#is this the flu??? is it Covid?????? is it simply spring allergies and asthma???? who fucking knows
Text
Lungs trying to asphyxiate me constant coughing head hurt back hurt shoulders hurt feet hurt occasional sinus clogging starting to feel hot and cold at the same time. All these things trying to kill me at once and failing. I’m starting to root for them to succeed because I know there’s no way to stop or lessen any of it.
#I’ve taken my inhaler 5 times already it does nothing#I’ve taken three Tylenol extra strength pills two hours ago they did nothing in fact the migraine is worse#the coughing is from asthma and allergies there’s nothing I can do about it#back shoulders feet and sometimes kneck always hurting is normal for me it’s 24/7 pain I’m used to it by now#the sinus problems are spring allergies and ussually medicine kinda helps to make it less bad but I don’t have any of that medicine right no#because I usually don’t get spring allergies until April and it’s only late February. I’ve never had spring allergies this early.#spring has never come this early.#feeling hot and cold at the same time tho that’s a new one ussually that’s only when I have flu or something#is that what this is????#is this the flu??? is it Covid?????? is it simply spring allergies and asthma???? who fucking knows#whatever it is it’s gonna kill me by morning time so#it was nice knowing you all#sending my last love wishes to my mutuals#eh I doubt anybody’s reading this anyway#there’s really no point in writing in the tags anymore#I just needed a distraction
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How to tell seasonal allergies from COVID-19 symptoms
An allergy-triggered sneeze can still help spread COVID-19. (Pexels/)
Follow all of PopSci’s COVID-19 coverage here, including travel advice, pregnancy concerns, and the latest findings on the virus itself. For global updates, see here.
COVID-19 has already killed more than 16,000 people in the United States alone. But the disease’s frequently mild symptoms have left people fretting over harmless colds, or even wondering if a panic attack might be a sign of fatal illness. Now that the weather is warming up and flowers are blooming, many are facing another tricky question: Are these my seasonal allergies, or have I come down with the novel coronavirus?
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you decide how to proceed:
Does it actually matter if you have allergies or COVID-19?
This may seem like a silly question, but it’s important: How would a COVID-19 diagnosis change how you feel and what you’re doing?
For people with certain underlying conditions, like a compromised immune system or severe asthma, knowing you have COVID-19 early (even if you end up with only mild symptoms) can certainly be worthwhile. If you or someone in your household faces a particularly high risk of serious complications from COVID-19, getting tested can help you access medical support and keep an eye on developing symptoms before things get dire.
But for individuals who are not considered particularly high-risk and who experience only mild COVID-19 symptoms, the best advice is to stay put and care for yourself the same way you would if you had a cold or the flu. Take your temperature regularly and look out for signs of respiratory distress, drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of sleep, and eat healthy foods. Limit direct contact with other members of your household.
Even if you have COVID-19, chances are very good that you will recover quickly, and the current overload on the US healthcare system means trying to get out of the house to get tested could do more harm than good.
The flip side of this is that even if you’re pretty sure you just have allergies, you should already be acting as if you probably have COVID-19—because that’s what everyone should be doing.
Because as many as 25 percent of COVID-19 carriers feel completely fine, we must all operate under the assumption that we have COVID-19 and are capable of transmitting it. You should practice social distancing to whatever extent you’re able to, even if you don’t feel sick and don’t live in an area with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
This becomes even more crucial if you suffer from seasonal allergies, as coughs and sneezes are the most common ways of transmitting an upper-respiratory virus like COVID-19. If you’re a silent carrier of COVID-19 who’s only coughing because of pollen, those coughs still serve to propel viral particles out into the air and toward other people.
If you are growing sicker and sicker and have reason to believe you need medical attention, consider calling your doctor for advice (or 911, if you’re having serious trouble breathing). But if you are only feeling mildly to moderately unwell, your marching orders are the same no matter what actually ails you: Stay inside as much as possible, cover your mouth and nose with a mask when you need to leave the house, and wash your hands frequently. Treat any allergy symptoms in whatever manner you usually treat your allergy symptoms. If you feel like you have a cold, do what you usually do when you have a cold.
Could allergies explain all of your symptoms?
