Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Is It a Sinus Infection or COVID-19? How to Tell - Healthline Learn more about the. A sinus infection often follows a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. Typically, youll have facial pain/pressure, headaches, nasal drainage and congestion, decreased or loss of sense of smell, tooth pain and sore throat. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Long-term (chronic) or severe allergies benefit more from daily treatments, such as Zyrtec or Claritin. A sinus infection can have a range of other symptoms as well, though they mostly involve the respiratory system. Even though early data shows that omicron is milder than delta, many hospitals are packed because the sheer number of people getting infected is enormous. Rhinovirus is the most common pathogen, though there are over 200 others, of which certain coronaviruses and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are more often seen. Along with falling temperatures and shorter days, sinus infections are a common part of winter. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Vaccination reduces your risk of COVID death 90% or more. You can protect yourself from COVID-19 by washing your hands . Can you do anything to get your taste back after a sinus infection? As more mucus is produced, buildup occurs and provides a place for bacteria to grow, which leads to infection. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Glasses vs. contacts: Which is safer for eyes. Simply because the Omicron variant is new, there's little research about its link to long COVID, the physical, neurological, and cognitive symptoms that can persist indefinitely after infection. It does, says otolaryngologist Raj Sindwani, MD. You cant, on the other hand, fully prevent allergies. Many patients started out with a dry, scratchy throat that caused sharp pain when they swallowed. Do You Have Just a Sore Throat or Is It Strep? Whether your sinus infection turns out to be viral or bacterial, you can help to ease your symptoms early on with supportive sinus care: If your symptoms arent improving after one week, its important to see your doctor. As we enter the second winter season of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can still be confusing trying to tell the difference between winter allergies and COVID symptoms. Common colds. If a person did end up in the hospital, the person's risk of being admitted to the ICU or being put on a ventilator also decreased substantially at the end of December compared with during the delta surge. A study published online on Jan. 2 provides some of the first compelling evidence from the U.S. that the chance of ending up in the hospital is lower with omicron compared with the delta variant. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Some patients (about 10%) will have scalp tenderness, pain, and even sometimes PAINFUL HAIR! But as with any variant of SARS-CoV-2, your absolute risk depends on many factors, including whether you're vaccinated and boosted, your age, your overall health and your economic situation. While there is a range of COVID symptoms, some of the most common include: Several symptoms of COVID overlap with those of a sinus infection, which means you will not be able to be sure of which condition you have by how you feel alone. So some of this lower risk could be because of vaccination, but the data altogether suggests that there is a reduced risk for hospitalization with the omicron variant compared with the delta variant. How to tell. A sinus infection is caused by inflammation of the sinuses and often follows a cold or allergy flare-up. She also ended up with a painful double ear infection. However, there are a few key differences. A sinus infection (sinusitis) occurs when the lining of your sinuses becomes inflamed. Often the virus starts with a headache and many think they have a sinus infection. Read our. day, 2022 Galvanized Media. Omicron BA.5 variant | COVID-19 | UC Davis Health And doctors are finding many of these cases tend to look like an ordinary upper respiratory infection. A sinus infection occurs when viruses or bacteria cause inflammation and fluid buildup inside your sinuses. We've consulted with our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians to bring you informed recommendations for food products, health aids and nutritional goods to safely and successfully guide you toward making better diet and nutrition choices. In March, before Delta was detected and vaccines were widely available, 60% of UK adults ages 16 to 65 on the Zoe app reported loss of smell at some point in their illness. Most of those patients were vaccinated, he said, so their symptoms tended to be milder and relatively short-lived. The omicron subvariant of COVID-19, BA.5, became one of the dominant strains of the virus in the fall of 2022 in the U.S. At that time, it was the most easily spread strain to date and is able to evade immunity from COVID infection and vaccination. This leads to mucus buildup. However, if your doctor thinks your sinus infection is bacteria-related, they may prescribe an antibiotic. Whether your sinus infection turns out to be viral or bacterial, you can help to ease your symptoms early on with supportive sinus care: Use saline spray two to three times per day in each nostril . People with Omicron may report symptoms like nausea more often because loss of smell is less prevalent with the new variant, said Andrew Pekosz, a professor of molecular microbiology and. The latest from Ohio State Health & Discovery delivered right to your inbox. Is your cold really a sinus infection? } else { If youre not vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu, do so right away to reduce your chances of getting sick and spreading these infections to others. Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School. "Many people are still going to be admitted to the ICU, and some people are still going to need to have mechanical ventilation.". How do you know you are infected with Omicron? - Medical News Today If you have a negative COVID test, we can see you and determine if you have an actual sinus infection and then determine the best treatment, Dr. Ruff says. Its probably anothersinus infection. If you suspect you have any of the symptoms mentioned here, get tested ASAP. Some patients of course are much more ill, with about 5 to 10% needing hospital care, and for those patients sinus infection or ear symptoms may go untreated for longer. Some antihistamines, such as Benadryl, are usually taken for short-term relief. Allergies can develop at any point in your life. Fatigue. There are several ways to treat a sinus infection. A bacterial sinus infection will last seven to 10 days or longer and may get worse after a week. Read our, Causes and Risk Factors of Sinus Infection, COVID-19 Treatments: What You Need to Know, Have Spring Allergies? However, there are several key differences: Primarily, sinus infection arises when the sinusesthe passages connecting the mouth, ears, and eyesare exposed to a virus, bacteria or fungi. ", Omicron is spreading at lightning speed. Sinusitis