advice every day. ; Duration: Whereas cold symptoms generally start to improve after . For example, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing are more likely with COVID-19, while facial pain is more specific to a sinus infection. After youve tested, call your primary care doctor to schedule an in-person or virtual visit. 960 Johnson Ferry Rd Common colds. Cases of sinus infection that last longer than 12 weeks are considered chronic. During the pandemic, the general public has become more aware of COVID-19 symptoms. What Should You Do If You Feel Sick but Keep Testing Negative for COVID? 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. Its probably anothersinus infection. Some patients (about 10%) will have scalp tenderness, pain, and even sometimes PAINFUL HAIR! The most commonly-reported symptoms with the original Omicron variant were cough, fatigue, headache, congestion, and runny nose. However, sinus infections have rarely been associated with COVID. Some symptoms are more common in one condition than the other. We are also seeing a higher number of unvaccinated and unboosted people getting hospitalized. diarrhea. In general, people are contagious for two to three days before COVID-19 symptoms start. Sniffles (Nasal Congestion and Discharge). Omicron seems to cause LESS loss of smell due to reduced affinity for the nerve endings! Sure Signs You're Getting Omicron Now, Say Doctors. Read On, A Medication to Reduce Your Chances of Getting HIV, COVID-19 Shots During Pregnancy Help Mom and Baby, 3 Things Parents Should Know About Bivalent Boosters for Young Children. "It's not like a little tickle in the throat. Itchy, Red Eyes? Do You Have Just a Sore Throat or Is It Strep? Why Hospitals are Overcrowded with Omicron Patients, "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. Those symptoms include a runny nose or sniffles, a headache or body aches,. According to the CDC, the Omicron variant spreads more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Delta variant. So its important to wait and see how long your symptoms last. And is your infection caused by a virus or bacteria and does it really matter? Runny noses have been more common with COVID infections with the newer strains. COVID-19 is an infection caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. 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. "This is a pretty different surge," says Dr. Brendan Carr, chair of emergency medicine for the Mount Sinai Health System where the emergency rooms are busier than ever but many of the COVID-19 patients are not sick enough to be admitted. Aside from OTC medications, you will want to get plenty of rest and fluids, eat nutrient-rich foods, and keep yourself away from other people until your symptoms have subsided. If you know youre allergic to pollen and that pollen season is around the corner, start taking your antihistamine ahead of time. (2016). If you are two weeks after your COVID-19 was diagnosed, and have recovered otherwise but need a visit for sinus evaluation, call us today. If your allergies have you particularly congested, they might also prescribe a decongestant. 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. On average, adults have two to four colds a year, with infants and young children experiencing six to eight. How to tell. Several types of COVID tests are available. COVID-19, cold, allergies and the flu: What are the differences? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most sinus infections are viral. By clicking "Subscribe" you agree to our Terms of Use. 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. For example, if you're over age 65, your risk of being hospitalized with COVID-19 is still 5% with the omicron variant, which means 1 in 20 people infected in this age group will end up in the hospital. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. A study from the U.K. government, published last week, found that three doses of vaccine cuts the risk of hospitalization due to omicron by about 80% compared with a person who's not vaccinated at all. Depsite COVID Omicron being milder, January 2022 was one of the deadliest months our country has ever seen. Along with falling temperatures and shorter days, sinus infections are a common part of winter. While COVID cases are dropping in certain areas, the pandemic isn't over and Omicron is still infecting thousands of people daily. "A lot of this is probably magnifying these symptoms under a microscope instead of clear changes," he says. If you get a COVID-19 test, remember to mask up and stay away from others until you get your test results. You should also see your doctor if your OTC antihistamines arent working. The Zoe study uses a smartphone app to log how hundreds of thousands of people are feeling every day across the UK. Click for More Info about Dr. Rogers and how we can help out! I do encourage you to get the vaccine and the booster. Sinusitis can occur at any time of the year, but it tends to flare up in cold and flu season and during allergy seasons. By contrast, fatigue became more pronounced among outpatients, who often reported feeling tired and achy, Moreno said. There's now data indicating just how severe its symptoms might be. While sinus infections (also known as sinusitis) share many symptoms with the common cold and can be a complication of it, there are some key differences. Long-term (chronic) or severe allergies benefit more from daily treatments, such as Zyrtec or Claritin. Some of these antihistamines also have an added decongestant to them. Dust mite allergies can be alleviated with weekly house cleanings and bedding washes. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Whats the main difference between sinus infection and COVID-19? Body aches and fatigue seem to linger longer. Some antihistamines, such as Benadryl, are usually taken for short-term relief. And among those who are vaccinated, almost all have not received a booster shot. Most sinus infections are caused by viral infections, such as those that cause the common cold, including the rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). They need rest. Theres a powerful story behind every headline at Ohio State Health & Discovery. Sinuses are the hollow spaces in the bones of your face that are usually filled with air. The highly contagious variant continues to spread across the U.S. and many hospitals remain overcrowded with COVID patients. How long are you most contagious after a COVID-19 infection? Do You Have COVID-19 or a Sinus Infection? | UNC Health Talk A small study released Wednesday by a team of US researchers found that the viral load from an Omicron infection peaked in saliva one to two days before it peaked in nasal swabs, which may. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); 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. A sinus infection is diagnosed based on your symptoms and an examination of your nose and face. } They need to sleep. Despite their overlap, there are some notable differences between sinus infections and COVID-19 as well. Sinus infection (sinusitis): types, causes, symptoms & treatment. Vaccines help reduce the severity of disease, but Omicron may be a less virulent virus on its own. For milder cases and those within the first 10 days, over the counter medications and at-home treatments include: Decongestants are not recommended for adults or children with acute sinusitis and should not be used for more than three to five days in order to prevent rebound congestion. Omicron subvariant symptoms: How quickly do omicron symptoms appear? Typically, a sinus infection clears up within 2 to 3 weeks. ", "While omicron does appear to be less severe compared to delta, especially in those vaccinated, it does not mean it should be categorized as 'mild,' " said the World Health Organization's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Thursday. Then check in with your doctor for a prescription and let him or her know if your condition worsens. Getting a flu shot will help protect you from the flu virus, which can cause inflammation in your sinuses and lead to a sinus infection. Many people liken it to a bad cold or sinus infection. She also ended up with a painful double ear infection. Is that winter sniffle a cold or a sinus infection? Frequent handwashing is also a must. 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. "What we're seeing is something really tips these patients over the edge," says Roberts. Mucus Color: What Does it Mean? - Cleveland Clinic Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images Worried That Sore Throat Is Strep? In contrast, delta took about four days, and the original variant took more than five. Learn some practical steps you can take to ease your symptoms. You can support more innovations fueling advances across medicine, science, health and wellness by giving today. Three that have gained attention are nausea, night sweats and lower back pain. "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. Is It Winter Allergies or COVID-19? - Verywell Health These Are the 3 Main Symptoms of the Omicron Variant - Yahoo News What to Know About Fibromyalgia and COVID-19, Antigen vs. Antibody: Differences and COVID-19 Testing. While it's welcome news that omicron is easier on the lungs, ProHEALTH's Griffin says it's not that way for some of his patients. 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. 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. 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. And doctors are finding a key difference among their patients who are ending up in the ER or being admitted: Many are neither struggling to breathe nor dealing with perilously low oxygen levels. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. "But people who are fresh, with no preexisting immunity, it's hard to see that the virus is milder. Loss of taste or smell was even less common, as the chart below shows. Omicron may also change the way the virus replicates or congregates in the body. Sarah Ruff, MD is a family medicine physician at UNC Family Medicine at Southpoint. Omicron or Respiratory Infection Symptoms? | Eyewitness News - PAhomepage The latest from Ohio State Health & Discovery delivered right to your inbox. If you have respiratory symptoms, its best to talk to your doctor. Symptoms of COVID-19. Two main symptoms of sinus infections include congestion and pain or pressure in your face, nose, or ears.