The Mayo Clinic lists the following symptoms of seasonal allergies:
Runny nose and nasal congestion
Watery, itchy, red eyes
Sneezing
Cough
Itchy nose, roof of mouth, or throat
Swollen, blue-colored skin under the eyes
Postnasal drip
Fatigue
If you usually get seasonal allergies and your symptoms are all present on that list, the most likely explanation is that you’re experiencing seasonal allergies. Doctors recommend starting allergy medication early in the season to nip symptoms in the bud. But if your condition is worsening, isn’t responding to allergy medications that usually do the trick, or doesn’t follow the usual pattern of your seasonal allergy onset, it’s possible you have a virus.
Do you have any COVID-specific symptoms?
Allergies do not cause fevers, so high temperatures are typically signs of viral or bacterial infections. And while allergies can cause fatigue, body aches and pains are far more likely to come from a pathogen than an allergen. Diarrhea and nausea also affect many COVID-19 patients, and these symptoms are not associated with seasonal allergies.
That being said, these symptoms are not necessarily an indication that you have COVID-19—you might have the flu. As we noted before, your behavior should be the same regardless: We should all be acting as if we might transmit COVID-19 without knowing it, and this is doubly true if you feel at all sick, or are coughing or sneezing for any reason.
But if your illness is mild and the looming specter of COVID-19 is making you anxious—which is a completely understandable frame of mind to be in at this time—reassure yourself with the knowledge that you are likely going through seasonal sniffles or the equivalent of a mild cold. While you should take extra precautions to keep others from contracting your maybe-COVID cough, you shouldn’t assume you will suffer life-threatening symptoms.
One of the more unique signs of COVID-19 is a total loss of smell and taste, which is not an allergy symptom (though an extremely stuffy nose or blocked sinuses may limit your sense of smell). The CDC’s symptom checker can help you confirm whether or not the things you’re experiencing could be due to COVID-19.
Shortness of breath can occur due to allergies if you also suffer from asthma, so make sure you’re continuing to take any allergy and asthma medication you’ve been prescribed. If you’re having serious trouble breathing, you should call 911.
Do your symptoms follow the usual progression of your seasonal allergies?
It’s understandable to feel anxious about sniffles and coughs when we’re in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic. But if you get allergies every spring, and your current symptoms mirror those typical seasonal allergies, you should not be overly concerned. If you’re having unusual symptoms or they’re getting progressively worse day by day—instead of simply spiking when you spend more time with the window open, for example—reach out to your doctor.
What to do if you’re still not sure if it’s allergies or COVID-19
If you are having trouble breathing, call 911. If you are only experiencing mild to moderate symptoms, stay at home as much as possible—that’s the best advice to follow even if you do have COVID-19.
Because as many as 25 percent of COVID-19 carriers never experience symptoms, you should always assume you have COVID-19 and are capable of transmitting it. You should practice social distancing to whatever extent you’re able to, even if you don’t feel sick and don’t live in an area with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
This becomes especially important if you’re coughing and sneezing, as COVID-19 spreads most efficiently via the aerosolized droplets that come out of your nose and mouth. COVID-19 doesn’t cause sneezing, but even a pollen-triggered sneeze can send the virus spewing into the air around you. Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth may help lower your risk of infecting others, and you can easily make one at home—but the best way to kick COVID-19 to the curb is to stay inside and isolate yourself as much as possible.
0 notes
Text
How to tell seasonal allergies from COVID-19 symptoms
An allergy-triggered sneeze can still help spread COVID-19. (Pexels/)
Follow all of PopSci’s COVID-19 coverage here, including travel advice, pregnancy concerns, and the latest findings on the virus itself. For global updates, see here.
COVID-19 has already killed more than 16,000 people in the United States alone. But the disease’s frequently mild symptoms have left people fretting over harmless colds, or even wondering if a panic attack might be a sign of fatal illness. Now that the weather is warming up and flowers are blooming, many are facing another tricky question: Are these my seasonal allergies, or have I come down with the novel coronavirus?
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you decide how to proceed:
Does it actually matter if you have allergies or COVID-19?
This may seem like a silly question, but it’s important: How would a COVID-19 diagnosis change how you feel and what you’re doing?
For people with certain underlying conditions, like a compromised immune system or severe asthma, knowing you have COVID-19 early (even if you end up with only mild symptoms) can certainly be worthwhile. If you or someone in your household faces a particularly high risk of serious complications from COVID-19, getting tested can help you access medical support and keep an eye on developing symptoms before things get dire.
But for individuals who are not considered particularly high-risk and who experience only mild COVID-19 symptoms, the best advice is to stay put and care for yourself the same way you would if you had a cold or the flu. Take your temperature regularly and look out for signs of respiratory distress, drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of sleep, and eat healthy foods. Limit direct contact with other members of your household.
