"Those individuals that are boosted, within five days, seven days of their onset of symptoms, their energy level comes back," he said. If you have respiratory symptoms, its best to talk to your doctor. How to Tell If Its Allergy or Infection. Allergies can develop at any point in your life. People have reported symptoms that vary, but are similar to signs of a common cold or flu. It offers a comprehensive look at how COVID-19 symptoms have changed over the course of the pandemic most notably, with the advent of the Delta and Omicron variants. Get health and wellness tips and information from UNC Health experts once a month! UNC researchers are spreading the word about these disparities and starting a conversation about how to change them. These block the immune systems histamine-producing response whenever you encounter an allergen. It also details treatment options for both, why a proper diagnosis is important, and when to see your healthcare provider. This fits with early data from the U.K. showing that fever and cough are not as prevalent with omicron cases there and that the five top symptoms are runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat. Two main symptoms of sinus infections include congestion and pain or pressure in your face, nose, or ears. 1 Signs of Omicron iStock Walker says, "Omicron symptoms tend to be more concentrated on the upper respiratory tract. A sinus infection can happen after a viral illness but can also be caused by allergies. Get the best food tips and diet advice American Lung Association. Using a humidifier in your bedroom might help. Suffering from a sinus infection? Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School. Like the science and discovery news you find here? 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. Allergies can be chronic or seasonal, but avoidance and medication can help alleviate your symptoms. 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. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. You have a fever (over 100.4 degrees) that persists beyond a few days. 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. This all depends on the severity of the virus. You cant, unfortunatelybecause the symptoms are so similar, you should be tested for COVID-19. If you've been exposed to Omicron or think you have the virus, Eat This, Not That! A sinus infection, or sinusitis, occurs when the air-filled pockets in the face, called sinuses, fill up with fluid, inflaming the sinus lining and preventing them from draining. 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. This can mean a cold or infection that's progressing. Three that have gained attention are nausea, night sweats and lower back pain. Some patients (about 10%) will have scalp tenderness, pain, and even sometimes PAINFUL HAIR! For the common cold, the incubation period is relatively short, usually one to three days. You can help prevent a sinus infection in much the same way as you would prevent catching cold and flu viruses. A commuter masks up for a bus ride in Liverpool, England. cases are dropping in certain areas, the pandemic isn't over and Omicron is still infecting thousands of people daily. Most of these patients retained their sense of smell and had disease course taht was brief 3 days or so. How can you tell if you have a sinus infection or COVID-19? 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. If they're reporting it, they're saying that their throat feels raw.". Treat early sinus infection symptoms with rest, hydration and over-the-counter sprays and decongestants. Almost as soon as Omicron started spreading, doctors noticed slight differences in their patients' symptoms relative to prior variants. ", RELATED: Over 60? A viral sinus infection will usually begin to improve after five to seven days. "They're not short of breath, and really the lungs are OK," says Roberts, of Yale. This leads to mucus buildup. "So this is really something that's different between omicron and delta," Xu says. Allergy Cough vs. COVID Cough: What Are the Differences? hide caption. 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. 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. Suite 200, Atlanta 30342, Hearing Loss & Cognitive Decline Progression. 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. 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. You cannot rule out COVID-19 without a test, says UNC Health family medicine physician Sarah Ruff, MD. 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. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Get the best food tips and diet advice every single day, Now, you'll have the best and latest food and healthy eating news right in your inboxevery The treatments for a sinus infection and COVID are very different. If youre not vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu, do so right away to reduce your chances of getting sick and spreading these infections to others. "Their symptoms are resolved. Typically, a sinus infection clears up within 2 to 3 weeks. Another factor in appropriate treatment is a person's risk factors for severe disease. runny nose stuffy nose sore throat "Omicron, [meanwhile,] is less likely to invade the lungs," Dr. Singh says. They need rest. 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. Therefore, if you are stressed, you may be at greater risk for contracting Omicron, as the body's defense system is not as robust. The charts below show which Omicron symptoms are most common and how they compare to prior variants. 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. every day. A commuter masks up for a bus ride in Liverpool, England. The two conditions share many characteristics, and in some cases, sinus infections arise as a complication of colds. By contrast, fatigue became more pronounced among outpatients, who often reported feeling tired and achy, Moreno said. For COVID-19, the incubation period can range anywhere from two to 14 days. After all, COVID-19 is running rampant throughout the world and loss of sense of smell is one of the signs of infection. As with previous variants, the vast majority of people infected with omicron have a mix of symptoms that resolve relatively quickly and don't require hospital care. While the data doesn't distinguish between vaccinated and unvaccinated people, 70% of the UK population has had at least two vaccine doses as of Thursday. You have a stiff neck or swelling around the eyes. Click for More Info about Dr. Rogers and how we can help out! Some symptoms are more common in one