Cold virus dry cough

In pre-pandemic days, if you got a sniffle and a headache , you might dismiss it as an ordinary cold and carry on as normal, even if you felt a little rough around the edges. Because while the typical symptoms of a cold are a headache, sore throat and runny nose, those are now some of the primary indicators of Covid too.

On Thursday 23 December, researchers behind the ZOE Covid Study warned that those with a sore throat, runny nose and a headache - all symptoms of the common cold - likely have the Omicron variant. We need to change public messaging urgently to save lives. Most coronaviruses, such as the common cold, cause mild infection in the upper respiratory tract and produce relatively minor symptoms.

People who contract Covid suffer from respiratory symptoms that can cause coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and fever. In most people, common cold symptoms usually peak within the first two to three days of infection, while the effects of Covid appear two to 14 days after exposure.

Although the main Covid symptoms drummed into us by official messaging are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, the Delta variant, which is still currently the dominant Covid strain in the UK, has different symptoms, either instead of, or as well as, those main symptoms. The ZOE Covid Study , which is funded by the UK government, has identified the top symptoms associated with Covid and says they differ slightly depending on whether you have been vaccinated or not.

Although headaches are a less well-known symptom of Covid, they are one of the earliest signs, according to the ZOE study, and are more common than the classic symptoms of cough, fever and loss of smell. Last winter, the ZOE study found that a runny nose was the second most commonly reported symptom after headaches, with nearly 60 per cent of people who tested positive for Covid with loss of smell also reporting having a runny nose.

But now the data indicates that the prevalence of the disease is the most significant factor. So, when Covid rates are high, the chances of a runny nose being due to the virus are also high. The study also stresses that when Covid rates are low, a runny nose is less likely to indicate the sufferer has caught the coronavirus and is more likely to be due to a cold or even an allergy.

It concludes that while many people with Covid may report a runny nose, it is difficult to call it a definitive symptom as it is so common, especially during winter. The ZOE study found sneezing more than usual can be a sign of Covid in people who have been vaccinated, although it stresses sneezing is much more likely to be a sign of a cold or an allergy.

Many people with Covid have reported via the ZOE app that they have a sore throat that feels similar to one you might experience you get when you have a cold or laryngitis. Covid-related sore throats tend to be mild and last no more than five days so a very painful one that lasts longer is likely to be something else. To get medical attention, a person can call or the nearest emergency facility and ask for advice on how to safely get treatment for a person who has or may have COVID Children and young adults may be less likely to experience common COVID symptoms such as a dry cough, or they may experience less severe versions of the disease itself.

A local healthcare professional can offer advice on safe testing and potential treatment for COVID A recent commentary on COVID and hypertension concludes that there is no evidence that hypertension or the drugs that people take to treat it….

Learn more about the other symptoms and what to expect here. A new study has looked into the neurological complications that COVID can cause in some patients, including instances of brain inflammation. You are most infectious in the first two days. Most people are clear of infection after about two weeks. Most viral coughs clear without complications. However, sometimes a 'secondary' infection with germs bacteria develops in addition to the viral infection.

This may become serious and cause pneumonia. Also, other causes of cough such as asthma are sometimes confused with a viral infection. So, see a doctor if any of the following occur. Take our quick 5 minute survey to share your thoughts on Patient. Morice AH ; Combating cough. Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Short history. I have had health anxiety for about 5 years now. I am a 19 year old male who is otherwise pretty healthy. Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy.

Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions. The flu will often surprise you with how quickly symptoms begin, and how serious the illness can become. Classically, the flu starts with a sudden onset of fever, chills, muscles aches, mild headache and fatigue.

You may have other symptoms like a runny nose and cough, too. You feel lousy and you feel lousy fast. How long does the flu last typically?

Flu onset usually happens about one to four days after infection, and symptoms typically last five to seven days. However, fatigue can stick around for a few extra days. A cold, on the other hand, comes on gradually and will last longer. Cold germs are contagious for the first three days. And while your cough and congestion can last up to three weeks, other cold symptoms that last more than a week such as fever, chest discomfort or sinus pain may be a sign of a bacterial or sinus infection.

Talk with a doctor. They can help diagnose the problem and recommend a treatment plan. While you may be running a little warmer, colds rarely come with a significant fever. A flu fever will likely come on fast.