This causes an inflammation of the tissues, preventing mucus from exiting the body, and making the sinuses a kind of breeding-ground for germs. There are several ways to treat a sinus infection. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. ", RELATED: Secret Weight Loss Tricks to Melt Visceral Fat, Science Says, 4 Get articles and stories about health, wellness, medicine, science and education delivered right to your inbox from the experts at Ohio State. What we know about the symptoms and the severity - NPR Suffering from a sinus infection? Sinus infections most often occur after a cold or an allergy flare-up or in relation to a nasal condition. But it has taken longer to untangle what, if anything, sets an omicron illness apart from that of its predecessors. Sure Signs You're Getting Omicron Now, Say Doctors Policy. Get the best food tips and diet What to Do If You Get a Positive At-Home COVID-19 Test Result, What to Know About Pneumonia and COVID-19. Discover risk factors such as sinus infections. Symptoms like bad breath, yellow or green mucus, fever and headache are not reliable signs of a bacterial infection, he says. Doctors offer advice about omicron and the holidays 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 nasal discharge thats notable with sinusitis. However this leaves the susceptible person open to sinus infections and ear infections caused by bacteria that may last for several more weeks. If they're reporting it, they're saying that their throat feels raw.". Sinusitis. Like the science and discovery news you find here? At home this can be done by using a nasal saline solution or Neti pot. According to the CDC, the Omicron variant spreads more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Delta variant. They can talk to you about your symptoms, screen you for COVID risk factors, perform diagnostic tests to determine what is making you sick, and make sure that you get the appropriate treatment. Therefore, if you are stressed, you may be at greater risk for contracting Omicron, as the body's defense system is not as robust. Your Face Mask Can Help, How To Protect Yourself From New COVID-19 Variants. Patients with severe COVID migraine/headache phenomenon may also suffer from some chronic COVID brain symptoms (like chemo brain for patients receiving toxic chemotherapy). nausea or vomiting. 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. Your doctor might take a watchful waiting approach to see if your immune system can fight the infection. Do You Have Just a Sore Throat or Is It Strep? If a bacterial infection is suspected, youll probably need to take an antibiotic to clear up the infection and prevent further complications. Vaccines help reduce the severity of disease, but Omicron may be a less virulent virus on its own. Three that have gained attention are nausea, night sweats and lower back pain. "You don't get off scot-free just because you happen to be infected in the time of omicron. Health spoke with Julia Walker, a registered nurse with Paloma Health who explained symptoms to watch out for. 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. } ); 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. The Zoe study uses a smartphone app to log how hundreds of thousands of people are feeling every day across the UK. If you have a sinus infection that is not going away, talk to your doctor about medications and other treatments that can bring you relief. Find our most recent COVID-19 articles here and learn the latest in COVID-19 prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A study published online on Jan. 2 provides some of the first compelling evidence from the U.S. that the chance of ending up in the hospital is lower with omicron compared with the delta variant. Also, ask your doctor about supplements such as vitamin C to help boost your immune system. 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. Allergies and sinus infections can have similar symptoms. "In this period, we still have delta circulating in the community. And unlike the common cold, sinus infections can be of both viral and bacterial origin. This is especially important as cases continue to rise. By Emily Brown, MPH Scientists at Case Western Reserve University analyzed health records from more than a half-million people infected with SARS-CoV-2 across the country, including 14,000 people possibly infected with omicron from Dec. 15 to 24, after the variant became dominant. A sinus infection, on the other hand, occurs when your nasal passages become inflamed. An Ohio State dermatologist weighs in. Cleveland Clinic 1995-2023. Allergies and sinus infections can have similar symptoms. diarrhea. But former hallmarks of COVID-19 such as fevers, coughs, and loss of taste or smell had dwindled. They need to sleep. 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. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Or is it? Because symptoms can overlap, I recommend discussing your condition with your physician and/or getting tested if you think youve got COVID-19. "Omicron versus delta are really more similar than they are different.". Are you contagious before COVID-19 symptoms appear? However, it may be helpful to avoid the substances you know youre allergic to as often as you can. The treatments for a sinus infection and COVID are very different. The trapped mucus can allow bacteria to grow, which leads to an infection, Cooling said. Use saline spray two to three times per day in each nostril. The two conditions share many characteristics, and in some cases, sinus infections arise as a complication of colds. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. 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. If your allergies have you particularly congested, they might also prescribe a decongestant. They can run tests to determine whether or not you have COVID, a sinus infection, or another condition. Learn more about what yellow, green, brown, black, and red. Physician, Associate Professor You are not the only one! Both conditions can cause nasal inflammation, along with related symptoms, such as congestion and stuffy nose. Is that winter sniffle a cold or a sinus infection? "Therefore, people who are chronically ill, immunocompromised, or older adults are at greater risk of getting infected. Its thought that the initial site of COVID-19 entry for most patients is the nasal passages. If they have mild to moderate illness and can stay home, but they have certain medical comorbidities, an antiviral treatment may be offered. And theyre better than nothing, especially on a weekend if you dont have other choices, Dr. Ruff says. 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. 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. The only way to know for sure is to see your doctor. Some of the most common symptoms include a sinus headache, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, and sneezing. Omicron vs. Allergies: How to Tell the Difference - Health This lower risk with omicron is also consistent with what scientists have observed in South Africa and the United Kingdom. Getting a flu shot will help protect you from the flu virus, which can cause inflammation in your sinuses and lead to a sinus infection. 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. Xu and her team estimate that, in their study, about 60% of the people were vaccinated. What are the symptoms of the flu, COVID-19, and RSV? A viral sinus infection will usually begin to improve after five to seven days. We've all experienced a cold before and it is no fun. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. People have reported symptoms that vary, but are similar to signs of a common cold or flu. "Just like previous variants, omicron is hospitalizing people and it is killing people.". The omicron variant of the coronavirus has surged in the U.K. and is now dominant in the U.S. as well. A sinus infection can happen after a viral illness but can also be caused by allergies. Whats the main difference between sinus infection and COVID-19? This leads to mucus buildup. Vaccination reduces your risk of COVID death 90% or more. With information suggesting that symptoms are mild, hospitalizations are low despite some of the highest rates of infection to date, and reports that it isn't infecting the lungs as much as other strains it's no surprise that the general feeling with this variant is more relaxed than with others. This is why you may feel pain or pressure in your face. "Cough is still part of the symptoms," Moreno said. With omicron, the symptoms also come on more quickly once you're infected. The best ways to clear up viral infections are with the following methods: Viral infections cant be treated with antibiotics.

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