Even if you have COVID-19, chances are very good that you will recover quickly, and the current overload on the US healthcare system means trying to get out of the house to get tested could do more harm than good.
The flip side of this is that even if you’re pretty sure you just have allergies, you should already be acting as if you probably have COVID-19—because that’s what everyone should be doing.
Because as many as 25 percent of COVID-19 carriers feel completely fine, we must all operate under the assumption that we have COVID-19 and are capable of transmitting it. You should practice social distancing to whatever extent you’re able to, even if you don’t feel sick and don’t live in an area with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
This becomes even more crucial if you suffer from seasonal allergies, as coughs and sneezes are the most common ways of transmitting an upper-respiratory virus like COVID-19. If you’re a silent carrier of COVID-19 who’s only coughing because of pollen, those coughs still serve to propel viral particles out into the air and toward other people.
If you are growing sicker and sicker and have reason to believe you need medical attention, consider calling your doctor for advice (or 911, if you’re having serious trouble breathing). But if you are only feeling mildly to moderately unwell, your marching orders are the same no matter what actually ails you: Stay inside as much as possible, cover your mouth and nose with a mask when you need to leave the house, and wash your hands frequently. Treat any allergy symptoms in whatever manner you usually treat your allergy symptoms. If you feel like you have a cold, do what you usually do when you have a cold.
Could allergies explain all of your symptoms?
The Mayo Clinic lists the following symptoms of seasonal allergies:
Runny nose and nasal congestion
Watery, itchy, red eyes
Sneezing
Cough
Itchy nose, roof of mouth, or throat
Swollen, blue-colored skin under the eyes
Postnasal drip
Fatigue
If you usually get seasonal allergies and your symptoms are all present on that list, the most likely explanation is that you’re experiencing seasonal allergies. Doctors recommend starting allergy medication early in the season to nip symptoms in the bud. But if your condition is worsening, isn’t responding to allergy medications that usually do the trick, or doesn’t follow the usual pattern of your seasonal allergy onset, it’s possible you have a virus.
Do you have any COVID-specific symptoms?
Allergies do not cause fevers, so high temperatures are typically signs of viral or bacterial infections. And while allergies can cause fatigue, body aches and pains are far more likely to come from a pathogen than an allergen. Diarrhea and nausea also affect many COVID-19 patients, and these symptoms are not associated with seasonal allergies.
That being said, these symptoms are not necessarily an indication that you have COVID-19—you might have the flu. As we noted before, your behavior should be the same regardless: We should all be acting as if we might transmit COVID-19 without knowing it, and this is doubly true if you feel at all sick, or are coughing or sneezing for any reason.
But if your illness is mild and the looming specter of COVID-19 is making you anxious—which is a completely understandable frame of mind to be in at this time—reassure yourself with the knowledge that you are likely going through seasonal sniffles or the equivalent of a mild cold. While you should take extra precautions to keep others from contracting your maybe-COVID cough, you shouldn’t assume you will suffer life-threatening symptoms.
One of the more unique signs of COVID-19 is a total loss of smell and taste, which is not an allergy symptom (though an extremely stuffy nose or blocked sinuses may limit your sense of smell). The CDC’s symptom checker can help you confirm whether or not the things you’re experiencing could be due to COVID-19.
Shortness of breath can occur due to allergies if you also suffer from asthma, so make sure you’re continuing to take any allergy and asthma medication you’ve been prescribed. If you’re having serious trouble breathing, you should call 911.
Do your symptoms follow the usual progression of your seasonal allergies?
It’s understandable to feel anxious about sniffles and coughs when we’re in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic. But if you get allergies every spring, and your current symptoms mirror those typical seasonal allergies, you should not be overly concerned. If you’re having unusual symptoms or they’re getting progressively worse day by day—instead of simply spiking when you spend more time with the window open, for example—reach out to your doctor.
What to do if you’re still not sure if it’s allergies or COVID-19
If you are having trouble breathing, call 911. If you are only experiencing mild to moderate symptoms, stay at home as much as possible—that’s the best advice to follow even if you do have COVID-19.
