Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. And follow the public health fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you liveget vaccinated or boosted ASAP; if you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, don't travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, and to ensure your health don't miss these 101 Health Habits You Didn't Know Were Deadly. Sore throat Hoarse voice Cough Fatigue Nasal congestion Runny nose Headache Muscle aches Unlike earlier variants like delta that affected the lungs, omicron and its subvariants tend to cause more. The only way to know what you have for sure is to see a healthcare provider. "It just seems that people who have been vaccinated ahead of time are getting much milder symptoms across the board," he says. We strive to only recommend products that adhere to our philosophy of eating better while still enjoying what you eat. "We didn't need to do any complicated statistics to see the difference.". You are not the only one! You can support more innovations fueling advances across medicine, science, health and wellness by giving today. The charts below show which Omicron symptoms are most common and how they compare to prior variants. But never had any serious fever beyond 100 and O2 levels were rock solid. 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. A bacterial sinus infection will often persist for seven to 10 days or longer, and may actually worsen after seven days. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); How can you tell whether your infection is viral or bacterial based on your symptoms? ", Omicron is spreading at lightning speed. Then check in with your doctor for a prescription and let him or her know if your condition worsens. With winter underway and cases of Omicron surging nationwide, you may be wondering if that runny nose or aching throat is a dreaded case of COVID-19 or merely a symptom of the common cold. Do You Have Just a Sore Throat or Is It Strep? They usually resolve within seven to 10 days, with most feeling improvement after a couple days. American Lung Association. The following chart shows how Omicron symptoms compare to those of its predecessors, based on data collected by the Zoe app. While it's welcome news that omicron is easier on the lungs, ProHEALTH's Griffin says it's not that way for some of his patients. Pay close attention to symptoms to determine if cause is sinus infection or allergies. "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. These block the immune systems histamine-producing response whenever you encounter an allergen. If this persists, smell training therapy can help, though sometimes (rarely) this loss is permanent. Common colds. Xu and her team estimate that, in their study, about 60% of the people were vaccinated. How can you tell if you have a sinus infection or COVID-19? For example, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing are more likely with COVID-19, while facial pain is more specific to a sinus infection. Dust mite allergies can be alleviated with weekly house cleanings and bedding washes. The appropriate treatment for you will depend on what is causing the infection. But it has taken longer to untangle what, if anything, sets an omicron illness apart from that of its predecessors. Most sinus infections are viral. They canoccurwith viral infections, too. "But people who are fresh, with no preexisting immunity, it's hard to see that the virus is milder. "It's a very prominent symptom," said Moreno, an assistant professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. For instance, common allergy symptoms not associated with COVID-19 include itching and watery eyes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medicinal treatment methods vary depending on if the infection is caused by a virus or bacteria. "The cough is milder [than previous variants], if there's any cough at all, and fever seems to be a little less common.". If your allergies have you particularly congested, they might also prescribe a decongestant. Is that winter sniffle a cold or a sinus infection? 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. <