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. "Just like previous variants, omicron is hospitalizing people and it is killing people.". COVID-19 vs. Flu vs. RSV: How to tell the difference between - Labcorp When the nasal cavity gets inflamed, mucus builds up and gets stuck, further compounding the problem. If a bacterial infection is suspected, youll probably need to take an antibiotic to clear up the infection and prevent further complications. However really anyone is susceptible to sinusitis every once in a while. An accurate diagnosis from a healthcare professional is required to ensure that you get the appropriate treatment. Fatigue. If you test negative but still have symptoms or were exposed, your doctor might want you to be tested again in a few days. You should also see your doctor if your OTC antihistamines arent working. A commuter masks up for a bus ride in Liverpool, England. Your source for health, wellness, innovation and discovery news from the experts at Ohio State. The charts below show which Omicron symptoms are most common and how they compare to prior variants. A sinus infection, sinusitis, occurs when your sinuses become inflamedand blocked. 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 . This can mean a cold or infection that's progressing. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); "Cough is still part of the symptoms," Moreno said. Omicron Infection Timeline: Exposure to Immunity - Health Almost as soon as Omicron started spreading, doctors noticed slight differences in their patients' symptoms relative to prior variants. 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 . Some of the most common symptoms include a sinus headache, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, and sneezing. COVID-19 often causes sinus and upper respiratory symptoms such as loss of smell, congestion, and a severe headache. So maybe it was just something non covid related Anyway she was exhausted and couldn't work. ", How to Reduce Inflammation in the Body Fast, If you suspect you have any of the symptoms mentioned here, get tested ASAP. Continue taking allergy meds, if you did so previously. 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. Scientists aren't sure why COVID-19 symptoms are changing. Do You Have a Sinus Infection or COVID-19? - GoodRx "It just seems that people who have been vaccinated ahead of time are getting much milder symptoms across the board," he says. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Some patients (about 10%) will have scalp tenderness, pain, and even sometimes PAINFUL HAIR! Talk through your symptoms, and then your provider can help you determine the best next steps, Dr. Ruff says. Sore or Scratchy Throat May Be Early Sign of Omicron: Doctors In addition, some symptoms of each are not present in the other. Get plenty of sleep and stay hydrated during cold and flu season. In infants and the elderly, the symptoms can be more severe. For example, if you have a sinus infection that is caused by allergies, your doctor may prescribe an allergy medicine. A sinus infection (sinusitis) occurs when the lining of your sinuses becomes inflamed. 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 our, Causes and Risk Factors of Sinus Infection, COVID-19 Treatments: What You Need to Know, Have Spring Allergies? Medicinal treatment methods vary depending on if the infection is caused by a virus or bacteria. 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. People have reported symptoms that vary, but are similar to signs of a common cold or flu. Dr. Jorge Moreno said he's seen an influx of COVID-19 cases lately at his outpatient clinic in Connecticut. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ", 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. Mild, coldlike symptoms such as sore throats, sneezing,. Chris Vincent, MD, is a licensed physician, surgeon, and board-certified doctor of family medicine. A commuter masks up for a bus ride in Liverpool, England. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { 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. 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. Sinusitis happens when your sinuses thenormally air-filledpockets in your face become inflamedand blocked. 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. 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. Also ask your doctor about recommendations for other medications you can take as preventive measures. The exception is if youve never been diagnosed with allergies before or if your allergies seem to be getting worse. Don't Ignore Nose Dripping, Don't Ignore Sinus - TheHealthSite People have reported symptoms that vary, but are similar to signs of a common cold or flu. If youre not feeling well, talk to your doctor or find one near you. Omicron subvariant symptoms: How quickly do omicron symptoms appear? Viruses lead to most sinus infections, but bacteria can. Worried That Sore Throat Is Strep? Bacterial sinus infection secondary to COVID-19 may be a cause for lingering loss of smell. People with Omicron may report symptoms like nausea more often because loss of smell is less prevalent with the new variant, said Andrew Pekosz, a professor of molecular microbiology and. "Those individuals that are boosted, within five days, seven days of their onset of symptoms, their energy level comes back," he said. Allergies can develop at any point in your life. I have seen more patients with lingering sinusitis after Omicron COVID than prior variants. Health spoke with Julia Walker, a registered nurse with Paloma Health who explained symptoms to watch out for. And among unvaccinated people, he says, an omicron infection can feel like the same unforgiving disease to him. They need rest. Learn some practical steps you can take to ease your symptoms. Allergies and sinus infections can have similar symptoms. They might recommend prescription medications instead. As a result, you should experience fewer symptoms. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. To help alleviate your symptoms, stock up on nonprescription pain relievers, fever reducers, decongestants and cough drops. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses. So its important to wait and see how long your symptoms last. A sinus infection (sinusitis) occurs when the lining of your sinuses becomes inflamed. Omicron has displaced the once-dominant delta variant in a matter of. Since sinus infections are caused by viruses, antibiotics dont generally help. And after COVID being around for almost 2 years now, it's no surprise that people are starting to become less reactive to it. 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. Some of the most common symptoms include a sinus headache, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, and sneezing. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. When it was discovered, omicron alarmed scientists. This common infection requires antibiotics. At the same time, it appears anecdotally at least that certain symptoms show up more with omicron than they did with delta. A viral sinus infection will usually start to improve after five to seven days. Its also important for doctors to ascertain whether youre experiencing a viral or bacterial infection as that can influence treatment. doi:10.1177/0194599815572097. 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. Both allergies and sinus infections can feel miserable. This may be present with runny nose as well, usually on both sides. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The only way to know what you have for sure is to see a healthcare provider. COVID-19 symptoms tend to have more fatigue, cough, shortness of breath and may have gastrointestinal symptoms, too. Sinuses are the hollow spaces in the bones of your face that are usually filled with air. Use a saline mist spray to hydrate nasal passages. Treatment depends on the cause but can include medications to decrease inflammation and treat the infection. 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. Most people dont require special treatment for the common cold, and theres no vaccine or outright cure. Heather Newgen has two decades of experience reporting and writing about health, fitness, entertainment and travel. 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. Managing a sinus infection? Omicron vs. Allergies: How to Tell the Difference - Health Despite their overlap, there are some notable differences between sinus infections and COVID-19 as well. Bugs are common during the winter months and with the circulation of Omicron it's important you can tell the difference Credit: Getty - Contributor. However, it may be helpful to avoid the substances you know youre allergic to as often as you can. Along with nasal congestion and headache, sinusitis causes pain around your cheeks and eyes. And doctors are finding many of these cases tend to look like an ordinary upper respiratory infection. All rights reserved. Cleveland Clinic. "A lot of this is probably magnifying these symptoms under a microscope instead of clear changes," he says. Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid per day. 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. After all, COVID-19 is running rampant throughout the world and loss of sense of smell is one of the signs of infection. Dust mite allergies can be alleviated with weekly house cleanings and bedding washes. A diet rich in antioxidants can help with chronic inflammation. 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. Meanwhile, 44% of people in that group reported a persistent cough, and 29% reported a fever. Runny noses have been more common with COVID infections with the newer strains. Sinusitis occurs when your nasal passages become inflamed. Symptoms like bad breath, yellow or green mucus, fever and headache are not reliable signs of a bacterial infection, he says. But it's very possible that doctors and patients are simply paying more attention to these symptoms than they did with earlier variants, says Dr. Scott Roberts, an assistant professor of infectious diseases at the Yale School of Medicine. Omicron or Respiratory Infection Symptoms? | Eyewitness News - PAhomepage COVID-19 is only caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You might need antibiotics for a sinus infection that does not get better on its own with home remedies or over-the-counter medications. 