Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Mild illness

Symptomatic patients meeting the case definition for COVID-19 without evidence of hypoxia or pneumonia.
Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, anorexia, dyspnea, and myalgia. Other nonspecific symptoms include sore throat, nasal congestion, headache, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and loss of smell/taste. Additional neurologic manifestations reported include dizziness, agitation, weakness, seizures, or findings suggestive of stroke. Children may not report fever or cough as frequently as adults.
Older people and immunosuppressed people may present with atypical symptoms (e.g., fatigue, reduced alertness, reduced mobility, diarrhea, loss of appetite, delirium, absence of fever).
Symptoms due to physiologic adaptations of pregnancy or adverse pregnancy events (e.g., dyspnea, fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue) or other diseases (e.g., malaria) may overlap with COVID-19 symptoms.

Moderate disease

Adolescent or adult: clinical signs of pneumonia (i.e., fever, cough, dyspnea, fast breathing) but no signs of severe pneumonia, including blood oxygen saturation levels (SpO₂) ≥90% on room air.
Children: clinical signs of nonsevere pneumonia (i.e., cough or difficulty breathing plus fast breathing and/or chest indrawing) and no signs of severe pneumonia. Fast breathing is defined as:
- <2 months of age: ≥60 breaths/minute
- 2-11 months of age: ≥50 breaths/minute
- 1-5 years years of age: ≥40 breaths/minute.
While the diagnosis can be made on clinical grounds, chest imaging may assist in diagnosis and identify or exclude pulmonary complications.

Severe disease

Adolescent or adult: clinical signs of pneumonia (i.e., fever, cough, dyspnea, fast breathing) plus one of the following:
- Respiratory rate >30 breaths/minute
- Severe respiratory distress
- SpO₂ <90% on room air.
Children: clinical signs of pneumonia (i.e., cough or difficulty in breathing) plus at least one of the following:
- Central cyanosis or SpO₂ <90%
- Severe respiratory distress (e.g., fast breathing, grunting, very severe chest indrawing)
- General danger signs: inability to breastfeed or drink, lethargy or unconsciousness, or convulsions
- Fast breathing (<2 months: ≥60 breaths per minute; 2-11 months: ≥50 breaths per minute; 1-5 years: ≥40 breaths per minute).
While the diagnosis can be made on clinical grounds, chest imaging may assist in diagnosis and identify or exclude pulmonary complications.

Critical disease

Presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis, septic shock, acute thrombosis, or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.

Asymptomatic or presymptomatic infection

People who test positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using a virologic test but have no symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

Mild illness

People who have any of various signs and symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, malaise, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of taste and smell) without shortness of breath, dyspnea, or abnormal chest imaging.

Moderate illness

People who have evidence of lower respiratory disease by clinical assessment or imaging and an oxygen saturation (SpO₂) ≥94% on room air at sea level.

Severe illness

People who have respiratory rate >30 breaths per minute, SpO₂ <94% on room air at sea level, ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO₂/FiO₂) <300 mmHg, or lung infiltrates >50%.

Critical illness

People who have respiratory failure, septic shock, and/or multiple organ dysfunction.

Persistent symptoms or organ dysfunction after acute COVID-19

People who experience persistent symptoms and/or organ dysfunction after acute disease. Also known as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome or long COVID. For more information, see Complications.

Various case definitions are available:

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Criteria