Do You Have Just a Sore Throat or Is It Strep? However, Omicron should not be blown off or not taken seriously. After all, COVID-19 is running rampant throughout the world and loss of sense of smell is one of the signs of infection. 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. } else { Leukotriene antagonist drugs may be prescribed, and surgery may be considered in cases of a deviated septum. "Instead, Omicron is causing more upper respiratory symptoms." Omicron is not. John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. It also details treatment options for both, why a proper diagnosis is important, and when to see your healthcare provider. "In this period, we still have delta circulating in the community. This itchiness is one of the key distinguishing factors between allergies and sinusitis. This may show up almost like non specific concussion symptoms with fatigue, mental fatigue, eye fatigue, non specific dizziness, feeling dizzy in wide open places, or feeling dizzy in busy indoor areas. If you know youre allergic to pollen and that pollen season is around the corner, start taking your antihistamine ahead of time. 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. Its thought that the initial site of COVID-19 entry for most patients is the nasal passages. Your doctor might check your mucus or do an imaging test to confirm the diagnosis. What to Do If You Get a Positive At-Home COVID-19 Test Result, What to Know About Pneumonia and COVID-19. How long are you most contagious after a COVID-19 infection? A key difference between the common cold and COVID-19 is the incubation period (time of exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms). Frequent handwashing is also a must. Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images Thankfully, both of these conditions are treatable. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. The common cold is a minor viral infection of the upper respiratory system thats caused by a wide range of viruses. "Omicron versus delta are really more similar than they are different.". These cases may require additional treatment or surgery. Common sinus infection bacteria are often Streptococcus species, Moraxella, or Haemophilus. You should also make an appointment if your symptoms worsen or fail to improve despite home treatments. Your provider may prescribe antibiotics if your symptoms last longer than 10 to 14 days. However really anyone is susceptible to sinusitis every once in a while. Some of the most common symptoms include a sinus headache, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, and sneezing. It is often patients who are susceptible to sinus infections that get them such as those patients who have gotten them before or patients who had ear infections as a child. All Rights Reserved. A sinus infection can happen after a viral illness but can also be caused by allergies. As more mucus is produced, buildup occurs and provides a place for bacteria to grow, which leads to infection. 2015;152(2 Suppl):S1-S39. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Since sinus infections are caused by viruses, antibiotics dont generally help. Youll need to take the full prescription, even if you start feeling better within a day or two. They usually resolve within seven to 10 days, with most feeling improvement after a couple days. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. I recommend that everyone stock up.. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Children's Wisconsin. Cleveland Clinic 1995-2023. Pay close attention to symptoms to determine if cause is sinus infection or allergies. Also, the more stressed you are, the more likely you may experience more severe symptoms or a longer duration of illness. The charts below show which Omicron symptoms are most common and how they compare to prior variants. Colds are usually transmitted via coughed or exhaled droplets or infected surfaces. 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. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So maybe it was just something non covid related Anyway she was exhausted and couldn't work. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. If symptoms persist or worsen after 10 days, doctors may prescribe: Chronic sinus infection requires additional treatment focused on managing the severity of symptoms. Typical signs of the common cold include: If the symptoms last longer than 10 days, its likely your cold has progressed to a complication or another illness is causing them. Allergies and sinus infections can have similar symptoms. The omicron variant of the coronavirus has surged in the U.K. and is now dominant in the U.S. as well. ; Duration: Whereas cold symptoms generally start to improve after . Its probably anothersinus infection. Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: The Procedure and Recovery Process. As with sinus infections, symptom management as your body develops immunity and fights off the infection is central to care. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); A commuter masks up for a bus ride in Liverpool, England. A viral sinus infection will usually begin to improve after five to seven days. A sinus infection is caused by inflammation of the sinuses and often follows a cold or allergy flare-up. 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. It does, says otolaryngologist Raj Sindwani, MD. OMICRON VARIANT BA.2: These started popping up late December 21. Sore throats and runny noses are increasingly common in vaccinated people with Omicron. 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. "Many people are still going to be admitted to the ICU, and some people are still going to need to have mechanical ventilation.". Be on . Treat early sinus infection symptoms with rest, hydration and over-the-counter sprays and decongestants. 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. Nasal congestion and swelling, facial pressure, pain, fever, too much mucus. Allergy Cough vs. COVID Cough: What Are the Differences? 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. We avoid using tertiary references. Most sinus infections are viral. Colds are more common than sinus infections and symptoms tend to improve quicker. Basically, when your immune system is already fighting off a disease, its easier for other pathogens to infect. However, there are a few key differences. You should also see your doctor if your OTC antihistamines arent working. 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.. OMICRON variant has seen reduced problems with smell loss! We are also seeing a higher number of unvaccinated and unboosted people getting hospitalized. If you have severe congestion with either, then an over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription decongestant can help by breaking up mucus in your nasal cavities. Ugh. And theyre better than nothing, especially on a weekend if you dont have other choices, Dr. Ruff says. "Therefore, people who are chronically ill, immunocompromised, or older adults are at greater risk of getting infected. Many people report that one of the first symptoms of Omicron is a sore throat. As with previous variants, being vaccinated greatly protects you from severe disease with omicron. The only way to know for sure is to see your doctor. 