Recovering coronavirus patients have reported a brand new symptom, a buzzing sensation throughout their body, now known as “fizzing.”
Patients sharing their symptoms on Twitter first coined the term, “fizzing,” Doctors treating the illness tell The Post that this phenomenon may be one of the last sensations patients experience as their bodies battle the disease.
One patient who shared her experience on Twitter, @miafia, claims to have felt the sensation since the first day of her symptoms, describing it as “an electric feeling on my skin.”
Founder of the #MeToo movement, Tarana Burke, shared that her partner was diagnosed with the illness and also experienced the burning feeling on his skin that was so severe, “his skin felt like it was burning.”
“Even when he barely had a fever of 99+ we literally used aloe gel for sunburn to soothe it,” she further explained on Twitter. “The NP later told us she had heard others say that too.”
Dr. Daniel Griffin, chief of infectious disease at ProHealth Care Associates, tells The Post, “Clearly it’s been identified, but we’re just not sure yet how widespread it is.”
Griffin, as well as others, feel that there could potentially be several reasons for the feelings. It may be the result of disease-fighting “antibodies interfering with the way nerves work,” adding that neurologists still aren’t sure if it’s our body’s response to the virus or the virus itself causing the feeling.
Another explanation for the sensation may be tied to a fever, says Dr. Vipul Shah, Clinical Director at telehealth service Pack Health.
“If people aren’t used to having fevers, maybe their skin really does feel like an electric sensation,” he explains. He advises that an aloe vera gel or mild lotion could help soothe the sensation.
Despite this, Shah does not believe people will be quick to get tested based on the sensation alone.
“It’s not a symptom that’s been well described yet, so just make sure you’re still following isolation procedures.”