condition than the other. Vaccines help reduce the severity of disease, but Omicron may be a less virulent virus on its own. "It's not like a little tickle in the throat. And a small study from Norway found that, among . And fewer patients have symptoms related to lower respiratory problems, such as shortness of breath, says Vanchiere, including older patients. Since sinus infections are caused by viruses, antibiotics dont generally help. If you have respiratory symptoms, your doctor can use several tests to find out what is causing themfor example, if you have a sinus infection, COVID, or another condition. You dont necessarily have to see your doctor for your allergies. COVID-19 often causes sinus and upper respiratory symptoms such as loss of smell, congestion, and a severe headache. In addition, some symptoms of each are not present in the other. doi:10.1177/0194599815572097. A viral sinus infection will usually start to improve after five to seven days. Worried That Sore Throat Is Strep? 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. The Zoe study uses a smartphone app to log how hundreds of thousands of people are feeling every day across the UK. A diet rich in antioxidants can help with chronic inflammation. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It does, says otolaryngologist Raj Sindwani, MD. In severe cases, you may need to be treated by an ear, nose and throat doctor. "The difference was huge," says data scientist Rong Xu, who led the study and is also at Case Western Reserve University. Take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help relieve the swelling of your sinuses. Some steps that you can take will help reduce your risk of either condition, but each also has specific precautions that will help lower your risk. "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. Ugh. So some of this lower risk could be because of vaccination, but the data altogether suggests that there is a reduced risk for hospitalization with the omicron variant compared with the delta variant. 1. Sinusitis is most often caused by viruses. The loss of smell most commonly is resolved by 3 months, but about 20% of patients will have smell loss longer, and about 5% may have permanent loss of smell. The two share certain symptoms, but also have differences. With SARS-CoV-2, the big danger is that a mild illness will turn into a life-threatening one. Like the science and discovery news you find here? Dust mite allergies can be alleviated with weekly house cleanings and bedding washes. When the nasal cavity gets inflamed, mucus builds up and gets stuck, further compounding the problem. You can support more innovations fueling advances across medicine, science, health and wellness by giving today. Sarah Ruff, MD is a family medicine physician at UNC Family Medicine at Southpoint. 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. For example, if you have seasonal allergies to pollen, avoid going outdoors when the counts are at their highest. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page. Doctors treat viral and bacterial sinus infectionsverydifferently. Body aches and fatigue seem to linger longer. Sinus infections most often occur after a cold or an allergy flare-up or in relation to a nasal condition. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); 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. ", 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. For instance, common allergy symptoms not associated with COVID-19 include itching and watery eyes. And doctors are finding many of these cases tend to look like an ordinary upper respiratory infection. What to Know About Fibromyalgia and COVID-19, Antigen vs. Antibody: Differences and COVID-19 Testing. Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: The Procedure and Recovery Process. 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. Get the best food tips and diet "In this period, we still have delta circulating in the community. As the name suggests, this illness is so contagious and widespread that its the single most common cause of doctor visits in the United States. We avoid using tertiary references. Your source for health, wellness, innovation and discovery news from the experts at Ohio State. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. In general, people are contagious for two to three days before COVID-19 symptoms start. By Mark Gurarie If you have a negative COVID test, we can see you and determine if you have an actual sinus infection and then determine the best treatment, Dr. Ruff says. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Many patients started out with a dry, scratchy throat that caused sharp pain when they swallowed. 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. For example, if you have a sinus infection that is caused by allergies, your doctor may prescribe an allergy medicine. The exception is if youve never been diagnosed with allergies before or if your allergies seem to be getting worse. By Emily Brown, MPH single COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory disease caused by infection with the virus SARS-CoV-2. But former hallmarks of COVID-19 such as fevers, coughs, and loss of taste or smell had dwindled. Allergies and sinus infections can have similar symptoms. Cleveland Clinic. However, there are a few key differences. For example, the virus that causes the common cold attacks the lining of your sinuses and causes them to swell up. Another not-yet-peer-reviewed study, published on Wednesday, found that Omicron inherently reduced the risk of severe hospitalization or death from COVID-19 by 25% compared with Delta. LOSS OF SMELL is happening in about 50% of patients with Delta Variant COVID. "It just seems that people who have been vaccinated ahead of time are getting much milder symptoms across the board," he says. As with previous variants, being vaccinated greatly protects you from severe disease with omicron. Were hopeful that most people with COVID-19 regain their smell back, but unfortunately many do not. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses. And among those who are vaccinated, almost all have not received a booster shot. Subscribe. Although you can get sinusitis year around, it tends . 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. 