Because as many as 25 percent of COVID-19 carriers never experience symptoms, you should always assume you have COVID-19 and are capable of transmitting it. You should practice social distancing to whatever extent you’re able to, even if you don’t feel sick and don’t live in an area with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
This becomes especially important if you’re coughing and sneezing, as COVID-19 spreads most efficiently via the aerosolized droplets that come out of your nose and mouth. COVID-19 doesn’t cause sneezing, but even a pollen-triggered sneeze can send the virus spewing into the air around you. Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth may help lower your risk of infecting others, and you can easily make one at home—but the best way to kick COVID-19 to the curb is to stay inside and isolate yourself as much as possible.
0 notes
Text
Allergies? Common cold? Flu? Or COVID-19?
With so many of us wrestling with fears and unknowns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, every throat tickle, nose drip, or cough is suspect: do I have coronavirus? By now, we all know that COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus, can cause severe, life-threatening symptoms, although the majority of people who have it will experience a mild to moderate version.
Of course, it is spring, so many people may be experiencing their annual springtime tree pollen allergies. Colds also remain common, just as was true before the coronavirus. And although influenza season is coming to an end, perhaps you’ve wondered if some of your symptoms could be the flu. Below, I’ve explained key symptoms to help you distinguish these illnesses and take action as needed.
Are your symptoms consistent with COVID-19?
At the beginning of the pandemic, your travel history offered important clues, but this is no longer pertinent because coronavirus has been spreading in our communities.
Keep in mind that most people who get COVID-19 will be able to recover at home (see information about what to do if you are sick from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). However, if your symptoms are worrisome or severe, call your doctor or local hospital, or check with your local health department so you can be evaluated immediately, if that’s necessary.
Key symptoms: The more common and sometimes severe symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Two additional common symptoms are fatigue and loss of appetite. Less commonly, people may have diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Some people report a lack of taste or smell. A significant number of people experience no symptoms (it’s even possible to have coronavirus and not experience a fever).
Usually symptoms appear within five days after exposure, but it can take up to 14 days.
How can I be certain I have COVID-19? If you are concerned about symptoms, contact your doctor or your local board of health to find out whether you should be tested, and if testing is available near you. The criteria for getting tested are rapidly changing as more tests become available.
Are your symptoms consistent with allergies?
Spring, with its budding trees and warmer weather, means allergy season for many of us. As you see the trees in your area budding, that means the pollen counts will also be increasing.
Key symptoms: Two strong indicators that suggest allergies: if you’ve had springtime allergies before, and if itch is a prominent component of your symptoms. People with allergies often have itchy eyes, itchy nose, and sneezing, as well as less-specific allergy symptoms such as a runny, congested nose, and a sore throat or cough that is generally due to postnasal drip.
How can I be certain I have allergies? The best way to diagnose allergies is by using skin testing at an allergist’s office. If you found taking medications such as over-the-counter antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays helpful in prior years, then it would be reassuring that if your symptoms improve with these medications, your symptoms may be due to seasonal allergies. As anyone with allergies can attest, allergies linger for months, so the timeline can often be a clue, too.
Are your symptoms consistent with the common cold?
In medicine we often say “common things are common,” and the common cold remains common even during this pandemic.
Key symptoms: Symptoms of the common cold are usually a runny, congested nose as well as a sore throat, headache, and generally feeling unwell. A mild cough due to postnasal drip and sneezing can occur, but itch would be less likely. More severe symptoms, such as fever and shortness of breath, are not classic symptoms of the common cold.
How can I be certain I have a cold? A cold is usually diagnosed simply by assessing symptoms and without testing. Over-the-counter cold medications often can help with symptom control. The common cold will usually resolve within approximately one week of onset of symptoms.
Are your symptoms consistent with the flu?
In the US, the flu season is coming to an end, whereas COVID-19 numbers continue to rise. So, flulike symptoms should prompt concern for COVID-19.
Key symptoms: Flu is characterized by fever, chills, muscle aches, and exhaustion. It classically comes on suddenly, as opposed to the more gradual onset of the common cold. More mild symptoms can also occur, similar to the common cold, such as a runny nose, sore throat, and headache. Vomiting and diarrhea are uncommon in adults, but can happen in children.
How can I be certain I have the flu? Flu is diagnosed based on a swab test performed by a healthcare provider. Prescription medications can limit the duration of influenza symptoms, but need to be started promptly. The flu vaccine is also an important part of prevention. The duration of symptoms is approximately one week, with symptom improvement occurring around five days.
Still not sure what is causing your symptoms?
You may find this chart from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology helpful. However, it’s wisest to check with your doctor if you’re concerned that your symptoms might be due to COVID-19.
