Coronavirus symptoms: The most bizarre COVID symptoms seen so far

COVID has posed new threats before us every single day since the pandemic started. New symptoms, new methods of testing, new medicines, new vaccines and a lot many things have come into our lives in these two years.

What has been more challenging during the pandemic was the course of action of the virus and the manifestation in human bodies. Everyone did not respond to the viral attack in the same way which explains why people are still not aware of the symptoms of COVID. This is affecting the testing and subsequently tracing the infection and preventing it from spreading.

While on one hand the virus is swiftly mutating, our ignorance about the symptoms is aiding it to spread massively.

While common cold, runny nose, scratchy throat, high fever and headache are the common signs of COVID, there are few bizarre symptoms seen during COVID infection.

Read: Woman pinned down for COVID test, video goes viral

Termed as COVID toes, this is a condition where swelling, bumps, discoloration is seen on the toes. The occurrence of this strange condition has been associated with COVID several times after it was seen in many COVID patients.

COVID toes can remain up to 14 days or even for months of the infection.

Brain fog is considered to be an acute COVID symptom. But as is our attitude towards mental health, we overlook this condition and get along with our life. During COVID many people had difficulty in concentration, felt lost and found it extremely tiresome to keep up with their daily life. Sadly, in most cases this condition was suppressed. But thankfully after researchers established facts around the occurrence of this condition many people got aware of it.

While hair loss is associated with many health conditions, its occurrence in a common cold alike condition was first to be seen. Many people who had COVID complained of experiencing heavy hair fall during and after the infection.

This condition was prevalent during the time when the Alpha and Delta variant of the virus were on loose. People could not taste or smell for weeks and months altogether.

Later after many COVID infected people complained of impaired sense of taste and smell, this condition was put under long COVID signs and symptoms.

Super elevated heart rate and a high body temperature was seen in many people during COVID. This is, experts explain, an immune mediated response which means the antibodies of the body alter the functioning of the autonomic nerves which regulate the temperature of the body. This leads to high heart rate and body temperature.

Cytokine storm is another explanation for it. As per a John Hopkins report, "the possibility of the immune system launching an attack on the invading virus that is so severe that it destroys healthy tissues. When responding to infection with the coronavirus, the body releases a flood of proteins called cytokines that help cells communicate with one another and fight the invaders. In some people, perhaps due to a genetic difference, this normal defensive event is exaggerated, leaving them vulnerable to a cytokine storm. In a cytokine storm, the immune system response causes inflammation that can overwhelm the body, destroying healthy tissue and damaging organs such as the kidneys, liver and heart."

Skin rash is not uncommon, but when its occurrence during COVID was unusual. Prevalence of skin problems in a respiratory infection is not common. Hives, rahes were commonly reported during COVID infection. Many people also noticed discoloration on skin.

This was the most bizarre one. Change in voice, hoarseness, speaking problem was reported by many patients during COVID. Researchers later pointed out that impairment of the vocal cord can be due to the vagus nerve. When this nerve is irritated it does not work properly.

While eye problem is not a bizarre health condition, its association with a respiratory infection is not common. During COVID people experienced pink eye, conjunctivitis, light sensitivity, sore eyes and itchy eyes.

Another remotely related eye condition that developed during COVID time was dry eyes. Prolonged use of computer screens and use of masks are said to be contributing to growing cases of dry eyes in people.