Children's Health, Cold and Flu, Infectious Diseases. Allergy and sinus infection treatments share some similarities and differences. South Africa's largest health insurer listed nasal congestion, sore or scratchy throat, dry cough and lower back pain as common Omicron symptoms. "They're not short of breath, and really the lungs are OK," says Roberts, of Yale. Yes. Like the science and discovery news you find here? For example, if you have seasonal allergies to pollen, avoid going outdoors when the counts are at their highest. sore throat. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Heres what you need to know about both kinds of infections and how to treat them. otolaryngology-assoc.com/our_services/allergies__sinusitis.aspx, newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pay-close-attention-to-symptoms-to-determine-if-cause-is-sinus-infection-or-allergies/, health.clevelandclinic.org/cold-really-sinus-infection-tell/, acaai.org/allergies/types/sinus-infection, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17701-sinusitis, Sinus Infection (Sinusitis): What It Is, Symptoms, and More, Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP. The boosted people, in many cases it's almost like an old cold: the sinus symptoms, the sore throat.". Yellow mucus. The yellowish tinge comes from white blood cells that rush to the site of the infection and then are swept away after working . And doctors are finding many of these cases tend to look like an ordinary upper respiratory infection. A sinus infection (sinusitis) occurs when the lining of your sinuses becomes inflamed. You have a fever (over 100.4 degrees) that persists beyond a few days. For people who are at high risk for severe disease, such as older people or those with underlying health issues, the chance of being hospitalized is still quite significant. At the same time, it appears anecdotally at least that certain symptoms show up more with omicron than they did with delta. 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. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 1 Is that winter sniffle a cold or a sinus infection? This is especially important as cases continue to rise. A sinus infection (sinusitis) occurs when the lining of your sinuses becomes inflamed. Get health and wellness tips and information from UNC Health experts once a month! 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. Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: The Procedure and Recovery Process. The only way to know for sure is to see your doctor. 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. ", RELATED: The #1 Cause of Diabetes, Say Experts, Walker explains, "When news suggested that the Omicron variant was less severe than the Delta variant, people became increasingly lax about getting COVID. What Should You Do If You Feel Sick but Keep Testing Negative for COVID? Another difference is the timeline. "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. How long are you most contagious after a COVID-19 infection? Doctors studying Omicron's spread around the world have found new clues to the pattern of symptoms caused by the highly-mutated COVID-19 variant, which a growing number of reports suggest might . However, Omicron should not be blown off or not taken seriously. If symptoms dont go away after three months, youre considered to have a chronic sinus infection. There's now data indicating just how severe its symptoms might be. You should also make an appointment if your symptoms worsen or fail to improve despite home treatments. Normally they're filled with air. Allergies occur as a result of your immune systems reaction to certain allergens, such as pollen, dust, or pet dander. We've rounded up the seven best decongestants to help relieve your pressure, pain, and congestion. LOSS OF SMELL is happening in about 50% of patients with Delta Variant COVID. While in the past this has usually turned out to be a sinus infection, youre not so sure this time. And follow the public health fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you liveget vaccinated or boosted ASAP; if you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, don't travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, and to ensure your health don't miss these 101 Health Habits You Didn't Know Were Deadly. 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. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 are considered contagious for five days after a positive test. Omicron has displaced the once-dominant delta variant in a matter of. If your allergies have you particularly congested, they might also prescribe a decongestant. 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. 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. Ohio State Health & Discovery brings this expertise together to deliver todays most important health news and the deeper story behind the most powerful topics that affect the health of people, animals, society and the world. Still, these two conditions have different causes and symptoms. And among unvaccinated people, he says, an omicron infection can feel like the same unforgiving disease to him. 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. An Ohio State dermatologist weighs in. Symptoms like bad breath, yellow or green mucus, fever and headache are not reliable signs of a bacterial infection, he says. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { Its also possible to have both conditions at the same time. Adults have sinuses behind their cheeks, nose, and forehead. Is it a cold or sinus infection? Whether your sinus infection turns out to be viral or bacterial, you can help to ease your symptoms early on with supportive sinus care: Use saline spray two to three times per day in each nostril . In general, people are contagious for two to three days before COVID-19 symptoms start. The primary symptoms of sinus infections include: In a majority of cases, sinus infections resolve as your bodys immune system attacks and destroys the infecting pathogens. Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group. COVID-19 often causes sinus and upper respiratory symptoms such as loss of smell, congestion, and a severe headache. 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. However, these conditions arent the same thing. Additionally, if you have any symptoms which are in any way associated with COVID-19, you should follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines regarding testing and quarantining and contact your healthcare provider. Sinusitis vs. COVID-19. How can you tell whether your infection is viral or bacterial based on your symptoms? Omicron seems to be milder, but does seem to cause infections in many people with the vaccine. Learn more about the. Find our most recent COVID-19 articles here and learn the latest in COVID-19 prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She also ended up with a painful double ear infection. They need to sleep. Your doctor might take a watchful waiting approach to see if your immune system can fight the infection. Allergies are also treated with antihistamines. COVID-19 quarantine and isolation. 