For more information about coronavirus or COVID-19, see the Harvard Health Coronavirus Resource Center and podcasts.
The post Allergies? Common cold? Flu? Or COVID-19? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
Allergies? Common cold? Flu? Or COVID-19? published first on https://drugaddictionsrehab.tumblr.com/
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Link
With so many of us wrestling with fears and unknowns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, every throat tickle, nose drip, or cough is suspect: do I have coronavirus? By now, we all know that COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus, can cause severe, life-threatening symptoms, although the majority of people who have it will experience a mild to moderate version.
Of course, it is spring, so many people may be experiencing their annual springtime tree pollen allergies. Colds also remain common, just as was true before the coronavirus. And although influenza season is coming to an end, perhaps you’ve wondered if some of your symptoms could be the flu. Below, I’ve explained key symptoms to help you distinguish these illnesses and take action as needed.
Are your symptoms consistent with COVID-19?
At the beginning of the pandemic, your travel history offered important clues, but this is no longer pertinent because coronavirus has been spreading in our communities.
Keep in mind that most people who get COVID-19 will be able to recover at home (see information about what to do if you are sick from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). However, if your symptoms are worrisome or severe, call your doctor or local hospital, or check with your local health department so you can be evaluated immediately, if that’s necessary.
Key symptoms: The more common and sometimes severe symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Two additional common symptoms are fatigue and loss of appetite. Less commonly, people may have diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Some people report a lack of taste or smell. A significant number of people experience no symptoms (it’s even possible to have coronavirus and not experience a fever).
Usually symptoms appear within five days after exposure, but it can take up to 14 days.
How can I be certain I have COVID-19? If you are concerned about symptoms, contact your doctor or your local board of health to find out whether you should be tested, and if testing is available near you. The criteria for getting tested are rapidly changing as more tests become available.
Are your symptoms consistent with allergies?
Spring, with its budding trees and warmer weather, means allergy season for many of us. As you see the trees in your area budding, that means the pollen counts will also be increasing.
Key symptoms: Two strong indicators that suggest allergies: if you’ve had springtime allergies before, and if itch is a prominent component of your symptoms. People with allergies often have itchy eyes, itchy nose, and sneezing, as well as less-specific allergy symptoms such as a runny, congested nose, and a sore throat or cough that is generally due to postnasal drip.
How can I be certain I have allergies? The best way to diagnose allergies is by using skin testing at an allergist’s office. If you found taking medications such as over-the-counter antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays helpful in prior years, then it would be reassuring that if your symptoms improve with these medications, your symptoms may be due to seasonal allergies. As anyone with allergies can attest, allergies linger for months, so the timeline can often be a clue, too.
Are your symptoms consistent with the common cold?
In medicine we often say “common things are common,” and the common cold remains common even during this pandemic.
Key symptoms: Symptoms of the common cold are usually a runny, congested nose as well as a sore throat, headache, and generally feeling unwell. A mild cough due to postnasal drip and sneezing can occur, but itch would be less likely. More severe symptoms, such as fever and shortness of breath, are not classic symptoms of the common cold.
How can I be certain I have a cold? A cold is usually diagnosed simply by assessing symptoms and without testing. Over-the-counter cold medications often can help with symptom control. The common cold will usually resolve within approximately one week of onset of symptoms.
Are your symptoms consistent with the flu?
In the US, the flu season is coming to an end, whereas COVID-19 numbers continue to rise. So, flulike symptoms should prompt concern for COVID-19.
Key symptoms: Flu is characterized by fever, chills, muscle aches, and exhaustion. It classically comes on suddenly, as opposed to the more gradual onset of the common cold. More mild symptoms can also occur, similar to the common cold, such as a runny nose, sore throat, and headache. Vomiting and diarrhea are uncommon in adults, but can happen in children.
How can I be certain I have the flu? Flu is diagnosed based on a swab test performed by a healthcare provider. Prescription medications can limit the duration of influenza symptoms, but need to be started promptly. The flu vaccine is also an important part of prevention. The duration of symptoms is approximately one week, with symptom improvement occurring around five days.
Still not sure what is causing your symptoms?
You may find this chart from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology helpful. However, it’s wisest to check with your doctor if you’re concerned that your symptoms might be due to COVID-19.
For more information about coronavirus or COVID-19, see the Harvard Health Coronavirus Resource Center and podcasts.