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. Your doctor will swab your nose to collect mucus. But this apparent change in the disease that a severe infection in the lungs doesn't seem as common means fewer people need supplemental oxygen or intubation. But it has taken longer to untangle what, if anything, sets an omicron illness apart from that of its predecessors. And theyre better than nothing, especially on a weekend if you dont have other choices, Dr. Ruff says. 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. Sure Signs You're Getting Omicron Now, Say Doctors Two main symptoms of sinus infections include congestion and pain or pressure in your face, nose, or ears. 8. Omicron BA.5 variant | COVID-19 | UC Davis Health This all depends on the severity of the virus. Depsite COVID Omicron being milder, January 2022 was one of the deadliest months our country has ever seen. COVID is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. You should also make an appointment if your symptoms worsen or fail to improve despite home treatments. 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. Learn about tips for relieving symptoms like inflammation, nasal congestion, and irritation. Do you have a sinus infection or COVID-19? - Ohio State University Your source for health, wellness, innovation, research and science news from the experts at Ohio State. Many people liken it to a bad cold or sinus infection. By clicking "Subscribe" you agree to our Terms of Use. Editors note: As what we know about COVID-19 evolves, so could the information in this story. When they become blocked and filled with fluid, bacteria can grow there and cause. 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. Before Omicron, Moreno said, his COVID-19 patients used to feel sick for about 10 to 14 days. But former hallmarks of COVID-19 such as fevers, coughs, and loss of taste or smell had dwindled. The highly contagious variant continues to spread across the U.S. and many hospitals remain overcrowded with COVID patients. In other words, what you think of as the common cold. If your infections occur more frequently, and your doctor really wants to establish if they are bacterial or viral, your Otolaryngologist or ear, nose and throat doctor can sample the snot from your nose when youre infected and send it to a laboratory to know for sure. All Rights Reserved. Cold or COVID-19: Symptoms, Differences, and More - Verywell Health COVID-19 lasts for about a week or two depending on its severity and your overall health. As one of the largest academic health centers and health sciences campuses in the nation, we are uniquely positioned with renowned experts covering all aspects of health, wellness, science, research and education. I'm a virologist and here's how to tell the difference between a cold Sinusitis is most often caused by viruses. 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. How can you tell whether your infection is viral or bacterial based on your symptoms? Aside from what causes them, this includes another battery of more unique symptoms. Runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and sore throat were the top five symptoms among people in the UK who recorded a positive COVID-19 test in the past few weeks. Another factor in appropriate treatment is a person's risk factors for severe disease. 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. With omicron, the symptoms also come on more quickly once you're infected. The severe sore throat is often still. Another factor to look at is how long you've been sick. Drink clear fluids, such as water and broth. We've rounded up the seven best decongestants to help relieve your pressure, pain, and congestion. The omicron variant of the coronavirus has surged in the U.K. and is now dominant in the U.S. as well. Is it a cold or sinus infection? Discover risk factors such as sinus infections. 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. COVID-19 quarantine and isolation. OMICRON VARIANT BA.2: These started popping up late December 21. Sinusitis has a tendency to linger and cause sinus pressure, facial pain, and yellow or green mucus. Several studies have found that the incubation period the time it takes to develop symptoms after being exposed is about three days. And unlike the common cold, sinus infections can be of both viral and bacterial origin. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Physician, Associate Professor However, an allergy cough is wet, while a COVID-19 cough is dry; and fatigue with allergies tends to be milder than fatigue associated with COVID-19. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); 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. ", Omicron is spreading at lightning speed. Also, the more stressed you are, the more likely you may experience more severe symptoms or a longer duration of illness. COVID-19 can only be diagnosed through a test that specifically looks for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in your body. We avoid using tertiary references. However, if your symptoms worsen or last longer than two weeks, you should see your doctor for some relief. (By contrast, with the original version of the virus, the rate was 1 in 10. ", RELATED: Over 60? "But people who are fresh, with no preexisting immunity, it's hard to see that the virus is milder. Leukotriene antagonist drugs may be prescribed, and surgery may be considered in cases of a deviated septum.