COVID-19 and sinus infections can cause similar symptoms, like headache, sore throat, and cough. Serota also urged getting a flu shot and continuing to wash your hands and practice good health hygiene. Among people who develop COVID-19 symptoms, around 15 percent have severe symptoms and need oxygen, according to the WHO. Common symptoms of a COVID-19 infection may include: Symptoms can be similar, but there are subtle differences. The good news is that, in general, symptoms of omicron seem to go away faster than those of earlier variants, especially in people who are vaccinated and boosted. Overlapping symptoms can make it difficult to determine if you have a sinus infection (sinusitis) or COVID-19. Digestive symptoms, like stomach pain, might be among the earliest symptoms of COVID-19 that you experience. A runny nose, facial pain, postnasal drip, and itchy eyes are common symptoms of allergies or the common cold. It could be the first sign of a coronavirus infection caused by the omicron variant. People with the Omicron variant are also more likely to report a sore throat and less likely to report sneezing than people who had the Delta variant. He has a bachelors of journalism from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and worked as a reporter before joining OSF HealthCare in 2014. Here are some at-home treatments and strategies that can help. A woman believes having coronavirus could have saved her life after a visit to the doctor for a sore throat she thought was caused by long COVID was actually diagnosed as cancer. Most of the respiratory symptoms like nasal drainage, cough, potentially sore throat, potentially sinus issues and headaches associated with sinus issues could be seen in an allergy or COVID-19, Lee said. As one of a class of pathogens known as coronaviruses, COVID-19 is actually more closely related to the common cold than the seasonal flu. How to tell, Whats considered a fever and when to see a doctor, When a cough may be more than just a cough. It causes particularly severe symptoms, although vaccinated people are still highly protected against it. Another good reason to get a flu shot is that it may help protect against severe COVID-19 symptoms like sepsis, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis, according to research from the Netherlands published in the journal PLoS One. New COVID-19 boosters could be authorized by the FDA before full data from human trials are in because of past data on similar vaccines. Lancet. This is possibly due to preventive steps taken against COVID-19. Taking decongestant medication to combat a stuffy nose can potentially lead to dry nasal passages. Sinus infection Vs. COVID-19: Symptoms, Treatment, More - Healthline All rights reserved. FDA Panel Recommends Approval of First RSV Vaccine: What to Know, CDC Says Flu Shot Was Effective for Many Adults and Most Kids: What to Know, COVID-19 Pandemic: A 3-Year Retrospective on Masks, Vaccines, and Immunity, Norovirus: Why Cases are on The Rise and How to Avoid It, Can Bird Flu Infect People? Experts Answer Questions About the Outbreak, Marburg Virus Outbreak: What to Know About the Signs and Symptoms, at least 10 days from the time symptoms onset, once you go at least 24 hours with no fever and without taking fever-reducing medication, until your other symptoms show improvement, lips, nail beds, or skin that appears pale, gray, or blue. Boscolo-Rizzo P, Tirelli G, Meloni P, et al. Although there is usually no infection, the tonsils and other tissues in the throat may swell. Being as diligent as possible is so incredibly important.. Common symptoms of sinus infections may include: COVID-19 causes more of a dry cough, loss of taste and smell, and, typically, more respiratory symptoms, Melinda said. Isolating keeps any possible viral infection from spreading further to loved ones and the community, and protects you from worsening your current state. Because of potential safety issues and concerns about inaccurate results, among other worries, the FDA issued this tweet in January 2022: Please dont go sticking that #COVID19 testing swab down your throat. No shortness of breath. Nasal congestion or runny nose. Shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing. Sore throat Headache Fatigue The presence of other symptoms may be what helps you sort one from the other. Stay informed with our live updates about the current COVID-19 outbreak. COVID-19 is a disease that can cause what doctors call a respiratory tract infection. . If you feel like you have a flu or infection coming on, dont wait around to speculate and get tested as soon as possible. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) These days, a scratchy throat or a plugged up sinus can be a . Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America. Allergy Symptoms vs Covid 19 Symptoms | Family Allergy & Asthma If there is associated nasal congestion, antihistamines may be useful.. He has written about food and dining for Time, among other publications. While there are symptoms unique to a COVID-19 infection like stark changes in taste and smell, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea symptoms of these other viral infections mimic many symptoms of COVID-19, such as a. sore throat, cough, fever, fatigue and body aches. And most seasonal allergies are more annoying than dangerous. Is a dry nose and throat a COVID-19 symptom? stuffy nose cough sore throat runny eyes sneezing I just got covid tested so I think I have a sinus infection or just a really bad cold but I dont know Im not having any breathing . Most colds only last a week, but even after you recover, your nose and sinuses can remain stuffed up with phlegm. Some healthcare providers noticed that sore throat was a common symptom early in the omicron COVID-19 wave, saysScott Weisenberg, MD, an infectious diseases specialist and a clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health in New York City. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Did Lockdowns and Masking Lead to Immunity Debt? For many people, allergy symptoms respond well to antihistamines. These often mild symptoms may now carry with them the gut twisting dread of a potential COVID diagnosis. We avoid using tertiary references. The researchers also found that nasal dryness commonly occurred together with complete or partial loss of smell and taste, and tended to appear before other COVID-19 symptoms. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. An itchy throat can happen with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. Inflammation is a defensive process our immune system uses to fight off COVID. Allergy symptoms can appear soon after contact with the offending allergen, such as mold or pollen. Youll need to begin taking the medication within five days of the onset of symptoms like sore throat the sooner, the better. In addition, some symptoms of each are not present in the other. Keep in mind that COVID-19 tests can produce false negatives, meaning your results say you don't have the virus when you really do. These symptoms are more often associated with the common cold and werent typically associated with earlier presentations of COVID-19. While it might seem like you have coronavirus, you may simply be experiencing seasonal allergies or influenza, Lindsey Elmore, PharmD, a board certified pharmacotherapy specialist and host of The Lindsey Elmore Show, told Healthline. If you have asthma or COPD, you are probably keenly aware of what your usual cough or other respiratory symptoms are like in winter. Treatment depends on the cause but can include medications to decrease inflammation and treat the infection. Here is the current ranking of Covid symptoms after two vaccinations: Headache. . Could My Symptoms Be Covid-19? - The New York Times The COVID-19 pandemic was unprecedented. 'Should I Get Tested for COVID-19 if I Have a Sore Throat or - WebMD "The XBB.1.5 variant is a mutant variant of the Omicron strain and has been shown to be the most contagious variant of Omicron that we have seen so far.". Lopez-Leon S, et al. Most over-the-counter medicines have not proven to be effective against a cough or sore throat, according to Landon. including some infectious disease experts, First Flu-COVID Combination Home Test Gets FDA Okay, How to Relieve COVID-19 Muscle Aches and Pains, FDA Panel Votes to Make All COVID-19 Shots Bivalent. In terms of differentiating between flu and COVID-19, it can be almost impossible to distinguish, Dr. Jake Deutsch, co-founder and clinical director of Cure Urgent Care and Specialty Infusion in New York. A sinus infection, orsinusitis, occurs when the air-filled pockets in the face, called sinuses, fill up with fluid, inflaming the sinus lining and preventing them from draining. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Will both allergy and COVID-19 symptoms respond to allergy medicine? Craig Spencer, MD, an assistant professor and emergency medicine physician at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, frequently tweets about what he sees while treating COVID-19 patients in the ER. A new study, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, analysed the data of 204 patients with COVID-19 in China's Hubei province and found nearly 50 per cent had diarrhoea, vomiting or abdominal pain. The loss of taste or smell is still possible, but reported less frequently now.". Your tonsils and other tissues in your throat may swell up, leading to discomfort. It can happen for a number of reasons: allergies, viral infections (including the common cold), sinus infections, irritants in the air (such as fumes or dust). After you have identified the cause for your symptoms, you can resume your daily activities. As we stay indoors more to escape the cold, we face extended exposure to allergens such as dust mites, mold, pet dander and more, said Gerald Lee, an allergist and immunologist in Atlanta. Zee Krstic is a health editor for Good Housekeeping, where he covers health and nutrition news, decodes diet and fitness trends and reviews the best products in the wellness aisle. Christenson stressed the importance of covering your nose and mouth with a mask while outdoors. With the. Symptoms that appear most often include: Some COVID-19 symptoms have been found to persist long after the infection. COVID-19 Congestion and Runny Nose: How to Deal Last medically reviewed on August 16, 2021. Several variants are circulating in the United States. Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions | CDC - Centers for Disease Control (2021). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s guide for disinfecting, Prevalence and 6-month recovery of olfactory dysfunction: a multicentre study of 1363 COVID-19 patients, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related smell and taste impairment with widespread diffusion of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant, Symptom prevalence, duration, and risk of hospital admission in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 during periods of omicron and delta variant dominance: a prospective observational study from the ZOE COVID Study, COVID-19 vaccines for people with allergies, You have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, Routine screening for schools or workplaces. Coronavirus: These are some of the new top 5 Covid symptoms - CNBC Salepci E, et al. But its possible that dry nasal passages could be identified as a symptom in the future. Cough drops and cough syrups can also help keep mucous secretions thinner. Health experts provide answers to frequently asked questions about the bird flu outbreak and the danger it poses to humans. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. In addition, allergy coughs often result from irritation and discharge. However, some research suggests that COVID-19 symptoms have changed as the disease mutates and affects different populations. COVID-19 and Sinus Infection | Cooper University - CooperHealth.org Insomnia Tied to Dramatic Rise in Heart Attack Risk, Just 500 Extra Steps a Day Can Lower Heart Disease Risk in Seniors, Study Suggests. Christenson advised isolating until symptoms are at least improving. To find the best care, take our free COVID-19 risk assessment, or call our 24/7 Health Line at 704-468-8888 . Wintry air can also compromise the moist protective lining in your airway, added David Serota, an infectious disease physician in Miami. Omicrons prevalence in the upper airways may explain why it is more likely than earlier variants to cause a scratchy or sore throat as well as a runny or stuffy nose.
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