However patients with a history of relapsing sinus infections may have more difficult bacteria such as Staphylococcus or very tricky non typical respiratory bacteria. And among those who are vaccinated, almost all have not received a booster shot. 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. "The cough is milder [than previous variants], if there's any cough at all, and fever seems to be a little less common.". And just like earlier variants, omicron can't be defined as causing only a narrow group of symptoms. Nasal congestion and swelling, facial pressure, pain, fever, too much mucus. "I've seen a lot more people reporting fatigue as one of their main symptoms," he said. Dr. Jorge Moreno said he's seen an influx of COVID-19 cases lately at his outpatient clinic in Connecticut. Although you can get sinusitis year around, it tends . Last medically reviewed on November 20, 2018, A sinus infection occurs when your nasal cavities become swollen, infected, or inflamed. Almost as soon as Omicron started spreading, doctors noticed slight differences in their patients' symptoms relative to prior variants. 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 . These observations also line up with lab research that shows omicron does not replicate in lung tissue as well as delta. runny nose stuffy nose sore throat "Omicron, [meanwhile,] is less likely to invade the lungs," Dr. Singh says. They might recommend prescription medications instead. But the omicron variant tends to share many of the same symptoms as the common cold. What we know about the symptoms and the severity - NPR Discover risk factors such as sinus infections. For example, make sure you wash your hands often and try not to touch your face, nose, or eyes during cold/flu season. 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. Those symptoms include a runny nose or sniffles, a headache or body aches,. The best way to protect yourself from COVID is to get vaccinated and practice protective measures like wearing a face mask, social distancing, and washing your hands. 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. Sinus Infection vs. COVID-19: What Are the Differences? - Verywell Health 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. It also details treatment options for both, why a proper diagnosis is important, and when to see your healthcare provider. Three that have gained attention are nausea, night sweats and lower back pain. A bacterial sinus infection will last seven to 10 days or longer and may get worse after a week. For instance, common allergy symptoms not associated with COVID-19 include itching and watery eyes. Omicron has displaced the once-dominant delta variant in a matter of. 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. If you have a disability and experience difficulty accessing this content, contact our webmaster at. Xu and her colleagues found that the risk of needing to go to the ER dropped from about 15% during the delta surge to 5% during the early omicron surge (about a 70% decrease) and the risk of being hospitalized dropped from 4% to 2% (or by 50%). You can support more innovations fueling advances across medicine, science, health and wellness by giving today. 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. Like the science and discovery news you find here? "We didn't need to do any complicated statistics to see the difference.". 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. At a December news briefing, Ryan Noach, the CEO of Discovery Health, South Africa's largest private health insurer, said Omicron patients commonly reported a scratchy throat first, followed by nasal congestion, dry cough, and body aches. Adults have sinuses behind their cheeks, nose, and forehead. The omicron variant of the coronavirus has surged in the U.K. and is now dominant in the U.S. as well. Heres what you need to know about both kinds of infections and how to treat them. 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. Children's Health, Cold and Flu, Infectious Diseases. Whats the main difference between sinus infection and COVID-19? "Instead, Omicron is causing more upper respiratory symptoms." Omicron is not. Often the virus starts with a headache and many think they have a sinus infection. By clicking "Subscribe" you agree to our Terms of Use. While in the past this has usually turned out to be a sinus infection, youre not so sure this time. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. What to Do If You Get a Positive At-Home COVID-19 Test Result, What to Know About Pneumonia and COVID-19. Sinus infection is a condition in which the cavities around the nasal passages become inflamed. Worried That Sore Throat Is Strep? While COVID cases are dropping in certain areas, the pandemic isn't over and Omicron is still infecting thousands of people daily. The overlap in symptoms between COVID-19 and sinus infections (sinusitis) make it difficult to tell the two apart. COVID-19 symptoms tend to have more fatigue, cough, shortness of breath and may have gastrointestinal symptoms, too. Using a humidifier in your bedroom might help. "A lot of this is probably magnifying these symptoms under a microscope instead of clear changes," he says. On Friday Sep 17th 2021 The FDA Advisory Panel made new recommendations about a third [], COVID and Hearing Health Most otolaryngologists will agree that hearing complaints are on the rise [], 2021 Advanced Ear, Nose and Throat Associates, PC, on Hearing Loss & Cognitive Decline Progression. 