Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes. Most often its the result of an infection and can be caused by viruses, bacteria and, less commonly, fungi. 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. ", RELATED: Secret Weight Loss Tricks to Melt Visceral Fat, Science Says, 4 Here's How to Look Decades Younger, "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. Colds are more common than sinus infections and symptoms tend to improve quicker. 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. ", RELATED: Over 60? A diet rich in antioxidants can help with chronic inflammation. Here's How to Look Decades Younger, 5 But never had any serious fever beyond 100 and O2 levels were rock solid. Like the science and discovery news you find here? During the pandemic, the general public has become more aware of COVID-19 symptoms. Emily is a health communication consultant, writer, and editor at EVR Creative, specializing in public health research and health promotion. You can help prevent a sinus infection in much the same way as you would prevent catching cold and flu viruses. The highly contagious variant continues to spread across the U.S. and many hospitals remain overcrowded with COVID patients. A sinus infection can have a range of other symptoms as well, though they mostly involve the respiratory system. And among those who are vaccinated, almost all have not received a booster shot. Sinus infections can also cause loss of sense of taste or smell, higher fever, fatigue, and aches in the body. Use saline spray two to three times per day in each nostril. Those two conditions were "a hallmark of the first disease and of delta and not nearly as prominent in omicron," says Mount Sinai's Carr. Even your doctor cant tell if your infection is viral or bacterial based solely on symptoms or an exam.. Scientists aren't sure why COVID-19 symptoms are changing. Its also possible to feel foggy and develop a skin rash. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Bacterial and fungal sinus infections often arise this way. 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. Youre experiencing changes in vision or mental function. 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. on Hearing Aids Better For Dementia Than Pills? Sinus infections, and related sinus pressure, can cause toothaches. Vaccination reduces your risk of COVID death 90% or more. Find our most recent COVID-19 articles here and learn the latest in COVID-19 prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Allergies occur as a result of your immune systems reaction to certain allergens, such as pollen, dust, or pet dander. 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. However patients with a history of relapsing sinus infections may have more difficult bacteria such as Staphylococcus or very tricky non typical respiratory bacteria. The highly contagious variant continues to spread across the U.S. and many hospitals remain overcrowded with COVID patients. Policy. OMICRON variant has seen reduced problems with smell loss! "So this is really something that's different between omicron and delta," Xu says. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. While COVID and sinus infections share some symptoms, they are caused by completely different things. 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. Whats the Difference Between Walking Pneumonia and Regular Pneumonia? Policy. We've all experienced a cold before and it is no fun. "Cough is still part of the symptoms," Moreno said. Still, these two conditions have different causes and symptoms. Loss of taste or smell was even less common, as the chart below shows. "Stress not only changes our ability to ward off illness but also decreases our ability to do things that keep us healthy, including getting plenty of sleep, eating well, and exercising. Her symptoms were similar like a terrible sinus infection and congestion. If you have respiratory symptoms, you might fear that you have COVID. Omicron makes up 95% of sequenced Covid cases in U.S. as infections hit Compare the following symptoms to see if you have allergies or a possible sinus infection. Almost as soon as Omicron started spreading, doctors noticed slight differences in their patients' symptoms relative to prior variants. 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. If symptoms dont go away after three months, youre considered to have a chronic sinus infection. The two conditions can have symptoms that overlap, but some symptoms are more likely to occur in one and not the other. A sinus infection (sinusitis) occurs when the lining of your sinuses becomes inflamed. 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? Its also possible to have both conditions at the same time. ", Omicron is spreading at lightning speed. The two conditions share many characteristics, and in some cases, sinus infections arise as a complication of colds. Normally they're filled with air. Symptoms of a sinus infection may also include dental pain, bad breath, green or yellow mucus, and facial pain. 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. Children's Wisconsin. Although you can get sinusitis year around, it tends . nausea or vomiting. And is your infection caused by a virus or bacteria and does it really matter? Sarah Ruff, MD is a family medicine physician at UNC Family Medicine at Southpoint. For the common cold, the incubation period is relatively short, usually one to three days. And just like earlier variants, omicron can't be defined as causing only a narrow group of symptoms. 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. COVID-19 symptoms tend to have more fatigue, cough, shortness of breath and may have gastrointestinal symptoms, too. A sinus infection, on the other hand, occurs when your nasal passages become inflamed. At the same time, it appears anecdotally at least that certain symptoms show up more with omicron than they did with delta. "People that are vaccinated have a middle-of-the-way course. Heather currently freelances for several publications. Allergies and sinus infections can have similar symptoms. } else { And most of all, does this variant cause less severe disease than the variants that have come before it? Many patients started out with a dry, scratchy throat that caused sharp pain when they swallowed. Learn some practical steps you can take to ease your symptoms. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. (2016). Many people liken it to a bad cold or sinus infection. Mark Gurarie is a freelance writer, editor, and adjunct lecturer of writing composition at George Washington University. Many of the patients who are being hospitalized often have some underlying health condition, or they're older and more vulnerable to a viral infection. Along with falling temperatures and shorter days, sinus infections are a common part of winter. Often the virus starts with a headache and many think they have a sinus infection. 960 Johnson Ferry Rd A sinus infection can happen after a viral illness but can also be caused by allergies. 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. The treatments for each condition are also different, which is why its important to see a doctor and get an accurate diagnosis. Sore throats were often coupled with sinus congestion and headache, he added, followed by a cough a day or so later. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { Sinus Infection - When Your Cold Turns Into a Sinus Infection - WebMD Itchy, Red Eyes? The yellowish tinge comes from white blood cells that rush to the site of the infection and then are swept away after working . Omicron subvariant symptoms: How quickly do omicron symptoms appear? Several types of COVID tests are available. Children's Health, Cold and Flu, Infectious Diseases. "We didn't need to do any complicated statistics to see the difference.". Some of these antihistamines also have an added decongestant to them. This lower risk with omicron is also consistent with what scientists have observed in South Africa and the United Kingdom. Allergies can be chronic or seasonal, but avoidance and medication can help alleviate your symptoms. Health spoke with Julia Walker, a registered nurse with Paloma Health who explained symptoms to watch out for. If you've been exposed to Omicron or think you have the virus, Eat This, Not That! This article explains how to tell the difference between a a sinus infection and COVID-19. } People with severe COVID illness usually need to be in the hospital, and some end up needing to be in the intensive care unit (ICU). The virus spreads from person to person and can cause mild to severe illness. Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School. Your Face Mask Can Help, How To Protect Yourself From New COVID-19 Variants. 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 . American Lung Association. Drink clear fluids, such as water and broth. Your immune system responds by releasing a chemical called histamine, which can then cause symptoms such as headache, sneezing, and congestion. The omicron variant now represents nearly every Covid case sequenced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doctors offer advice about omicron and the holidays Learn more about how we use your information by reading our Privacy Policy. How to Tell If Its Allergy or Infection. An accurate diagnosis from a healthcare professional is required to ensure that you get the appropriate treatment. 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. He added, "It's not as bad as it was." They might recommend prescription medications instead. If you have COVID-19, you may also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, and loss of taste or smell. Cases of sinus infection that last longer than 12 weeks are considered chronic. Fatigue. The cause of a sinus infection is inflammation of the sinuses. Sinusitis vs. COVID-19. In most cases, they resolve without the need for medical care. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Learn about tips for relieving symptoms like inflammation, nasal congestion, and irritation. To help you figure it out, lets take a closer look at sinusitis. You cant, unfortunatelybecause the symptoms are so similar, you should be tested for COVID-19. A sinus infection, or sinusitis, occurs when your nasal passages get infected. advice every day. You risk possible side effects and increase your chances of developing antibiotic resistance, which can make future infections harder to treat, says Dr. Sindwani. So how can you tell the difference? Get health and wellness tips and information from UNC Health experts once a month! A bacterial sinus infection will last seven to 10 days or longer and may get worse after a week. This was the case even before omicron: People who had breakthrough infections tended to have fewer symptoms and milder ones than those who were unvaccinated. For example, if you have seasonal allergies to pollen, avoid going outdoors when the counts are at their highest. Research published in April 2022 in The Lancet also found that . Differences. All Rights Reserved. The three symptoms outlined by the NHS include a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of taste and smell. Get articles and stories about health, wellness, medicine, science and education delivered right to your inbox from the experts at Ohio State. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Therefore, if you are stressed, you may be at greater risk for contracting Omicron, as the body's defense system is not as robust. 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. Certainly, while most healthy people will only have mild symptoms, this virus still can cause severe illness in people who are immunosuppressed, including the elderly. If you test negative but still have symptoms or were exposed, your doctor might want you to be tested again in a few days. } ); These cases may require additional treatment or surgery. How to Treat a Mild Case of Omicron at Home, Walker says, "Most people will liken their Omicron symptoms to a head cold. Another factor in appropriate treatment is a person's risk factors for severe disease. Treatments include a combinations of medications that are approved to treat COVID-19 and new drugs that have emergency-use authorizations to use for COVID-19, and ones that COVID-19 is an off-label use. Therefore, preventing a sinus infection often means trying to avoid the illnesses that usually precede it. You should also see your doctor if your OTC antihistamines arent working. ), "The risk is not zero," says Xu's colleague Davis, speaking of omicron. "In the older age group, it's still a nasty disease, even if it's less [nasty] than the delta variant," says Dr. Pamela Davis, who's a pulmonologist at Case Western Reserve University and a senior author on the new study. Culture techniques or even PCR technology may be used to identify specific pathogens. It usually spreads between people who are in close contact. Sinusitis generally lasts longer than a cold; while cases can resolve within 10 days, symptoms can last up to a month. In other words, what you think of as the common cold. Typically, youll have facial pain/pressure, headaches, nasal drainage and congestion, decreased or loss of sense of smell, tooth pain and sore throat. You might be able to get an over-the-counter test at your local pharmacy or have a test performed at a local health clinic or pharmacy that is sent off to a lab. 