The post Allergies? Common cold? Flu? Or COVID-19? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
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Original Content By : https://ift.tt/1UayBFY
0 notes
Text
Allergies? Common cold? Flu? Or COVID-19?
With so many of us wrestling with fears and unknowns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, every throat tickle, nose drip, or cough is suspect: do I have coronavirus? By now, we all know that COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus, can cause severe, life-threatening symptoms, although the majority of people who have it will experience a mild to moderate version.
Of course, it is spring, so many people may be experiencing their annual springtime tree pollen allergies. Colds also remain common, just as was true before the coronavirus. And although influenza season is coming to an end, perhaps you’ve wondered if some of your symptoms could be the flu. Below, I’ve explained key symptoms to help you distinguish these illnesses and take action as needed.
Are your symptoms consistent with COVID-19?
At the beginning of the pandemic, your travel history offered important clues, but this is no longer pertinent because coronavirus has been spreading in our communities.
Keep in mind that most people who get COVID-19 will be able to recover at home (see information about what to do if you are sick from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). However, if your symptoms are worrisome or severe, call your doctor or local hospital, or check with your local health department so you can be evaluated immediately, if that’s necessary.
Key symptoms: The more common and sometimes severe symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Two additional common symptoms are fatigue and loss of appetite. Less commonly, people may have diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Some people report a lack of taste or smell. A significant number of people experience no symptoms (it’s even possible to have coronavirus and not experience a fever).
Usually symptoms appear within five days after exposure, but it can take up to 14 days.
How can I be certain I have COVID-19? If you are concerned about symptoms, contact your doctor or your local board of health to find out whether you should be tested, and if testing is available near you. The criteria for getting tested are rapidly changing as more tests become available.
Are your symptoms consistent with allergies?
Spring, with its budding trees and warmer weather, means allergy season for many of us. As you see the trees in your area budding, that means the pollen counts will also be increasing.
Key symptoms: Two strong indicators that suggest allergies: if you’ve had springtime allergies before, and if itch is a prominent component of your symptoms. People with allergies often have itchy eyes, itchy nose, and sneezing, as well as less-specific allergy symptoms such as a runny, congested nose, and a sore throat or cough that is generally due to postnasal drip.
How can I be certain I have allergies? The best way to diagnose allergies is by using skin testing at an allergist’s office. If you found taking medications such as over-the-counter antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays helpful in prior years, then it would be reassuring that if your symptoms improve with these medications, your symptoms may be due to seasonal allergies. As anyone with allergies can attest, allergies linger for months, so the timeline can often be a clue, too.
Are your symptoms consistent with the common cold?
In medicine we often say “common things are common,” and the common cold remains common even during this pandemic.
Key symptoms: Symptoms of the common cold are usually a runny, congested nose as well as a sore throat, headache, and generally feeling unwell. A mild cough due to postnasal drip and sneezing can occur, but itch would be less likely. More severe symptoms, such as fever and shortness of breath, are not classic symptoms of the common cold.
How can I be certain I have a cold? A cold is usually diagnosed simply by assessing symptoms and without testing. Over-the-counter cold medications often can help with symptom control. The common cold will usually resolve within approximately one week of onset of symptoms.
Are your symptoms consistent with the flu?
In the US, the flu season is coming to an end, whereas COVID-19 numbers continue to rise. So, flulike symptoms should prompt concern for COVID-19.
Key symptoms: Flu is characterized by fever, chills, muscle aches, and exhaustion. It classically comes on suddenly, as opposed to the more gradual onset of the common cold. More mild symptoms can also occur, similar to the common cold, such as a runny nose, sore throat, and headache. Vomiting and diarrhea are uncommon in adults, but can happen in children.
How can I be certain I have the flu? Flu is diagnosed based on a swab test performed by a healthcare provider. Prescription medications can limit the duration of influenza symptoms, but need to be started promptly. The flu vaccine is also an important part of prevention. The duration of symptoms is approximately one week, with symptom improvement occurring around five days.
Still not sure what is causing your symptoms?
You may find this chart from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology helpful. However, it’s wisest to check with your doctor if you’re concerned that your symptoms might be due to COVID-19.
For more information about coronavirus or COVID-19, see the Harvard Health Coronavirus Resource Center and podcasts.
The post Allergies? Common cold? Flu? Or COVID-19? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
Allergies? Common cold? Flu? Or COVID-19? published first on https://drugaddictionsrehab.tumblr.com/
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