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). 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. ", 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. With allergic rhinitis, you can have the above symptoms as well as itchy eyes. As with sinus infections, symptom management as your body develops immunity and fights off the infection is central to care. However, if your symptoms worsen or last longer than two weeks, you should see your doctor for some relief. LOSS OF SMELL is happening in about 50% of patients with Delta Variant COVID. This itchiness is one of the key distinguishing factors between allergies and sinusitis. Its probably anothersinus infection. Were hopeful that most people with COVID-19 regain their smell back, but unfortunately many do not. Still, doctors have noticed a clear gradient of symptoms based on a person's vaccination status. 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. When they become blocked and filled with fluid, bacteria can grow there and cause. 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. A sinus infection that lasts for months is chronic sinusitis, which can be caused by an infection or growths in the nasal cavity. For example, the virus that causes the common cold attacks the lining of your sinuses and causes them to swell up. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. With omicron, the symptoms also come on more quickly once you're infected. Most of these patients retained their sense of smell and had disease course taht was brief 3 days or so. Sinusitis vs. COVID-19. "Therefore, people who are chronically ill, immunocompromised, or older adults are at greater risk of getting infected. The Anosmia/smell dysfunction returned and Im maybe even seeing this smell loss LAST LONGER than the original COVID variants. We've rounded up the seven best decongestants to help relieve your pressure, pain, and congestion. Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School. Additionally, allergies and nasal polyps (growths) in the sinuses may increase the risk of developing sinusitis. However, it may be helpful to avoid the substances you know youre allergic to as often as you can. 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. Underlying allergy inflammation can lead to sinus infections. } Vaccines help reduce the severity of disease, but Omicron may be a less virulent virus on its own. How to Treat a Mild Case of Omicron at Home, Walker says, "Most people will liken their Omicron symptoms to a head cold. 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, , 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, a, nd to ensure your health don't miss these, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Heather Newgen has two decades of experience reporting and writing about health, fitness, entertainment and travel. However, if you develop severe illness, you may need to receive medical care in the hospital. It's inflammation or swelling of your sinuses. We are also seeing a higher number of unvaccinated and unboosted people getting hospitalized." 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. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. You dont necessarily have to see your doctor for your allergies. 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. Rosenfeld RM, Piccirillo JF, Chandrasekhar SS, et al. Sore throats and runny noses are increasingly common in vaccinated people with Omicron. The appropriate treatment for you will depend on what is causing the infection. 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. You will be notified of your result, which will be either positive (you have COVID) or negative (you do not have COVID). These block the immune systems histamine-producing response whenever you encounter an allergen. Whether your sinus infection turns out to be viral or bacterial, you can help to ease your symptoms early on with supportive sinus care: If your symptoms arent improving after one week, its important to see your doctor. But dont look for an antibiotic unless your illness extends beyond a week, he says. If a bacterial infection is suspected, youll probably need to take an antibiotic to clear up the infection and prevent further complications. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. They need rest. ", Omicron is spreading at lightning speed. Many patients with this kind of persisting head pain may benefit from migraine medications or those used to block neural signals upstream of nerve endings. Home remedies can often treat sinus drainage. These droplets can land in the mouth or nose of someone nearby or be inhaled. Frequent handwashing is also a must. If you're sick, the following is recommended: Additionally, some medications can help, many of which are also used for sinus infections: Making sure your symptoms are more than a cold, and could be those of sinus infection, can be critical for managing the condition. By contrast, fatigue became more pronounced among outpatients, who often reported feeling tired and achy, Moreno said.

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