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. } ); Instead, your doctor lookslargelyat symptom duration to determine the source of your infection. How Stress Increases the Risk of Getting COVID, "Stress compromises the immune system, throwing off its ability to fight illness," Walker states. And after COVID being around for almost 2 years now, it's no surprise that people are starting to become less reactive to it. Its also important for doctors to ascertain whether youre experiencing a viral or bacterial infection as that can influence treatment. Pay close attention to symptoms to determine if cause is sinus infection or allergies. Omicron seems to cause LESS loss of smell due to reduced affinity for the nerve endings! 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. RSV is caused by the respiratory syncytial virus, a highly contagious virus that can infect children and adults. The only way to know what you have for sure is to see a healthcare provider. You should also make an appointment if your symptoms worsen or fail to improve despite home treatments. Sinusitis generally lasts longer than a cold; while cases can resolve within 10 days, symptoms can last up to a month. The latest from Ohio State Health & Discovery delivered right to your inbox. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. 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. 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. You are not the only one! A sinus infection, sinusitis, occurs when your sinuses become inflamedand blocked. 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. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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? For example, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing are more likely with COVID-19, while facial pain is more specific to a sinus infection. What are the symptoms of the flu, COVID-19, and RSV? Scientists are trying to figure out why. How can you tell whether your infection is viral or bacterial based on your symptoms? Yellow, Green, Brown, and More: What Does the Color of My Snot Mean? Drink clear fluids, such as water and broth. Learn about tips for relieving symptoms like inflammation, nasal congestion, and irritation. In the past, it was basically a given that a severe case of COVID-19 would wreak havoc on the lungs, at times leading to pneumonia and uncontrolled inflammation. Sinus infections can also cause loss of sense of taste or smell, higher fever, fatigue, and aches in the body. However this leaves the susceptible person open to sinus infections and ear infections caused by bacteria that may last for several more weeks. 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. But Omicron patients report fewer instances of fever, cough, and loss of taste or smell. 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. ", Omicron is spreading at lightning speed. Managing a sinus infection? John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. 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 . Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. A December study from the University of Hong Kong, which hasn't been peer-reviewed, found that Omicron replicated 70 times faster in the main airways, or bronchi, compared with Delta, but 10 times slower in the lung tissue. An Ohio State dermatologist weighs in. Its also possible to have both conditions at the same time. Youre experiencing changes in vision or mental function. I recommend that everyone stock up.. Learn about treatments to help release the pressure and clear up a toothache. Use saline spray two to three times per day in each nostril. In most cases, they resolve without the need for medical care. The only way to know for sure is to see your doctor. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Do You Have Just a Sore Throat or Is It Strep? Advertising on our site helps support our mission. This common infection requires antibiotics. Most often its the result of an infection and can be caused by viruses, bacteria and, less commonly, fungi. Get articles and stories about health, wellness, medicine, science and education delivered right to your inbox from the experts at Ohio State. 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. During the pandemic, the general public has become more aware of COVID-19 symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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. You should also see your doctor if your OTC antihistamines arent working. Sinus infections and COVID are not caused by the same things. Nasal congestion and swelling, facial pressure, pain, fever, too much mucus. Learn about the symptoms of a sinus infection and how to, If your nasal discharge is any color other than clear, it could be a sign of an infection. Many people liken it to a bad cold or sinus infection. A runny nose and sneezing, congestion, and sore throat are a few symptoms that can pop up if you have . Sore throats and runny noses are increasingly common in vaccinated people with Omicron. The symptoms of the common cold arise within one to two days of infection. Loss of taste or smell was even less common, as the chart below shows. As at earlier stages in the pandemic, many patients are still having some combination of fever, gastrointestinal problems, aches and pains, brain fog, weakness and, less often, trouble breathing, says Mount Sinai's Carr. If this persists, smell training therapy can help, though sometimes (rarely) this loss is permanent. Bishop S. (2013). Rosenfeld RM, Piccirillo JF, Chandrasekhar SS, et al. 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. Underlying allergy inflammation can lead to sinus infections. A doctor may recommend endoscopic sinus surgery if you're experiencing recurrent sinus infections or have a sinus blockage. However patients with a history of relapsing sinus infections may have more difficult bacteria such as Staphylococcus or very tricky non typical respiratory bacteria. Another difference doctors are noticing: Loss of smell and taste considered a telltale sign of COVID-19 is not nearly as common with omicron infections. 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? There are also other precautions that you should take not just to protect yourself from COVID but to help ensure that you do not spread the virus to other people. However really anyone is susceptible to sinusitis every once in a while. 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 slightly differently but also likely carries a lower chance of getting seriously ill. Scientists at Case Western Reserve University have preliminary evidence that the risk of being admitted to the hospital or the intensive care unit during the omicron surge in the U.S. is about half of the risk observed during the delta surge.