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. Although that could definitely still happen with omicron, the risk appears to be lower than it was with delta. But the omicron variant tends to share many of the same symptoms as the common cold. Hearing Aids Better For Dementia Than Pills. He added, "It's not as bad as it was." There's now data indicating just how severe its symptoms might be. Many locations offer drive-thru COVID-19 tests, or you can buy a rapid test from your local pharmacy, which gives you results in about 15 minutes. The three symptoms outlined by the NHS include a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of taste and smell. But never had any serious fever beyond 100 and O2 levels were rock solid. Culture techniques or even PCR technology may be used to identify specific pathogens. Here's How to Look Decades Younger, 5 Causes: The common cold arises due to infection from any of 200 viruses, with rhinovirus being the most common.While viral infections also cause most sinus infections, more severe types arise due to bacteria exposure. People have reported symptoms that vary, but are similar to signs of a common cold or flu. Another difference is the timeline. Another factor to look at is how long you've been sick. She also ended up with a painful double ear infection. Two recent lab studies, which haven't been peer-reviewed, suggested that Omicron could be less effective at attacking lung cells compared with prior variants. A diet rich in antioxidants can help with chronic inflammation. COVID-19 is also causing loss of smell in most-if-not-all patients for a short time (some patients have been slow to recover). ", Read the original article on Business Insider, Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram/Getty Images, Jessica Christian/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images, Patrick Pleul/Picture Alliance/Getty Images. Some photos and videos on this site were filmed prior to the COVID-19 outbreak or may not reflect current physical distancing and/or masking guidelines. There was a strong tendency toward SEVERE SORE THROAT and even GI upset moreso. A lost of smell or taste is a pretty clear indication its COVID-19, for instance. So its important to wait and see how long your symptoms last. But dont look for an antibiotic unless your illness extends beyond a week, he says. Meanwhile, 44% of people in that group reported a persistent cough, and 29% reported a fever. Almost as soon as Omicron started spreading, doctors noticed slight differences in their patients' symptoms relative to prior variants. Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Find our most recent COVID-19 articles here, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, What its like to get an X-ray, and how to prepare, Cardiologist changing the way we care for womens cardiovascular health, Five signs of heart disease that show up in the bedroom. Sure Signs You're Getting Omicron Now, Say Doctors. Read our, Causes and Risk Factors of Sinus Infection, COVID-19 Treatments: What You Need to Know, Have Spring Allergies? A doctor may recommend endoscopic sinus surgery if you're experiencing recurrent sinus infections or have a sinus blockage. The rise of the Omicron variant has only made the situation more complex. For example, if you have a sinus infection that is caused by allergies, your doctor may prescribe an allergy medicine. Discover risk factors such as sinus infections. The diagnosis cannot be made just by asking you about your symptoms or by doing an exam because the symptoms can also be caused by other conditions. That's why, she says, everyone should be vaccinated and boosted. Although you can get sinusitis year around, it tends . Clinical practice guideline (update): adult sinusitis. With infections at all-time highs in the U.S., the clinical picture is now coming together and starting to confirm what other countries have found a typical case of omicron not only presents . A 2020 study surveyed 270 outpatients with. Loss of smell was also relatively rare among Omicron patients. There are several ways to treat a sinus infection. In other words, what you think of as the common cold. Runny noses have been more common with COVID infections with the newer strains. Doctors try not to prescribe antibiotics unless they are definitely necessary because the over-prescription of antibiotics contributes to the rise of bacteria that is resistant to these drugs. Is that winter sniffle a cold or a sinus infection? Symptoms like bad breath, yellow or green mucus, fever and headache are not reliable signs of a bacterial infection, he says. "Therefore, people who are chronically ill, immunocompromised, or older adults are at greater risk of getting infected. How can you tell if you have a sinus infection or COVID-19? When they become blocked and filled with fluid, bacteria can grow there and cause. single If you have respiratory symptoms, its best to talk to your doctor. But Roberts says it's still quite rare for people who are vaccinated and boosted to get seriously ill from omicron. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Treatment depends on the cause but can include medications to decrease inflammation and treat the infection. Heres what you need to know about both kinds of infections and how to treat them. After youve tested, call your primary care doctor to schedule an in-person or virtual visit. And unlike the common cold, sinus infections can be of both viral and bacterial origin. For example, the virus that causes the common cold attacks the lining of your sinuses and causes them to swell up. "The cough is milder [than previous variants], if there's any cough at all, and fever seems to be a little less common.". One of the key differences is the itchiness of your eyes and skin that can occur with allergies, as well as the thick, yellow or green . To help you figure it out, lets take a closer look at sinusitis. In general, people are contagious for two to three days before COVID-19 symptoms start. Heres a quick breakdown: While most coldsand even sinus infectionsclear up on their own, its important to know when you need medical help. The highly contagious variant continues to spread across the U.S. and many hospitals remain overcrowded with COVID patients. The variant looked wildly different from earlier versions of the coronavirus and it quickly became clear that these mutations gave omicron an uncanny ability to sidestep our vaccines and spread very rapidly. 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. COVID-19 can only be diagnosed through a test that specifically looks for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in your body. "People that are unvaccinated go through a little bit of a longer and tougher course," Moreno said. A sinus infection can have a range of other symptoms as well, though they mostly involve the respiratory system. In particular, Xu and her team observed a similar reduction in risk across all age groups, including children under age 5, who are not eligible for vaccination, and children ages 5 to 15, who may have been vaccinated but haven't been boosted. Therefore, if you are stressed, you may be at greater risk for contracting Omicron, as the body's defense system is not as robust. Another preprint study, released earlier this month, showed that the viral load from an Omicron infection peaked in saliva one to two days before it peaked in nasal swabs a sign that Omicron may infect the throat before it infects the nose. Theres a powerful story behind every headline at Ohio State Health & Discovery. Suite 200, Atlanta 30342, Hearing Loss & Cognitive Decline Progression. If you have a disability and experience difficulty accessing this content, contact our webmaster at. The best way to protect yourself from COVID is to get vaccinated and practice protective measures like wearing a face mask, social distancing, and washing your hands. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Ways that you can deal with a mild COVID infection at home include: If you are hospitalized with COVID, you might be given: There are certain things you can do to prevent sinus infections and protect yourself from the COVID-19 virus.