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Dr. Rogers is an otolaryngologist in the Atlanta Georgia (USA) area since 2005 and specializes in seeing chronic sinusitis patients and patients with chronic nasal allergy complaints. Distinguishing between the common cold and sinus infections can be challenging for patients and healthcare providers alike. Doctors offer advice about omicron and the holidays Your source for health, wellness, innovation and discovery news from the experts at Ohio State. I'm a virologist and here's how to tell the difference between a cold Mucus Color: What Does it Mean? - Cleveland Clinic Dust mite allergies can be alleviated with weekly house cleanings and bedding washes. About 80% of the patients at Yale New Haven Hospital are unvaccinated. 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. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { "It's mostly that runny nose, sore throat and nasal congestion," says Dr. John Vanchiere, the associate director of the Center for Emerging Viral Threats at LSU Health Shreveport. ", How to Reduce Inflammation in the Body Fast, If you suspect you have any of the symptoms mentioned here, get tested ASAP. Stay home, rest and drink lots of fluids. What we know about the symptoms and the severity - NPR Allergies occur as a result of your immune systems reaction to certain allergens, such as pollen, dust, or pet dander. "In this period, we still have delta circulating in the community. Loss of taste or smell was even less common, as the chart below shows. In addition, some symptoms of each are not present in the other. 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. 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. Sinus Infection vs. Cold: How to Tell the Difference - Verywell Health COVID-19 Vs. Sinus Infections: Know the Difference | MD Now In its early days, the variant caused an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in South Africathey went from 300 a day in mid-November 2021 to 3,000 a day at the end of that month. You risk possible side effects and increase your chances of developing antibiotic resistance, which can make future infections harder to treat, says Dr. Sindwani. The symptoms of the common cold arise within one to two days of infection. If you suspect you have any of the symptoms mentioned here, get tested ASAP. You might be able to get an over-the-counter test at your local pharmacy or have a test performed at a local health clinic or pharmacy that is sent off to a lab. You have a stiff neck or swelling around the eyes. Also, ask your doctor about supplements such as vitamin C to help boost your immune system. This all depends on the severity of the virus. But Omicron patients report fewer instances of fever, cough, and loss of taste or smell. Did not lose taste or smell either. What Are the Symptoms of Omicron? - New York Times She also ended up with a painful double ear infection. Heres what you need to know about both kinds of infections and how to treat them. In other words, what you think of as the common cold. Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid per day. Then the researchers looked to see if there was a difference between people infected during the end of the delta wave and those infected during the early stage of the omicron wave. 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. Using a humidifier in your bedroom might help. Certainly, while most healthy people will only have mild symptoms, this virus still can cause severe illness in people who are immunosuppressed, including the elderly. hide caption. These observations also line up with lab research that shows omicron does not replicate in lung tissue as well as delta. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID. Sarah Ruff, MD is a family medicine physician at UNC Family Medicine at Southpoint. Managing a sinus infection? 2 charts show how Omicron symptoms differ from Delta and past Typically, the loss of sense of smell associated with a sinus infection is going to be accompanied by more significant symptoms such as facial pain/pressure. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. (By contrast, with the original version of the virus, the rate was 1 in 10. Now amidst the Omicron-wave of infections hitting vaccinated and unvaccinated alike, it is clear in our practice we are seeing a lot of exacerbations of sinus infections. How can you tell if you have a sinus infection or COVID-19? The following chart shows how Omicron symptoms compare to those of its predecessors, based on data collected by the Zoe app. If you've been exposed to Omicron or think you have the virus, who explained symptoms to watch out for. The overlap in symptoms between COVID-19 and sinus infections (sinusitis) make it difficult to tell the two apart. Last medically reviewed on November 20, 2018, A sinus infection occurs when your nasal cavities become swollen, infected, or inflamed. Is that winter sniffle a cold or a sinus infection? You can support more innovations fueling advances across medicine, science, health and wellness by giving today. Back in June, when the Delta variant was dominant in the UK, loss of smell was the sixth most common COVID-19 symptom among fully vaccinated people. Doctors treat viral and bacterial sinus infectionsverydifferently. Leukotriene antagonist drugs may be prescribed, and surgery may be considered in cases of a deviated septum. Ugh. But oddly about half of patients have no runny nose at this point. Physician, Associate Professor Medicinal treatment methods vary depending on if the infection is caused by a virus or bacteria. Omicron seems to be milder, but does seem to cause