ease your specific symptoms.

After you recover from COVID-19, it’s important to know that it’s still possible to get the virus again later, particularly if you’re unvaccinated. So, if you haven’t had your COVID-19 vaccinations yet, the team can help you get those shots as soon as it’s safe to do so (usually after you complete your isolation period).

If you need COVID-19 testing, treatment, or vaccinations, Merak Health has you covered. Call the office or use the online booking feature today.