Itchiness in the eyes, nose, ears or throat can be a big symptom of seasonal allergies but isn't common with COVID-19, according to Emerson Hospital. Allergy symptoms can appear soon after contact with the offending allergen, such as mold or pollen. Treatments for post-nasal drip - Harvard Health For example, a 2020 study found that 11 percent of a group of 54 people with COVID-19 who lost their sense of smell also experienced nosebleeds. Stay in a separate room from the rest of your household while you are sick. When people congregate indoors where ventilation is poorer in the winter, they are more likely to experience respiratory infections caused by influenza, rhinoviruses and other coronaviruses that are not COVID-19. Chronic sinusitis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic The Marburg virus disease is a rare but severe hemorrhagic fever," according to the CDC. Is it coronavirus (COVID-19) - Atrium Health The most common nasal symptom of COVID-19 is a change in your ability to smell. During those months, people spend more time inside with allergens, Melinda said. If you get COVID-19 now, theres a good chance youll have a sore throat, whether or not youre vaccinated. The main sinus infection symptoms include facial pressure or pain, discolored nasal drainage and congestion. Mild symptoms include dizziness or feeling lightheaded. Nausea and vomiting. Runny Nose. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Symptoms of COVID-19 include: Fever or chills Dry cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea How to protect yourself from COVID-19 Get vaccinated or if you're already vaccinated, get your booster. Coughing is common with COVID-19. While not a substitute for a consultation with a healthcare provider, it can be a useful starting point. "[XBB.1.5] symptoms may include a runny nose, mild cough and a sore throat. Polymer chain reaction (PCR) tests look for the virus's genetic material in your nose. An August 2020 study found that of 223 adults with COVID-19, 16.1 percent developed a dry throat. If you have other COVID-19 symptoms or think you may have a COVID-19 infection, you should isolate yourself from other people and treat your symptoms at home. This Is How to Tell if Your Sore Throat Is COVID, Doctors Say Best Life "You cannot tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 by symptoms alone because some of the symptoms are the same," the agency shares on its website, advising Americans to immediately get tested to determine if they are infectious to others. Possible symptoms include: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea Does your throat hurt? Features, evaluation, and treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19). fever or chills COVID-19 has also been linked to a variety of other symptoms like loss of smell, diarrhea, sore throat, and vomiting. Generally, [there is] no cough unless you have a lot of nasal drainage.. doi:10.1002/alr.22995, Menni C, Valdes AM, Polidori L, et al. While both can cause fever, headache, nasal congestion and sore throat, there are some differences between the two, said Melinda Cooling, vice president of Advanced Practice for OSF HealthCare and chief clinician executive for OSF OnCall. Coronavirus: Five mild symptoms of COVID-19 you might miss - news 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. In people who received only the initial vaccine series with no booster, symptoms lasted roughly eight days from omicron, compared with a little more than nine days from delta. Dry nasal passages occur when your sinuses dont produce enough mucus to keep them moist. Its not worth the risk of spreading illness especially right now. Vaccinated people were less likely to experience some other traditional symptoms of COVID-19 infection, such as shortness of breath, fever, and loss of sense of smell. Monitor your symptoms and seek medical attention if they become severe. Ive had unvaccinated patients have these symptoms for 10 to 14 days, whereas for vaccinated people theyre usually doing much better within a week, he says. It is a common symptom of conditions such as the common . Investigators monitored 131 hospitalized. For some people, symptoms can last weeks or months after the acute infection has resolved. This article. A Top Derm Explains, 35 of the Smartest Fast-Food Choices You Can Make, Easy Brain Exercises to Boost Your Memory, Why We Should All Be Eating More Buckwheat. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Several variants are circulating in the United States. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. When vaccinated people do get COVID-19, they typically exhibit symptoms that are less severe than those experienced by unvaccinated people who have the infection. 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. Ah, winter a time where we find ourselves constantly asking if were sick or if its just a reaction to the weather and all that comes with it. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Common signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis include: Nasal inflammation Thick, discolored discharge from the nose (runny nose) Drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage) Blocked or stuffy (congested) nose causing difficulty breathing through your nose Pain, tenderness and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead But, Dr. Curtis said, it's more common to have other symptoms in addition to a sore throat if you have COVID. It could be the first sign of a coronavirus infection caused by the omicron variant. Meanwhile, CDC data suggests that influenza rates are dipping to their lowest since September, despite concerns of a "tripledemic" earlier this winter. Recovering from COVID-19 at home can be overwhelming. What to do if you are sick. Because the tests are not 100% sensitive meaning false negatives are possible if someone has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and no other explanation, it is reasonable to isolate and follow the recommendations for return-to-work based on people with diagnosed COVID-19, Serota added. COVID-19 aside, throat pain may also be due to the common cold, flu, or strep throat, according to Mayo Clinic. Postnasal drip can cause an irritated sore throat. Coronavirus