Which specialist treats COVID-19?

The first clinician considers symptoms, timing, medical history, pregnancy, age, immune status, and breathing. Many people can be assessed in primary care, but hospital teams may be needed for low oxygen, breathing difficulty, dehydration, or pneumonia. A respiratory physician focuses on lung involvement; an infectious-disease physician may advise on complex infection decisions. Symptoms can include cough, runny nose, muscle aches, loss of smell, or loss of taste, but these features can overlap with other illnesses.

Contact a GP or health service promptly for personalised advice, particularly if you have a long-term condition or take medicines that affect immunity. Follow local testing and isolation guidance, rest, drink fluids as tolerated, and keep a record of worsening symptoms. Tell the clinician when symptoms started and whether breathing, alertness, or fluid intake has changed. Do not start prescription treatment without medical advice.

Seek emergency care for severe trouble breathing, persistent chest pressure, new confusion, inability to stay awake, blue or grey lips or face, or signs of serious dehydration. Urgent review is also appropriate when a fever or cough worsens after initial improvement, or when you cannot keep fluids down.

Ask which warning signs apply to your health history, whether you need an examination or oxygen check, and how to manage existing medicines. If symptoms continue, ask when follow-up is needed and whether another problem such as pneumonia should be considered.