The common cold is a minor viral infection of the upper respiratory system thats caused by a wide range of viruses. "Cough is still part of the symptoms," Moreno said. And the smell loss has been worse than the summer Delta surge. I do encourage you to get the vaccine and the booster. Her symptoms were similar like a terrible sinus infection and congestion. Youll also want to wash your hair before bed after being outside and keep your windows closed when pollen counts are high. And just like earlier variants, omicron can't be defined as causing only a narrow group of symptoms. Bacteria can also cause sinusitis; these cases tend to arise when theres an existing cold, as the immune system is weakened. 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. To help alleviate your symptoms, stock up on nonprescription pain relievers, fever reducers, decongestants and cough drops. However their natural ventilation tracts tracks can get blocked off allowing for nearby bacteria to take hold and cause painful swelling and infections. Bugs are common during the winter months and with the circulation of Omicron it's important you can tell the difference Credit: Getty - Contributor. Allergies and sinus infections can have similar symptoms. Treat early sinus infection symptoms with rest, hydration and over-the-counter sprays and decongestants. Loss of taste or smell was even less common, as the chart below shows. "Stress not only changes our ability to ward off illness but also decreases our ability to do things that keep us healthy, including getting plenty of sleep, eating well, and exercising. "Therefore, people who are chronically ill, immunocompromised, or older adults are at greater risk of getting infected. You cannot rule out COVID-19 without a test, says UNC Health family medicine physician Sarah Ruff, MD. Both conditions can cause nasal inflammation, along with related symptoms, such as congestion and stuffy nose. Meanwhile, 44% of people in that group reported a persistent cough, and 29% reported a fever. Learn about tips for relieving symptoms like inflammation, nasal congestion, and irritation. Most sinus infections are caused by viral infections, such as those that cause the common cold, including the rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Sinus infection (sinusitis). Continue taking allergy meds, if you did so previously. Sinusitis vs. COVID-19. ", How to Reduce Inflammation in the Body Fast, If you suspect you have any of the symptoms mentioned here, get tested ASAP. } ); If this persists, smell training therapy can help, though sometimes (rarely) this loss is permanent. If you have respiratory symptoms, you might fear that you have COVID. A sinus infection is caused by inflammation of the sinuses and often follows a cold or allergy flare-up. COVID-19 is a viral infection, which means that many of the same steps that you would take to protect yourself from a cold or the flu (such as washing your hands and avoiding people who are sick) can help lower your risk of getting the virus. Omicron seems to be milder, but does seem to cause infections in many people with the vaccine. Indeed, hospitalizations across the U.S. now stand at more than 126,000, and more than 1 in every 4 ICU beds is filled with a COVID-19 patient, according to the latest data from the Department of Health and Human Services. Policy. The most common risk factors for sinus infections include: While many sinus infections are complications of a common cold due to a virus, sometimes bacteria and fungi can cause a superimposed infection that is more difficult for the bodys immune system to fight off. } You can expect to experience many colds throughout your life. Allergy medications wont get rid of sinus infections, though. The two conditions share many characteristics, and in some cases, sinus infections arise as a complication of colds. The main difference between COVID and a sinus infection is what causes them. It's also still not clear how much vaccines and prior infections are responsible for some of these early clinical impressions that omicron is causing a milder constellation of symptoms, says Dr. Daniel Griffin, who's chief of infectious diseases at ProHEALTH in New York and an instructor at Columbia University. Before Omicron, Moreno said, his COVID-19 patients used to feel sick for about 10 to 14 days. "Omicron versus delta are really more similar than they are different.". As of February 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved two drugs to treat COVID-19: The FDA has granted emergency-use authorizations to a handful of medications that have not yet completed the formal FDA-approval process. It offers a comprehensive look at how COVID-19 symptoms have changed over the course of the pandemic most notably, with the advent of the Delta and Omicron variants. And unlike the common cold, sinus infections can be of both viral and bacterial origin. If youre not feeling well, talk to your doctor or find one near you. Severe allergies can lead to a cold-like condition called allergic rhinitis. Another factor in appropriate treatment is a person's risk factors for severe disease. Heather currently freelances for several publications. Some of the most common symptoms include a sinus headache, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, and sneezing. With SARS-CoV-2, the big danger is that a mild illness will turn into a life-threatening one. Sinusitis is usually caused by a virus, but bacterial infections also can cause it. Another factor to look at is how long you've been sick. The omicron variant of the coronavirus has surged in the U.K. and is now dominant in the U.S. as well. Some of these antihistamines also have an added decongestant to them. You should also see your doctor if your OTC antihistamines arent working. This leads to mucus buildup. Cases of sinus infection that last longer than 12 weeks are considered chronic. In addition, some symptoms of each are not present in the other. Editors note: As what we know about COVID-19 evolves, so could the information in this story. And a small study from Norway found that, among . However, these conditions arent the same thing. Mark Gurarie is a freelance writer, editor, and adjunct lecturer of writing composition at George Washington University. RSV is caused by the respiratory syncytial virus, a highly contagious virus that can infect children and adults. Instead, your doctor lookslargelyat symptom duration to determine the source of your infection. That all said, this reduction in risk doesn't mean omicron will be mild for everyone. Most people dont require special treatment for the common cold, and theres no vaccine or outright cure. Those two conditions were "a hallmark of the first disease and of delta and not nearly as prominent in omicron," says Mount Sinai's Carr. Many of the patients who are being hospitalized often have some underlying health condition, or they're older and more vulnerable to a viral infection. He is an adjunct assistant professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and NYU Medical Center. Asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 are considered contagious for five days after a positive test. <
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