Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Drainage down your throat from your nose Headaches Facial pain (pain or pressure in your cheeks, nose, ears, and forehead, or between your eyes) Cough Fever Bad breath Sore throat Swelling around the eyes (may get worse in the morning) Symptoms of a Sinus Infection COVID-19 Symptoms Inflammation is a defensive process our immune system uses to fight off COVID. Mild symptoms include dizziness or feeling lightheaded. Frequent swallowing. Thats why people are recommended to have flu vaccinations so it can at least minimize the risk of flu in light of everything else.. (2021). Get adequate rest, fluids, and watch your symptoms closely during that time. A sore throat can arise due to a lot of factors- change in weather, bacterial infections of tonsilitis. "[XBB.1.5] symptoms may include a runny nose, mild cough and a sore throat. Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as post-COVID conditions (PCC) or long COVID. Viruses are the most common trigger of symptoms of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, among other triggers like wood smoke, strong fragrances or chemical smells, Christenson explained. Common signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis include: Nasal inflammation Thick, discolored discharge from the nose (runny nose) Drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage) Blocked or stuffy (congested) nose causing difficulty breathing through your nose Pain, tenderness and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead Lee IT, et al. Both can present with just a single symptom (like a runny nose). Allergies may also cause wheezing, she said, especially in people with asthma. The two have several overlapping symptoms, such as headache and runny nose. Will both allergy and COVID-19 symptoms respond to allergy medicine? This is especially true if you test too early. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) As nasal and throat symptoms become more common in COVID-19 patients the differences between the virus and allergies can be blurry. Fatigue Headache and body aches Loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea The Flu High fever (around 102 or 103 degrees Fahrenheit) Cough Sore throat Stuffy nose Headache and/or body aches Fatigue Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea The Common Cold Sinus congestion Stuffy nose Post-nasal drip Sore throat Sneezing Itchiness in the eyes, nose, ears or throat can be a big symptom of seasonal allergies but isn't common with COVID-19, according to Emerson Hospital. From winter allergies to dry air, these are the differences between a seasonal problem and the coronavirus. Those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are least likely to experience severe symptoms, while those who are unvaccinated are most at risk of severe illness and death. Features of anosmia in COVID-19. Duyan M, et al. You may also see redness, white patches, or pus on the back of your throat or tonsils. Wintry air can also compromise the moist protective lining in your airway, added David Serota, an infectious disease physician in Miami. Coronavirus is spread through coughing, sneezing, and close personal contact. Some studies suggest these symptoms may be present in more than half of people with COVID-19. If you talk with pediatricians in the field, they tell you that kids are presenting with symptoms associated with the common cold and other upper respiratory infections, such as headache, runny nose, sinus congestion, and sore throat, Dr. Inci Yildirim, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and a vaccinologist at Yale Medicine in Connecticut, told Healthline. This will help slow the transmission of the coronavirus from people who dont have symptoms or people who dont know they have an infection.Wearing a face mask may have the added benefit of reducing transmission of other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu, and also reduce inhalation of pollen and other allergens. The 2020 review of studies found that in the group of 1,773 people with confirmed COVID-19 infection, 4.1 percent developed nasal congestion and 2.1 percent developed a runny nose. This article. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. and continuing to wash your hands and practice good health hygiene. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you might have COVID-19, the best course of action is to get a COVID-19 test. Wintry air can also compromise the moist protective lining in your airway, added David Serota, an infectious disease physician in Miami. If you have asthma or COPD, you are probably keenly aware of what your usual cough or other respiratory symptoms are like in winter. Allergies and COVID-19 share some overlapping symptoms. These can include: The presence of other symptoms may be what helps you sort one from the other. Post-nasal drip often leads to a sore, irritated throat. However, even among shared symptoms, there are some distinctions. Monitor your symptoms and seek medical attention if they become severe. Started 3 days ago is not severe but i have been waking up with drainage - Answered by a verified Doctor. Allergies. Allergy symptoms tend to vary with the environment: worsening with exposure to dust, pollen, or animal dander, whereas cold symptoms tend to persist regardless of time of day, weather, locality, or other environmental factors, Cutler said. We recommend following the CDC guidelines and those of your local health department to prevent the spread of the virus. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. Learn more from this overview about the differences between allergies and COVID-19 symptoms and when to seek testing or medical care. Sneezing. For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, please visit online resources provided by the CDC, WHO, and your local public health department. Pay particular attention to that combination of three symptoms. This may be due to omicrons many mutations, he suggests. Combined with limited research that suggests vaccine immunity isn't as strong as it was prior to the arrival of variants, some healthcare experts believe that breakthrough reinfections are more likely now than in years past. Unless you are allergic to an ingredient in the vaccine, the CDC recommends getting the COVID-19 vaccine even if you have other allergies, such as seasonal allergies. For example, a sore throat from COVID-19 is usually accompanied by other symptoms like fever, body aches, and stomach upset while a sore throat from seasonal allergies is not. COVID-19, flu, RSV, cold or allergies? You certainly can't get that back in 24 hours, and it's only done by specialized labs." Overall, the symptoms for COVID reported by the CDC include: Fever or chills. COVID-19 Treatments: What You Need to Know. In a September 2022 update, the American Academy of Pediatrics echoed that guidance, stating that there are no robust data suggesting that oral samples should be preferred over nasal samples for any SARS-CoV-2 variant (SARS-CoV-2 is the COVID-19 coronavirus), and that people should collect samples according to the instructions that come in the box with the test. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Ive had unvaccinated patients have these symptoms for 10 to 14 days, whereas for vaccinated people theyre usually doing much better within a week, he says. Insomnia Tied to Dramatic Rise in Heart Attack Risk, Just 500 Extra Steps a Day Can Lower Heart Disease Risk in Seniors, Study Suggests. Here are some at-home treatments and strategies that can help. The researchers also found that nasal dryness commonly occurred together with complete or partial loss of smell and taste, and tended to appear before other COVID-19 symptoms. An August 2020 study found that of 223 adults with COVID-19, 16.1 percent developed a dry throat. Sore throat. "People that are not have been shown to be still at risk for more severe symptoms, including shortness of breath, leading to hospitalization or death," Dr. Brown adds. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Dry nasal passages occur when your sinuses dont produce enough mucus to keep them moist. Generally, [there is] no cough unless you have a lot of nasal drainage.. Overlapping symptoms can make it difficult to determine if you have a sinus infection (sinusitis) or COVID-19. If you have a mild case of COVID-19, the flu, or a cold, treatment is geared toward management of symptoms, said Cutler. Allergies should not cause a fever or body aches, Arthur said. El-Anwar MW, et al. The CDC issued guidance on the differences in symptoms between COVID-19 and seasonal allergies. Christensons advice? All rights reserved. Stay home and follow the current isolation and quarantine guidelines. To prevent COVID-19, the CDC recommends that unvaccinated people wear face masks in indoor public places. And remember that a negative test result shouldnt be a sign to end isolation, especially if you still have symptoms. Heres a look at common symptoms of COVID-19, the flu, a cold, and allergies. . When these areas dry out, viruses and bacteria are better able to latch on and develop an infection, Serota said. . Dry nasal passages can potentially be a symptom of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. A few studies suggest that nosebleeds may be more common in people with COVID-19 than people without. Is a dry nose and throat a COVID-19 symptom? Successful treatment of the post-nasal drip will usually clear up these throat symptoms. With COVID-19, the cough is dry. Likewise, itchy eyes and nose are allergy symptoms, but not COVID-19 symptoms. This is possibly due to preventive steps taken against COVID-19. Tags: cough, fever, headache, sinus infection. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Allergy symptoms usually last longer and are often seasonal. Viruses are the most common trigger of symptoms of asthma or. "Sore throat, chills, body . Symptom prevalence, duration, and risk of hospital admission in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 during periods of omicron and delta variant dominance: a prospective observational study from the ZOE COVID Study. Taking decongestant medication to combat a stuffy nose can potentially lead to dry nasal passages. The Delta variant was first detected in the United States in March 2021. Covid test is negative. Open windows or use an air purifier to improve ventilation. If you notice any of the following symptoms, seek emergency medical care, immediately: If you or someone else has COVID-19 and is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately: This list is not exhaustive. The Omicron variant, first reported in late November, has raised concerns, but so far cases appear to be relatively mild. Melinda recommends only using reputable resources such as the CDC, OSF HealthCare or your primary care provider anytime you have questions or concerns about an illness. Shutterstock. Mild cases of COVID-19 are thought to last approximately 2 weeks, said Cutler. Do Some People Experience an Unusual Smell After Recovering from COVID-19? Results of the U.K.-based Zoe COVID Symptoms Study, published in December 2021 in the BMJ, showed that runny nose is among the top five symptoms reported for omicron infection, along with. Symptoms that appear most often include: Some COVID-19 symptoms have been found to persist long after the infection. But there are also major differences: COVID-19 The symptoms of COVID-19 can vary widely. But dry nasal passages in the absence of more typical flu-like symptoms are unlikely to be a sign of COVID-19 infection. Where we succeeded, where we didn't, and what we learned. Most commonly, it causes: fever headache dry. One difference is sinusitis tends to take longer, around 10 days, to develop into a bacterial infection, while COVID-19 will come on more quickly.. If you have other COVID-19 symptoms or think you may have a COVID-19 infection, you should isolate yourself from other people and treat your symptoms at home. Sore throat, would like to speak to a doctor. But, Dr. Curtis said, it's more common to have other symptoms in addition to a sore throat if you have COVID. For instance, common allergy symptoms not associated with COVID-19 include itching and watery eyes. However, some research suggests that COVID-19 symptoms have changed as the disease mutates and affects different populations. Congestion or runny nose. No difficulty breathing. That should give ample time for the body to develop a viral load that can be detected by a test, according to the agency. Even a specialist in infectious disease cant determine that, he says. Lee suggested over-the-counter medications like intranasal corticosteroids or second generation oral antihistamines if its difficult for you to avoid an allergen.