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. Bacteria can also cause sinusitis; these cases tend to arise when theres an existing cold, as the immune system is weakened. 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. The rapid ones are getting better and better as far as accuracy goes. "Many people are still going to be admitted to the ICU, and some people are still going to need to have mechanical ventilation.". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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. The two conditions share many characteristics, and in some cases, sinus infections arise as a complication of colds. This may be present with runny nose as well, usually on both sides. Sinus infections most often occur after a cold or an allergy flare-up or in relation to a nasal condition. As more mucus is produced, buildup occurs and provides a place for bacteria to grow, which leads to infection. With omicron, the symptoms also come on more quickly once you're infected. } if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { However, it may be helpful to avoid the substances you know youre allergic to as often as you can. Compare the following symptoms to see if you have allergies or a possible sinus infection. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Using a humidifier in your bedroom might help. But as with any variant of SARS-CoV-2, your absolute risk depends on many factors, including whether you're vaccinated and boosted, your age, your overall health and your economic situation. The symptoms of the common cold arise within one to two days of infection. The nasal sinuses and the middle ear space or hollow pockets in the head and cranial bones that usually are filled with sterile air. 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. 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. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. By clicking "Subscribe" you agree to our Terms of Use. When in doubt, see your doctor. Allergies and sinus infections can have similar symptoms. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); hide caption. every day. Most often its the result of an infection and can be caused by viruses, bacteria and, less commonly, fungi. Loss of your sense of taste and smell sometimes accompanies a sinus infection. Are you contagious before COVID-19 symptoms appear? Feminine Odor Problems? Some antihistamines, such as Benadryl, are usually taken for short-term relief. American Lung Association. "The cough is milder [than previous variants], if there's any cough at all, and fever seems to be a little less common.". The severe sore throat is often still. Patients with severe COVID migraine/headache phenomenon may also suffer from some chronic COVID brain symptoms (like chemo brain for patients receiving toxic chemotherapy). Heres a quick breakdown: While most coldsand even sinus infectionsclear up on their own, its important to know when you need medical help. While you may experience a fever, headache, and cough if you have COVID, you can also have these and other respiratory symptoms if you have another infection or condition. You can expect to experience many colds throughout your life. "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. Sinusitis generally lasts longer than a cold; while cases can resolve within 10 days, symptoms can last up to a month. You cant, on the other hand, fully prevent allergies. 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. While mild fever may accompany early onset of the cold and is common in children or infants with it, its not a typical feature of this illness in adults. But the omicron variant tends to share many of the same symptoms as the common cold. What those hospital numbers don't tell us is what a typical case looks like. In other words, what you think of as the common cold. 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. Almost as soon as Omicron started spreading, doctors noticed slight differences in their patients' symptoms relative to prior variants. 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. This leads to mucus buildup. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these, Secret Weight Loss Tricks to Melt Visceral Fat, Science Says, Over 60? Is that winter sniffle a cold or a sinus infection? Omicron vs. Allergy Symptoms Though COVID-19 and allergies are caused by significantly different thingsthe SARS-CoV-2 virus and airborne substances like pollen, respectivelythe two can. As with sinus infections, symptom management as your body develops immunity and fights off the infection is central to care. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes. Most sinus infections are caused by viral infections, such as those that cause the common cold, including the rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). "Omicron versus delta are really more similar than they are different.". Sinusitis can occur at any time of the year, but it tends to flare up in cold and flu season and during allergy seasons. Physician, Associate Professor 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). Underlying allergy inflammation can lead to sinus infections. Your doctor will decide which is appropriate based on factors like your symptoms and whether you know you were exposed to someone with the virus. On average, adults have two to four colds a year, with infants and young children experiencing six to eight. If you get a COVID-19 test, remember to mask up and stay away from others until you get your test results. A viral sinus infection will usually begin to improve after five to seven days. "What we're seeing is something really tips these patients over the edge," says Roberts. Sinus infections, and related sinus pressure, can cause toothaches. Frequent handwashing is also a must. Some of the most common symptoms include a sinus headache, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, and sneezing. Since sinus infections are caused by viruses, antibiotics dont generally help. This can mean a cold or infection that's progressing. Whats the Difference Between Walking Pneumonia and Regular Pneumonia? A viral sinus infection will usually start to improve after five to seven days. Policy. The only way to know what you have for sure is to see a healthcare provider. COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a type of coronavirus. Is your cold really a sinus infection? By contrast, fatigue became more pronounced among outpatients, who often reported feeling tired and achy, Moreno said.
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