Stay informed with our live updates about the current COVID-19 outbreak. Here's How to Tell. Nasal congestion appears as an early symptom in some studies, but sneezing can also indicate other things, like allergies. Anaphylaxis. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Overlapping symptoms can make it difficult to determine if you have a sinus infection (sinusitis) or COVID-19. Learn about causes, treatment, and. Typically, you'll have facial pain/pressure, headaches, nasal drainage and congestion, decreased or loss of sense of smell, tooth pain and sore throat. The best way to know for sure if you have COVID-19 is by getting tested. Dust mites are commonly found in beds or circulating through your homes heating and cooling system. Consult with an allergist to help you determine the best option. Will both allergy and COVID-19 symptoms respond to allergy medicine? Muscle or body aches. 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. A sore throat is a symptom of COVID, no matter which variant. There is a slew of widely available drugs to treat post-nasal drip and sore throat directly. You may feel like there's a lump in the back of your throat. This is possibly due to preventive steps taken against COVID-19. Keep in mind the COVID-19 vaccine isnt meant to protect you from those symptoms its really meant to protect you from severe disease, he says. That said, you don't have to have every possible symptom to suspect COVID-19 or allergies. The Delta variant, however, may have more cold-like symptoms. Where we succeeded, where we didn't, and what we learned. It causes particularly severe symptoms, although vaccinated people are still highly protected against it. These symptoms are more often associated with the common cold and werent typically associated with earlier presentations of COVID-19. COVID-19 infection can cause upper respiratory tract infections (URI). From winter allergies to dry air, these are the differences between a seasonal problem and the coronavirus. "Being up-to-date with the COVID-19 vaccine, including the last updated bivalent booster, is the best way to protect yourself from severe COVID-19, including the XBB.1.5 strain," Dr. Brown says. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Fatigue. Cough drops and cough syrups can also help keep mucous secretions thinner. But dry nasal passages in the absence of more typical flu-like symptoms are unlikely to be a sign of COVID-19 infection. More research is needed to verify these findings. Both can present with just a single symptom (like a runny nose). Recent research suggests that bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccines provide some level of protection against these newer variants and better protection compared to earlier versions of COVID-19 vaccines. Does your throat hurt? Cough. (2020). Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. A study published in April 2022 in The Lancet found that in individuals with three vaccine doses, omicron symptoms went away after about four days, compared with almost eight days in people who had a delta-era infection. If you're not sure whether your symptoms could be the result of allergies or COVID-19, it's best to play it safe and take a test. Shutterstock. An itchy throat can happen with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. "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. The study noted that "traditional" Covid symptoms such as . Several variants are circulating in the United States. By Heather Jones Coronavirus is spread through coughing, sneezing, and close personal contact. scratchy or sore throat. An August 2020 study found that of 223 adults with COVID-19, 16.1 percent developed a dry throat. Likewise, itchy eyes and nose are allergy symptoms, but not COVID-19 symptoms. Unfortunately, theres no way to know what kind of infection you have without testing, according to R. Scott McClelland, MD, MPH, a professor of medicine, epidemiology, and global health and a clinical attending physician in infectious diseases at UW Medicine in Seattle. The Delta variant, which has led to more young people developing COVID-19 infections than previous variants, may also cause somewhat different symptoms than other variants. Also, visit our coronavirus hub for more information on how to prepare, advice on prevention and treatment, and expert recommendations. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. David Pruitt is a writer for the Marketing & Communications division of OSF HealthCare. This content is imported from twitter. Now, it ranks among the most common symptoms. Home remedies may also help. Polymer chain reaction (PCR) tests look for the virus's genetic material in your nose. Let close contacts know that they may have been exposed. 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. Put petroleum jelly in the nose if it becomes irritated. This variant has approximately 50 mutations, around 30 of which have been identified on the spike protein the part that attaches to human cells. And that lingering congestion can feel like it goes on forever. Gurgling or hoarseness. Runny nose or cold symptoms that last longer than seven to 10 days, Complaints of drip in the throat from the nose, Swelling around the eyes, worse in the morning, Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth. Inflammation is a defensive process our immune system uses to fight off COVID. 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. 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. Its worth noting, however, that the 2020-21 flu season was unusually mild, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Viruses are the most common trigger of symptoms of asthma or. .css-lwn4i5{display:block;font-family:Neutra,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.01rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-lwn4i5:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}How to Make Friends as an Adult. Unlike delta, omicron is more likely to populate the upper respiratory system. Also, some infectious disease experts worry that because so few people got flu infections during the 2020-21 flu season, weak natural immunity rates could cause a surge in flu infections during the 2021-22 flu season. Fortunately, the vast majority of cases are mild, he said. ENT manifestation in COVID-19 patients. On the other hand, viral infections like COVID-19 tend to produce thicker nasal secretions. Here's what's known right now. Elevated ACE-2 expression in the olfactory neuroepithelium: Implications for anosmia and upper respiratory SARS-CoV-2 entry and replication. 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. At-home COVID-19 test manufacturers emphasize the importance of following instructions precisely in order to get an accurate result. How long do allergy symptoms vs. COVID-19 symptoms last? Stay in a separate room from the rest of your household while you are sick. These can include: The presence of other symptoms may be what helps you sort one from the other. Allergy symptoms tend to vary with the environment: worsening with exposure to dust, pollen, or animal dander, whereas cold symptoms tend to persist regardless of time of day, weather, locality, or other environmental factors, Cutler said. 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. and feminism. Do Some People Experience an Unusual Smell After Recovering from COVID-19? 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. This happens because of postnasal drip, or mucus from the nose dropping down the throat and irritating it. - Answered by a verified Doctor . Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. Some in public healthcare, however, worry that this figure could expand in the weeks to come; with many still overcoming lingering coughs and stuffy noses, alongside compromised immune systems impacted by seasonal sickness, there's concern that respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19 may go ignored or misdiagnosed. 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. Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone. XBB.1.5 on Track to Become the Top COVID-19 Subvariant in the U.S. How to Take Care of Someone With COVID-19 and Not Get Sick Too, Some COVID-19 Patients Dont Recover Their Sense of Smell Scientists May Know Why, Losing Taste And Smell Due to COVID-19 Tied to Lower Reinfection Risk, Immunocompromised in the Era of COVID-19: How to Protect Yourself. The main sinus infection symptoms include facial pressure or pain, discolored nasal drainage and congestion. Lee suggested over-the-counter medications like intranasal corticosteroids or second generation oral antihistamines if its difficult for you to avoid an allergen. No difficulty breathing. Is it a cold or sinus infection -- and am I contagious? In addition, if someone in your household has COVID-19, follow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s guide for disinfecting. El-Anwar MW, et al. The recent study was conducted by a team from University College London, who studied 590 patients in the U.K. who reported suddenly losing either their sense of smell or taste; 567 of the patients were then given coronavirus tests.Their results, which were published in the journal PLoS Medicine on Oct. 1, showed that 80.4 percent of subjects reporting anosmiaAKA the loss of smelland 77.7 . Taking decongestant medication to combat a stuffy nose can potentially lead to dry nasal passages. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. Tags: cough, fever, headache, sinus infection. Even a specialist in infectious disease cant determine that, he says. With the. While most of the different COVID-19 variants show similar symptoms, they can vary in terms of their severity and spread. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Heather M. Jones is a freelance writer with a strong focus on health, parenting, disability, Humid or damp areas like trash cans, kitchens or bathrooms can harbor mold, as can a fresh Christmas tree and leaves or soil in your garden. A dry nasal passage has many potential causes. Acute nasal dryness in COVID-19, et al. But its not clear how common these symptoms are. But in the omicron era, some people including some infectious disease experts are hacking the kits by swabbing not just their nostrils, as directed, but also their throats. Almost nobody dies from the common cold. For some people, symptoms can last weeks or months after the acute infection has resolved. This article. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. The nonspecific symptoms, such as sore throat and runny nose, are happening more or less equally in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, Galiatsatos says. If you think you might have COVID-19, the best course of action is to get a COVID-19 test. 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. Results of the U.K.-based Zoe COVID Symptoms Study, published in December 2021 in the BMJ, showed that runny nose is among the top five symptoms reported for omicron infection, along with. This can last a long time, even after the virus has gone. In a report from China of more than 1,000 patients, nasal congestion was seen in only 1 out of every 20 patients, Dr. Kristine S. Arthur, an internist at MemorialCare Medical Group in Laguna Woods, California, told Healthline. 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. shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. People ages 60 years and over, and people with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart and lung problems, diabetes, obesity or cancer, are at higher risk of developing serious illness, the WHO said. 2022;399(10335):1618-24. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00327-0. The WHO is reporting a rare outbreak of the Marburg virus. New loss of taste or smell. If you feel like you have a flu or infection coming on, dont wait around to speculate and get tested as soon as possible. If you have asthma or COPD, you are probably keenly aware of what your usual cough or other respiratory symptoms are like in winter. (2021). However, despite some overlap, the typical symptoms of COVID-19 are more similar to the flu (fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue) than the common cold (runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, congestion, slight body aches, mild headache, sneezing, low-grade fever, malaise). "Say you had a chronic cough for years related to nasal drainage or reflux and it was . One early COVID patient was a 65-year-old woman who travelled from Wuhan to Italy in January 2020 and was soon admitted to a hospital with a cough, sore throat and conjunctivitis in both eyes. Runny nose. Are dry nasal passages a sign of COVID-19? With COVID-19, the cough is dry. Steam Room vs. Sauna: Which Is Better for You? Blogs are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Many outlets, from USA Today to the Washington Post, have highlighted leading experts' testimony which suggests that this particular strain is about five times more contagious than earlier Omicron variants (which were already spreading rapidly in years past). About 17.9 to 33.3 percent of people with it don't. Allergies and COVID-19 do have some overlapping symptoms. Learn if throat ulcers can be a symptom of COVID-19, including how to tell the difference between COVID-19 and other infections that can cause these. 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 . But there are some differences, too. (2021). Theyre all caused by viruses, but different viruses cause each of these infections., However, one key difference between the three is a symptom of [COVID-19] is shortness of breath, Yacoub told Healthline. (2020). Contact Us It's the most infectious variant recently recorded, according to officials at the World Health Organization but mild symptoms may be mistaken for a cold or the flu. Some people experience less inflammation, so they feel symptoms like irritation, dryness, or fullness. 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 . . Its also important to stay well hydrated, he says. Allergy symptoms usually last longer and are often seasonal. Post-COVID syndrome causes serious symptoms like fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and muscle aches. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Meanwhile, CDC data suggests that influenza rates are dipping to their lowest since September, despite concerns of a "tripledemic" earlier this winter. Serota also urged. Heres a look at common symptoms of COVID-19, the flu, a cold, and allergies. Dry nasal passages can have many other potential causes that include exposure to dry air, prolonged mask-wearing, and allergies. Diarrhea. The typical symptoms of COVID-19 are changing somewhat over time as different variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19) emerge. Nasal congestion or runny nose. 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. But, it would be best to try to isolate until you are clearly on the mend..