We've rounded up the seven best decongestants to help relieve your pressure, pain, and congestion. Some viral sinus infections, as when the condition is a complication of a common cold, can be contagious. If they have mild to moderate illness and can stay home, but they have certain medical comorbidities, an antiviral treatment may be offered. South Africa's largest health insurer listed nasal congestion, sore or scratchy throat, dry cough and lower back pain as common Omicron symptoms. We've all experienced a cold before and it is no fun. 2 charts show how Omicron symptoms differ from Delta and past 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 . Feminine Odor Problems? Then check in with your doctor for a prescription and let him or her know if your condition worsens. The cause of a sinus infection is inflammation of the sinuses. "I've seen a lot more people reporting fatigue as one of their main symptoms," he said. 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. A sinus infection (sinusitis) occurs when the lining of your sinuses becomes inflamed. congestion or runny nose. Your doctor will swab your nose to collect mucus. Is your cold really a sinus infection? If youre suffering from chronic sinusitis(nasal congestion, drainage, facial pain/pressure, and a decreased sense of smell lasting 12 weeks or longer)or you are getting frequent sinus infectionsyou should see your doctor, says Dr. Sindwani. However, if your symptoms worsen or last longer than two weeks, you should see your doctor for some relief. If you get a COVID-19 test, remember to mask up and stay away from others until you get your test results. You cant, on the other hand, fully prevent allergies. And unlike the common cold, sinus infections can be of both viral and bacterial origin. "The difference was huge," says data scientist Rong Xu, who led the study and is also at Case Western Reserve University. Almost as soon as Omicron started spreading, doctors noticed slight differences in their patients' symptoms relative to prior variants. Normally they're filled with air. On average, adults have two to four colds a year, with infants and young children experiencing six to eight. } else { Many people report that one of the first symptoms of Omicron is a sore throat. The exception is if youve never been diagnosed with allergies before or if your allergies seem to be getting worse. 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. If a person did end up in the hospital, the person's risk of being admitted to the ICU or being put on a ventilator also decreased substantially at the end of December compared with during the delta surge. Nasal congestion and swelling, facial pressure, pain, fever, too much mucus. Cardiology, Health Disparities, Heart and Vascular Health, Heart Attacks, Research, Women's Health. Discover risk factors such as sinus infections. Health spoke with Julia Walker, a registered nurse with Paloma Health who explained symptoms to watch out for. You might need antibiotics for a sinus infection that does not get better on its own with home remedies or over-the-counter medications. "Those individuals that are boosted, within five days, seven days of their onset of symptoms, their energy level comes back," he said. The trapped mucus can allow bacteria to grow, which leads to an infection, Cooling said. The treatments for each condition are also different, which is why its important to see a doctor and get an accurate diagnosis. Additionally, some people who have COVID do not have any symptoms. Treatments your healthcare provider might recommend if you are sick. For example, if someone has a mild case, they can generally treat their symptoms at home. COVID-19 and Sinus Infection | Cooper University Health Care Whats the best way to remove skin tags, and why do they form in the first place? Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses. Sinusitis can occur at any time of the year, but it tends to flare up in cold and flu season and during allergy seasons. COVID-19 often causes sinus and upper respiratory symptoms such as loss of smell, congestion, and a severe headache. In particular, Xu and her team observed a similar reduction in risk across all age groups, including children under age 5, who are not eligible for vaccination, and children ages 5 to 15, who may have been vaccinated but haven't been boosted. Therefore, if you are stressed, you may be at greater risk for contracting Omicron, as the body's defense system is not as robust. While in the past this has usually turned out to be a sinus infection, youre not so sure this time. Sniffles (Nasal Congestion and Discharge). Treatments your healthcare provider might recommend if you are sick, Runny nose or cold symptoms that last longer than seven to 10 days, Facial pain (pain or pressure in your cheeks, nose, ears, and forehead, or between your eyes), Swelling around the eyes (may get worse in the morning), Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Over-the-counter pain relievers (to relieve aches and fever), Allergy medication (if allergies are a cause), Veklury (remdesivir), an antiviral drug, for adults and children, Olumiant (baricitinib), and immune modulator, for certain hospitalized adults, Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) and Lagevrio (molnupiravir), oral antiviral medications for people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 cases and are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19, including hospitalization and death, Taking medication (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) to reduce fever, Staying hydrated (drinking plenty of water or receiving intravenous fluids, if necessary), Medications to treat complications (e.g., blood thinners to treat blood clots), Treatments to reduce an overactive immune response and/or support the bodys immune function, Maintain social distance (six feet apart) between you and people who do not live with you, Avoid crowds and indoor spaces with poor ventilation, Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your home and/or workplace daily. If a bacterial infection is suspected, youll probably need to take an antibiotic to clear up the infection and prevent further complications. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Now amidst the Omicron-wave of infections hitting vaccinated and unvaccinated alike, it is clear in our practice we are seeing a lot of exacerbations of sinus infections. Some patients of course are much more ill, with about 5 to 10% needing hospital care, and for those patients sinus infection or ear symptoms may go untreated for longer. This causes an inflammation of the tissues, preventing mucus from exiting the body, and making the sinuses a kind of breeding-ground for germs. For example, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing are more likely with COVID-19, while facial pain is more specific to a sinus infection. 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. However this leaves the susceptible person open to sinus infections and ear infections caused by bacteria that may last for several more weeks. "A lot of this is probably magnifying these symptoms under a microscope instead of clear changes," he says. According to the CDC, the Omicron variant spreads more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Delta variant. We avoid using tertiary references. 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. The latest from Ohio State Health & Discovery delivered right to your inbox. COVID-19 lasts for about a week or two depending on its severity and your overall health. A sinus infection that lasts for months is chronic sinusitis, which can be caused by an infection or growths in the nasal cavity. Also ask your doctor about recommendations for other medications you can take as preventive measures. Allergies are also treated with antihistamines. Distinguishing between the common cold and sinus infections can be challenging for patients and healthcare providers alike. People have reported symptoms that vary, but are similar to signs of a common cold or flu. Most people dont require special treatment for the common cold, and theres no vaccine or outright cure. Instead, your doctor lookslargelyat symptom duration to determine the source of your infection. That consistency, Xu says, suggests the reduction in severity is due, in part, to something inherent with omicron itself and not simply because of changes in vaccination status. 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. "It just seems that people who have been vaccinated ahead of time are getting much milder symptoms across the board," he says. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Emily is a health communication consultant, writer, and editor at EVR Creative, specializing in public health research and health promotion. If you have severe congestion with either, then an over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription decongestant can help by breaking up mucus in your nasal cavities. For example, if you have seasonal allergies to pollen, avoid going outdoors when the counts are at their highest. A sinus infection occurs when the fluid builds up in the air-filled pockets in the face (sinuses) and encourages the growth of germs. ", RELATED: Secret Weight Loss Tricks to Melt Visceral Fat, Science Says, 4 COVID is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Your nose is all runny and stuffed up, and youre losing your sense of smell. Often the focus of treatment involves managing the severity of symptoms as natural immunity takes over. Like the science and discovery news you find here? COVID-19 symptoms tend to have more fatigue, cough, shortness of breath and may have gastrointestinal symptoms, too. Cleveland Clinic 1995-2023. "It's a very prominent symptom," said Moreno, an assistant professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. 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. And theyre better than nothing, especially on a weekend if you dont have other choices, Dr. Ruff says. Omicron seems to be milder, but does seem to cause infections in many people with the vaccine. That's why, she says, everyone should be vaccinated and boosted. The symptoms of sinus infection tend to come on . diarrhea. Your immune system responds by releasing a chemical called histamine, which can then cause symptoms such as headache, sneezing, and congestion. 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. "It's mostly that runny nose, sore throat and nasal congestion," says Dr. John Vanchiere, the associate director of the Center for Emerging Viral Threats at LSU Health Shreveport. Yellow mucus. And doctors are finding a key difference among their patients who are ending up in the ER or being admitted: Many are neither struggling to breathe nor dealing with perilously low oxygen levels. "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. Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Find our most recent COVID-19 articles here, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, What its like to get an X-ray, and how to prepare, Cardiologist changing the way we care for womens cardiovascular health, Five signs of heart disease that show up in the bedroom. Asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 are considered contagious for five days after a positive test. This all depends on the severity of the virus. You dont ever treat with antibiotics unless its been more than 10 to 14 days because, in that situation, you may have a bacterial infection, Dr. Ruff says. How can you tell if you have a sinus infection or COVID-19? He added, "It's not as bad as it was." A sinus infection occurs when viruses or bacteria cause inflammation and fluid buildup inside your sinuses. Before Omicron, Moreno said, his COVID-19 patients used to feel sick for about 10 to 14 days. And a small study from Norway found that, among . The overlap in symptoms between COVID-19 and sinus infections (sinusitis) make it difficult to tell the two apart. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Culture techniques or even PCR technology may be used to identify specific pathogens. It's also still not clear how much vaccines and prior infections are responsible for some of these early clinical impressions that omicron is causing a milder constellation of symptoms, says Dr. Daniel Griffin, who's chief of infectious diseases at ProHEALTH in New York and an instructor at Columbia University. Learn about tips for relieving symptoms like inflammation, nasal congestion, and irritation. "Instead, Omicron is causing more upper respiratory symptoms." Omicron is not. While the chances are much better that you wont need medical attention, you shouldnt hesitate seeking it out if or when you need it. As more mucus is produced, buildup occurs and provides a place for bacteria to grow, which leads to infection. COVID-19 vs. Flu vs. RSV: How to tell the difference between - Labcorp Because symptoms can overlap, I recommend discussing your condition with your physician and/or getting tested if you think youve got COVID-19. OMICRON variant has seen reduced problems with smell loss! Both allergies and sinus infections can feel miserable. 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 . Even your doctor cant tell if your infection is viral or bacterial based solely on symptoms or an exam.. 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. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This is especially important as cases continue to rise. Although that could definitely still happen with omicron, the risk appears to be lower than it was with delta. Editors note: As what we know about COVID-19 evolves, so could the information in this story. A runny nose and sneezing, congestion, and sore throat are a few symptoms that can pop up if you have . 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. Omicron subvariant symptoms: How quickly do omicron symptoms appear? You can help prevent a sinus infection in much the same way as you would prevent catching cold and flu viruses. What Should You Do If You Feel Sick but Keep Testing Negative for COVID? But this apparent change in the disease that a severe infection in the lungs doesn't seem as common means fewer people need supplemental oxygen or intubation. Find our most recent COVID-19 articles here and learn the latest in COVID-19 prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your Face Mask Can Help, How To Protect Yourself From New COVID-19 Variants. Two recent lab studies, which haven't been peer-reviewed, suggested that Omicron could be less effective at attacking lung cells compared with prior variants. What Are the Symptoms of Omicron? - New York Times 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e, RELATED: How to Reduce Inflammation in the Body Fast. When in doubt, see your doctor. Managing a sinus infection? If your allergies have you particularly congested, they might also prescribe a decongestant. In contrast, delta took about four days, and the original variant took more than five. ", RELATED: Over 60? Some of the most common symptoms include a sinus headache, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, and sneezing. advice every day. For some, 'mild' illness from Omicron feels like anything but The lists of symptoms below are just a starting point and do not include all possible symptoms of COVID-19 or a sinus infection. The symptoms of a sinus infection include coughing, congestion fever and headacheall of which are symptoms of COVID-19, too. This can mean a cold or infection that's progressing. Vaccination reduces your risk of COVID death 90% or more. A sinus infection can have a range of other symptoms as well, though they mostly involve the respiratory system. They might recommend prescription medications instead. Sore throats were often coupled with sinus congestion and headache, he added, followed by a cough a day or so later. 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. The omicron variant now represents nearly every Covid case sequenced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. OMICRON VARIANT BA.2: These started popping up late December 21. As with previous variants, the vast majority of people infected with omicron have a mix of symptoms that resolve relatively quickly and don't require hospital care. And most of all, does this variant cause less severe disease than the variants that have come before it? The highly contagious variant continues to spread across the U.S. and many hospitals remain overcrowded with COVID patients. I have started using montelukast orally post-covid to help block leukotriene cytokine response in the covid sinus patients. However, these conditions arent the same thing. Whereas antibiotics will not work for viral cases, they may be prescribed in bacterial cases. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); sore throat. Specifically, the risk of being admitted to the ICU fell from 0.8% to 0.4% (or by 50%) and the chance of being put on a ventilator fell from 0.4% to 0.1%. Sore throats and runny noses are increasingly common in vaccinated people with Omicron. COVID-19 is most contagious in the 48 hours before symptoms start and the first five days of symptoms. This leads to mucus buildup. Her symptoms were similar like a terrible sinus infection and congestion. 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. Viruses lead to most sinus infections, but bacteria can. Get health and wellness tips and information from UNC Health experts once a month! Most people were sick 6-9 days. How to protect yourself & others. 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. LOSS OF SMELL is happening in about 50% of patients with Delta Variant COVID. Doctors offer advice about omicron and the holidays If you test negative but still have symptoms or were exposed, your doctor might want you to be tested again in a few days. They canoccurwith viral infections, too. This type of reaction is caused by a negative response to a substance. "The cough is milder [than previous variants], if there's any cough at all, and fever seems to be a little less common.". Treat early sinus infection symptoms with rest, hydration and over-the-counter sprays and decongestants. As one of the largest academic health centers and health sciences campuses in the nation, we are uniquely positioned with renowned experts covering all aspects of health, wellness, science, research and education. "They're not short of breath, and really the lungs are OK," says Roberts, of Yale. All Rights Reserved. For example, an omicron infection may lead to complications of an existing condition such as diabetes or heart failure. "If we have a patient who's younger, if we have a patient who's vaccinated, if we have a patient who recently recovered from delta, we're tending to see very mild disease with omicron," says Griffin. What Every Woman Needs to Know, 6 Sore Throat Remedies That Actually Work. 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. After youve tested, call your primary care doctor to schedule an in-person or virtual visit. Simply because the Omicron variant is new, there's little research about its link to long COVID, the physical, neurological, and cognitive symptoms that can persist indefinitely after infection. Were swabbing everyone at my clinic with a respiratory viral panel, which is the same COVID swab, but in addition to COVID, it tells you what virus you have, such as rhinovirus (common cold) or a number of other respiratory viruses; even the flu.. Two main symptoms of sinus infections include congestion and pain or pressure in your face, nose, or ears. A positive COVID-19 test means you need to isolate. Sarah Ruff, MD is a family medicine physician at UNC Family Medicine at Southpoint. At the same time, it appears anecdotally at least that certain symptoms show up more with omicron than they did with delta. 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. Another not-yet-peer-reviewed study, published on Wednesday, found that Omicron inherently reduced the risk of severe hospitalization or death from COVID-19 by 25% compared with Delta. Here's How to Look Decades Younger, 5 Get the best food tips and diet advice Theres a powerful story behind every headline at Ohio State Health & Discovery. day, 2022 Galvanized Media. Policy. 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. ", 3 A sinus infection can happen after a viral illness but can also be caused by allergies. Omicron Symptoms: Here's What to Know | Time 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 boosted people, in many cases it's almost like an old cold: the sinus symptoms, the sore throat.". By Mark Gurarie People with Omicron may report symptoms like nausea more often because loss of smell is less prevalent with the new variant, said Andrew Pekosz, a professor of molecular microbiology and. Sniffles (Nasal Congestion and Discharge), The Connection Between Nasal Polyps and Sinus Infections, What Causes Fever and Headache Together and How Its Treated. Sinusitis has a tendency to linger and cause sinus pressure, facial pain, and yellow or green mucus. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Allergy Cough vs. COVID Cough: What Are the Differences? The most commonly-reported symptoms with the original Omicron variant were cough, fatigue, headache, congestion, and runny nose. Some of the most common symptoms include a sinus headache, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, and sneezing. It offers a comprehensive look at how COVID-19 symptoms have changed over the course of the pandemic most notably, with the advent of the Delta and Omicron variants. 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. Also, ask your doctor about supplements such as vitamin C to help boost your immune system. 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. Several studies have found that the incubation period the time it takes to develop symptoms after being exposed is about three days.