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. COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a type of coronavirus. Omicron BA.5 variant | COVID-19 | UC Davis Health You might need antibiotics for a sinus infection that does not get better on its own with home remedies or over-the-counter medications. "But people who are fresh, with no preexisting immunity, it's hard to see that the virus is milder. 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. Even though early data shows that omicron is milder than delta, many hospitals are packed because the sheer number of people getting infected is enormous. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It does, says otolaryngologist Raj Sindwani, MD. (By contrast, with the original version of the virus, the rate was 1 in 10. Or is it? Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Sinusitis. 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. Home remedies can often treat sinus drainage. The omicron subvariant of COVID-19, BA.5, became one of the dominant strains of the virus in the fall of 2022 in the U.S. At that time, it was the most easily spread strain to date and is able to evade immunity from COVID infection and vaccination. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. The exception is if youve never been diagnosed with allergies before or if your allergies seem to be getting worse. 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). "Instead, Omicron is causing more upper respiratory symptoms." Omicron is not. However, there are a few key differences. In contrast, delta took about four days, and the original variant took more than five. Dust mite allergies can be alleviated with weekly house cleanings and bedding washes. But experts say symptoms are more like colds and medics have urged the . Loss of smell was also relatively rare among Omicron patients. You may be a good candidate for allergy shots, which can lessen the way your body reacts to allergens over time. 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. Allergies or COVID-19: How to Spot the Difference - Verywell Health Three that have gained attention are nausea, night sweats and lower back pain. John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. 2023 UNC Health. doi:10.1177/0194599815572097. After youve tested, call your primary care doctor to schedule an in-person or virtual visit. This itchiness is one of the key distinguishing factors between allergies and sinusitis. Vaccines help reduce the severity of disease, but Omicron may be a less virulent virus on its own. Omicron vs. Allergies: How to Tell the Difference - Health The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For milder cases and those within the first 10 days, over the counter medications and at-home treatments include: Decongestants are not recommended for adults or children with acute sinusitis and should not be used for more than three to five days in order to prevent rebound congestion. When in doubt, see your doctor. With a scientific background and a passion for creative writing, her work illustrates the value of evidence-based information and creativity in advancing public health. The common cold is a minor viral infection of the upper respiratory system thats caused by a wide range of viruses. 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. } 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. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page. 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. Heres a quick breakdown: While most coldsand even sinus infectionsclear up on their own, its important to know when you need medical help. 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. While you may experience a fever, headache, and cough if you have COVID, you can also have these and other respiratory symptoms if you have another infection or condition. Last medically reviewed on November 20, 2018, A sinus infection occurs when your nasal cavities become swollen, infected, or inflamed. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. The most common risk factors for sinus infections include: While many sinus infections are complications of a common cold due to a virus, sometimes bacteria and fungi can cause a superimposed infection that is more difficult for the bodys immune system to fight off. He is an adjunct assistant professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and NYU Medical Center. Common sinus infection bacteria are often Streptococcus species, Moraxella, or Haemophilus. Omicron Infection Timeline: Exposure to Immunity - Health Most sinus infections are caused by viral infections, such as those that cause the common cold, including the rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). 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. Feminine Odor Problems? 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. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. By Mark Gurarie Take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help relieve the swelling of your sinuses. They canoccurwith viral infections, too. What are the symptoms of the flu, COVID-19, and RSV? Whether your sinus infection turns out to be viral or bacterial, you can help to ease your symptoms early on with supportive sinus care: Use saline spray two to three times per day in each nostril . While the chances are much better that you wont need medical attention, you shouldnt hesitate seeking it out if or when you need it. In addition, some symptoms of each are not present in the other. However, it may be helpful to avoid the substances you know youre allergic to as often as you can. "It's a very prominent symptom," said Moreno, an assistant professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. < How To Prove Financial Dependency, Articles S