is spread through coughing, sneezing, and close personal contact. But were also seeing surges in COVID-19 all over the country, so theres a greater chance of getting infected. Use this guide to get better and protect loved ones. But if you have a cough, fatigue, a fever, shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell, theres a much greater chance you have COVID-19. Prior to joining GH in 2019, Zee fostered a nutrition background as an editor at Cooking Light and is continually developing his grasp of holistic health through collaboration with leading academic experts and clinical care providers. Flu hospitalizations were at an all-time low last flu season, while COVID-19 cases surged, meaning that if you had flu-like symptoms, there may be a chance you actually had COVID-19. COVID-19, flu, RSV, cold or allergies? Sinus infections and COVID-19 can have many symptoms in common, including: runny or stuffy nose headache sore throat cough fever fatigue Some symptoms of a sinus infection that are. On the other hand, viral infections like COVID-19 tend to produce thicker nasal secretions. 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. Shutterstock. Fortunately, the vast majority of cases are mild, he said. As more information about the coronavirus pandemic develops, some of the information in this story may have changed since it was last updated. Enter the omicron sore throat, which is now among the chief complaints of people diagnosed with COVID-19. One difference is sinusitis tends to take longer, around 10 days, to develop into a bacterial infection, while COVID-19 will come on more quickly.. Common symptoms of a COVID-19 infection may include: Symptoms can be similar, but there are subtle differences. But, it would be best to try to isolate until you are clearly on the mend.. Pay particular attention to that combination of three symptoms. But were also seeing surges in COVID-19 all over the country, so theres a greater chance of getting infected. (2020). In a September 2022 update, the American Academy of Pediatrics echoed that guidance, stating that there are no robust data suggesting that oral samples should be preferred over nasal samples for any SARS-CoV-2 variant (SARS-CoV-2 is the COVID-19 coronavirus), and that people should collect samples according to the instructions that come in the box with the test. The agency said that things such as shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, headache, and sore throat can be symptoms of either COVID-19 or allergies. 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. 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. At the beginning of the pandemic, the most . What Medicine Should You Take to Help Relieve COVID Symptoms? If you have an itchy nose or itchy eyes, this is more likely an allergic reaction. Immunization experts are worried, however, that a mild COVID-19 case may not be the reality for all Americans; there's some concern that each breakthrough case may increase risks of long COVID and its most prominent symptoms, including brain fog. (2021). Seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever, can cause a sore throat with no fever. Are You Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19? NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) As nasal and throat symptoms become more common in COVID-19 patients the differences between the virus and allergies can be blurry. Is a Nose Burning Sensation a Sign of COVID-19? However, there are a lot of other illnesses, big and small, that cause a sore throat as well, including the common cold, the flu, strep throat, mono, GERD, as well as allergies, and dry air. With Evusheld not currently authorized, CDC recommends people with weakened immune systems and household members take multiple prevention measures to protect themselves against COVID-19. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Moreno, by contrast, said sore throat often "comes hand in hand with sinus congestion and headache." Data from the Zoe COVID Symptom Study, which uses a smartphone app to log how hundreds of . For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, please visit online resources provided by the CDC, WHO, and your local public health department. Ah, winter a time where we find ourselves constantly asking if were sick or if its just a reaction to the weather and all that comes with it. Learn how it feels and how to manage it. Delta variant symptoms differ from previous COVID-19 - PhillyVoice Influenza does mimic COVID-19 very closely, but the shortness of breath is not usually as severe as it is with COVID-19, Das told Healthline. This can cause discomfort or a feeling that there is a lump in the throat. Home remedies may also help. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Still coughing after COVID? Here's why it happens and what to do about it Sore throat. Nasal congestion When to see a doctor - Mayo Clinic "Because most people have either developed a COVID-19 infection-related immunity, or have had their vaccines, individuals are starting to have more mild symptoms when they become infected," Dr. Brown says. When these areas dry out, viruses and bacteria are better able to latch on and develop an infection, Serota said. Infectious disease experts have established that XBB.1.5 spreads more effectively due to a genetic mutation providing "stronger binding capabilities" to hosts, according to materials published by UCDavis Health. Can a COVID-19 Vaccine Increase Your Risk of Shingles? These issues are compounded when we spend long hours indoors due to the weather or quarantines. I'm having a sore throat got a lot of drainage nose has been What Should You Do If You Feel Sick but Keep Testing Negative for COVID? Sore throat. Those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are least likely to experience severe symptoms, while those who are unvaccinated are most at risk of severe illness and death. Sniffles (Nasal Congestion and Discharge), Your COVID-19 Symptoms May Vary Based on How Many Shots Youve Had, What to Do If You Get a Positive At-Home COVID-19 Test Result. 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. Thats why a good rule of thumb is, when in doubt, you may want to consider getting tested for COVID-19.