occurs when your nasal passages become inflamed. Suffering from a sinus infection? Several studies have found that the incubation period the time it takes to develop symptoms after being exposed is about three days. What Are the Symptoms of Omicron? - New York Times The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. Worried That Sore Throat Is Strep? Colds are usually transmitted via coughed or exhaled droplets or infected surfaces. Managing a sinus infection? Additionally, some people who have COVID do not have any symptoms. Because symptoms can overlap, I recommend discussing your condition with your physician and/or getting tested if you think youve got COVID-19. In most cases, they come back on their own, and treating the underlying cause of the sinusitis will usually bring them back. But you're pushing more and more and more toward the omicron variant," says Davis, who contributed to the study. However, an allergy cough is wet, while a COVID-19 cough is dry; and fatigue with allergies tends to be milder than fatigue associated with COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Still, these two conditions have different causes and symptoms. For some, 'mild' illness from Omicron feels like anything but ", 3 And a small study from Norway found that, among . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Were swabbing everyone at my clinic with a respiratory viral panel, which is the same COVID swab, but in addition to COVID, it tells you what virus you have, such as rhinovirus (common cold) or a number of other respiratory viruses; even the flu.. Here's How to Look Decades Younger, "While the variant is considered less severe, more people have it than ever before and people are not isolated like in the early phases of the pandemic," says Walker. Then check in with your doctor for a prescription and let him or her know if your condition worsens. "So this is really something that's different between omicron and delta," Xu says. You cannot tell if you have COVID or a sinus infection just based on your symptoms alone, especially because so many overlap. Explore the differences between allergies and sinus infections so that you can determine the likely cause of your symptoms and seek the appropriate treatment for relief. Mild, coldlike symptoms such as sore throats, sneezing,. However, if your symptoms worsen or last longer than two weeks, you should see your doctor for some relief. Omicron makes up 95% of sequenced Covid cases in U.S. as infections hit COVID-19 and sinus infections both involve the respiratory system. Occurring in an estimated 11.6% of American adults, these infections of the nasal passages tend to be more severe. However, Omicron should not be blown off or not taken seriously. Physician, Associate Professor I do encourage you to get the vaccine and the booster. If you've been exposed to Omicron or think you have the virus, Eat This, Not That! This lower risk with omicron is also consistent with what scientists have observed in South Africa and the United Kingdom. Adults have sinuses behind their cheeks, nose, and forehead. Use a saline mist spray to hydrate nasal passages. Typically we allow 7 to 10 days for an acute sinus infection to resolve on its own, but after this point antibiotics or anti-inflammatories or other specialized medications may be needed. Omicron Symptoms: Here's What to Know | Time Distinguishing between the common cold and sinus infections can be challenging for patients and healthcare providers alike. Heres what you need to know about both kinds of infections and how to treat them. What are the symptoms of the flu, COVID-19, and RSV? Sore throat Hoarse voice Cough Fatigue Nasal congestion Runny nose Headache Muscle aches Unlike earlier variants like delta that affected the lungs, omicron and its subvariants tend to cause more. He is an adjunct assistant professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and NYU Medical Center. Both conditions can cause nasal inflammation, along with related symptoms, such as congestion and stuffy nose. You have a fever (over 100.4 degrees) that persists beyond a few days. 960 Johnson Ferry Rd Dr. Jorge Moreno said he's seen an influx of COVID-19 cases lately at his outpatient clinic in Connecticut. Last medically reviewed on November 20, 2018, A sinus infection occurs when your nasal cavities become swollen, infected, or inflamed. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets released when someone breathes, coughs, sneezes, talks or sings. This common infection requires antibiotics. I have started using montelukast orally post-covid to help block leukotriene cytokine response in the covid sinus patients. I thought it was a horrible sinus infection. It was Omicron - reddit With winter underway and cases of Omicron surging nationwide, you may be wondering if that runny nose or aching throat is a dreaded case of COVID-19 or merely a symptom of the common cold. The omicron variant of the coronavirus has surged in the U.K. and is now dominant in the U.S. as well. Don't Ignore Nose Dripping, Don't Ignore Sinus - TheHealthSite A positive COVID-19 test means you need to isolate. sore throat. And fewer patients have symptoms related to lower respiratory problems, such as shortness of breath, says Vanchiere, including older patients. A doctor may recommend endoscopic sinus surgery if you're experiencing recurrent sinus infections or have a sinus blockage. "Cough is still part of the symptoms," Moreno said. Xu and her team estimate that, in their study, about 60% of the people were vaccinated. You dont ever treat with antibiotics unless its been more than 10 to 14 days because, in that situation, you may have a bacterial infection, Dr. Ruff says. Even your doctor cant tell if your infection is viral or bacterial based solely on symptoms or an exam.. If this persists, smell training therapy can help, though sometimes (rarely) this loss is permanent. Drink clear fluids, such as water and broth. This was the case even before omicron: People who had breakthrough infections tended to have fewer symptoms and milder ones than those who were unvaccinated. Allergy Cough vs. COVID Cough: What Are the Differences? Home remedies can often treat sinus drainage. What Every Woman Needs to Know, 6 Sore Throat Remedies That Actually Work. Almost as soon as Omicron started spreading, doctors noticed slight differences in their patients' symptoms relative to prior variants. However, it may be helpful to avoid the substances you know youre allergic to as often as you can. "In this period, we still have delta circulating in the community. A bacterial sinus infection will last seven to 10 days or longer and may get worse after a week. This article covers the key similarities and differences between the common cold and sinus infection, as well as what care looks like for these respiratory diseases. Know your treatment options for COVID-19. By Emily Brown, MPH Sniffles (Nasal Congestion and Discharge). How can you tell whether your infection is viral or bacterial based on your symptoms? While COVID and sinus infections share some symptoms, they are caused by completely different things.