What treatment is used for COVID-19?

For a mild illness, care commonly centres on rest, fluids, food as tolerated, and relief of fever, headache, or aches with a suitable medicine used as directed. Monitoring your breathing and ability to drink helps show whether the illness is changing.

People at higher risk of severe COVID-19 may need early medical advice because some prescription treatments work best when started soon after symptoms begin. Treatment decisions consider age, pregnancy, immune health, long-term conditions, current medicines, and symptom timing.

Stay home when unwell and follow local infection-control advice. Rest between activities, drink regularly, and keep a note of fever, breathing changes, and medicines taken. Do not start antibiotics unless prescribed for a bacterial infection; they do not treat the virus.

If cough, fatigue, headache, or a generally unwell feeling continues after the infection, arrange a clinical review. Ongoing symptoms may need a different plan from the care used during the acute illness.

Seek urgent help for severe breathlessness, chest pain, blue or grey lips, new confusion, fainting, inability to stay awake, or inability to keep fluids down. Ask for prompt medical advice if symptoms are worsening or you have a condition that raises your risk of severe illness.

Ask which treatments suit your health conditions and medicines, whether you need assessment for Pneumonia, and how to monitor at home. If symptoms continue, ask whether they could fit Long COVID and what follow-up is appropriate.