infections in many people with the vaccine. Aside from what causes them, this includes another battery of more unique symptoms. Depsite COVID Omicron being milder, January 2022 was one of the deadliest months our country has ever seen. You might need antibiotics for a sinus infection that does not get better on its own with home remedies or over-the-counter medications. Children's Wisconsin. If they have mild to moderate illness and can stay home, but they have certain medical comorbidities, an antiviral treatment may be offered. There are several ways to treat a sinus infection. Talk through your symptoms, and then your provider can help you determine the best next steps, Dr. Ruff says. Often the virus starts with a headache and many think they have a sinus infection. That consistency, Xu says, suggests the reduction in severity is due, in part, to something inherent with omicron itself and not simply because of changes in vaccination status. And a small study from Norway found that, among . Find our most recent COVID-19 articles here and learn the latest in COVID-19 prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This leads to mucus buildup. To help prevent sinus infections, COVID-19 and other respiratory infections, wear a mask in indoor public places and in a crowd whether youre indoors or outdoors. runny nose stuffy nose sore throat "Omicron, [meanwhile,] is less likely to invade the lungs," Dr. Singh says. Persisting " sinus headache " affecting the frontal and ethmoid sinus areas (regions between the eyes and up onto the forehead) is the most common symptom following bacterial-negative COVID sinusitis. Often the focus of treatment involves managing the severity of symptoms as natural immunity takes over. Severe allergies can lead to a cold-like condition called allergic rhinitis. Typically, a sinus infection clears up within 2 to 3 weeks. COVID-19 quarantine and isolation. Whats the best way to remove skin tags, and why do they form in the first place? A sinus infection occurs when the fluid builds up in the air-filled pockets in the face (sinuses) and encourages the growth of germs. If youre not feeling well, talk to your doctor or find one near you. Possible signs and symptoms of a sinus infection include: The signs and symptoms of COVID-19 often involve the respiratory system, but they can also occur in other parts of the body. Sinus infections most often occur after a cold or an allergy flare-up or in relation to a nasal condition. 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. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-53563316-1&cid=053662ec-447c-49e3-a3fc-38c4554832b7&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=8507895853480345925'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); These droplets can land in the mouth or nose of someone nearby or be inhaled. Cleveland Clinic. The treatments for a sinus infection and COVID are very different. Its thought that the initial site of COVID-19 entry for most patients is the nasal passages. Scientists at Case Western Reserve University analyzed health records from more than a half-million people infected with SARS-CoV-2 across the country, including 14,000 people possibly infected with omicron from Dec. 15 to 24, after the variant became dominant. sore throat. on Hearing Aids Better For Dementia Than Pills? "The most reported symptoms of Omicron are really very much like a cold, especially in people who've been vaccinated," Dr. Claire Steves, a scientist involved with the Zoe COVID Symptom Study, said in a recent video. Occurring in an estimated 11.6% of American adults, these infections of the nasal passages tend to be more severe. Your nose is all runny and stuffed up, and youre losing your sense of smell. Frequent handwashing is also a must. Omicron makes up 95% of sequenced Covid cases in U.S. as infections hit For example, if you have seasonal allergies to pollen, avoid going outdoors when the counts are at their highest. Sure Signs You Have an Omicron Infection - MSN Pain at the top of the head is often found with occult sphenoid sinusitis, which can cause a serious infection of the eyes and even meningitis. Health spoke with Julia Walker, a registered nurse with Paloma Health who explained symptoms to watch out for. The appropriate treatment for you will depend on what is causing the infection. If you have allergies, figuring out your triggers and trying to avoid them will help prevent a flare-up of symptoms that could lead to a sinus infection. Colds are more common than sinus infections and symptoms tend to improve quicker. Omicron Infection Timeline: Exposure to Immunity - Health A commuter masks up for a bus ride in Liverpool, England. Like the science and discovery news you find here? Therefore, treatment is much the same, where you can use over-the-counter nasal decongestants, lozenges for a sore throat, and acetaminophen to treat fever, headaches, and body aches. Sinus infection (sinusitis). Clinical practice guideline (update): adult sinusitis. Rosenfeld RM, Piccirillo JF, Chandrasekhar SS, et al. Another factor to look at is how long you've been sick. Continue taking allergy meds, if you did so previously. 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. Read our. We are also seeing a higher number of unvaccinated and unboosted people getting hospitalized." Worried That Sore Throat Is Strep? Many people liken it to a bad cold or sinus infection. xhr.send(payload); 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. With allergic rhinitis, you can have the above symptoms as well as itchy eyes. In general, people are contagious for two to three days before COVID-19 symptoms start.