Do you have a sore throat, a runny nose, and aches and pains in your muscles?
It might be a regular cold or the flu, or it could be COVID-19. Because all the disorders have similar symptoms, it might be difficult to tell which one is making you sick. As the Omicron form has spread, case rates of COVID-19 have increased, although hospitalization rates have remained quite low. According to epidemiologist and former Detroit Health Department executive director, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, evidence shows that infection with this variety is less likely to be severe in vaccinated patients.
The crucial thing to understand is that a vaccination acts as a “warning” signal to your immune system. Every time we get a new dose of the vaccine, its ability to recognize, target, and eliminate viruses improves dramatically, “El-Sayed explained. “It seems to reason that if you have been vaccinated, your symptoms will be milder.”
- French adults over 65 without Covid booster shot to lose health pass benefits
- Covid: Vaccines should work against Omicron variant, WHO says
That is not to say that infections should not be addressed seriously, especially given the potential of overburdening healthcare systems, he stressed. “Just because the per-individual risk of serious sickness is reduced does not imply that Omicron is not a genuine issue on a social level,” he added. Even a small percentage of a huge number can be a large number. Many COVID-19 infections have the appearance of a cold or flu. According to Dr. Sarah Ash Combs, an attending physician at Children’s National Hospital, the best way to know is to undergo a test. Without a test, I would say it is pretty difficult to tell right now,” Combs added. “We only have to treat cold-like symptoms in the same bucket” as COVID-19.
What symptoms to look for
Cold, flu, and Covid-19 symptoms are often confused, according to El-Sayed. Fever, weariness, body pains, sore throat, shortness of breath, vomiting, and diarrhea are common symptoms of both Covid-19 and the flu, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the headache and dry cough that commonly accompany Covid-19 infection can be identified. The loss of taste and smell, which has been the most common symptom of a Covid-19 infection, is still a possibility, albeit it is less common today than with prior forms, according to El-Sayed.
He advised patients who are experiencing severe chest pain, especially if they have a dry cough that has worsened, to get medical help. The most crucial consideration is exposure. It is also worth asking if you are starting to notice any of these symptoms: Has anyone you have come into contact with been infected with COVID? It is also worth separating yourself and running a quick test, “he said. Even if you have not seen any symptoms yet, it is advisable to be cautious if you have been in the presence of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. “Given that the Omicron variety is spreading like wildfire,” El-Sayed continued, “I think it is worth retaining a strong suspicion that it may be Covid.”
At this point, it is safest to treat all cold symptoms carefully, Combs said.
When to test for Covid-19
It is often good to address your suspicions of COVID-19 by taking a test, although when you do, it makes a difference. If you are feeling symptoms, now is the time to take a test, El-Sayed said. For those who have been exposed but aren’t feeling symptoms, there is a possibility that the virus hasn’t developed enough to show up on a rapid test, he explained. In those cases, it is best to wait five days after exposure before testing and to remain on the lookout, according to the CDC.
“Just because you get a negative test doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not Covid,” El-Sayed said. “The best approach is to test and then maybe test again in 12 to 24 hours, and if you get two negatives, you can be more certain that it’s not. “Whether it is Covid-19 or the common cold, it has always been a good idea to isolate while you fight a viral illness, he said. It has become even more important with the risk of spread increasing with Covid-19.