Patients with chronic sinusitis have complaints of nasal blockage, facial pressure, eye pressure, runny nose, postnasal drip and headache. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Whereas antibiotics will not work for viral cases, they may be prescribed in bacterial cases. The most commonly-reported symptoms with the original Omicron variant were cough, fatigue, headache, congestion, and runny nose. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. By Emily Brown, MPH Youll need to take the full prescription, even if you start feeling better within a day or two. But it's very possible that doctors and patients are simply paying more attention to these symptoms than they did with earlier variants, says Dr. Scott Roberts, an assistant professor of infectious diseases at the Yale School of Medicine. A sinus infection that lasts for months is chronic sinusitis, which can be caused by an infection or growths in the nasal cavity. The symptoms of a sinus infection include coughing, congestion fever and headacheall of which are symptoms of COVID-19, too. Its also important to avoid being around people who are sick. Its also possible to feel foggy and develop a skin rash. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets released when someone breathes, coughs, sneezes, talks or sings. Chris Vincent, MD, is a licensed physician, surgeon, and board-certified doctor of family medicine. A small study released Wednesday by a team of US researchers found that the viral load from an Omicron infection peaked in saliva one to two days before it peaked in nasal swabs, which may. Suffering from a sinus infection? Several types of COVID tests are available. The two share certain symptoms, but also have differences. How can you tell if you have a sinus infection or COVID-19? "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. Sure Signs You're Getting Omicron Now, Say Doctors There are also other precautions that you should take not just to protect yourself from COVID but to help ensure that you do not spread the virus to other people. All rights reserved. Many people liken it to a bad cold or sinus infection. Subscribe. I recommend that everyone stock up.. However, if you develop severe illness, you may need to receive medical care in the hospital. The only way to know what you have for sure is to see a healthcare provider. All Rights Reserved. Some symptoms are more common in one condition than the other. Vaccinated people, he continued, "don't have those respiratory symptoms as much.". Viruses lead to most sinus infections, but bacteria can. So how can you tell the difference? COVID-19 quarantine and isolation. The boosted people, in many cases it's almost like an old cold: the sinus symptoms, the sore throat.". In adults and older children, RSV is typically a mild illness very similar to the common cold. "It's not like a little tickle in the throat. Mark Gurarie is a freelance writer, editor, and adjunct lecturer of writing composition at George Washington University. Talk through your symptoms, and then your provider can help you determine the best next steps, Dr. Ruff says. Whats the Difference Between Walking Pneumonia and Regular Pneumonia? This may be present with runny nose as well, usually on both sides. Allergy medications wont get rid of sinus infections, though. And just like earlier variants, omicron can't be defined as causing only a narrow group of symptoms. Treatments include a combinations of medications that are approved to treat COVID-19 and new drugs that have emergency-use authorizations to use for COVID-19, and ones that COVID-19 is an off-label use. A doctor may recommend endoscopic sinus surgery if you're experiencing recurrent sinus infections or have a sinus blockage. Fatigue. However, there are several key differences: Primarily, sinus infection arises when the sinusesthe passages connecting the mouth, ears, and eyesare exposed to a virus, bacteria or fungi. Were hopeful that most people with COVID-19 regain their smell back, but unfortunately many do not. "It's a very prominent symptom," said Moreno, an assistant professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. Whether your sinus infection turns out to be viral or bacterial, you can help to ease your symptoms early on with supportive sinus care: If your symptoms arent improving after one week, its important to see your doctor. 8. 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 your nasal passages get infected. Cases of sinus infection that last longer than 12 weeks are considered chronic. Sore throats were often coupled with sinus congestion and headache, he added, followed by a cough a day or so later. 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 . "People that are unvaccinated go through a little bit of a longer and tougher course," Moreno said. Emily is a health communication consultant, writer, and editor at EVR Creative, specializing in public health research and health promotion. The virus spreads from person to person and can cause mild to severe illness. Doctors treat viral and bacterial sinus infectionsverydifferently. "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. 1 Signs of Omicron iStock Walker says, "Omicron symptoms tend to be more concentrated on the upper respiratory tract. on Hearing Aids Better For Dementia Than Pills? ", How to Reduce Inflammation in the Body Fast, If you suspect you have any of the symptoms mentioned here, get tested ASAP. A bacterial sinus infection will often persist for seven to 10 days or longer, and may actually worsen after seven days. We are also seeing a higher number of unvaccinated and unboosted people getting hospitalized." While there is a range of COVID symptoms, some of the most common include: Several symptoms of COVID overlap with those of a sinus infection, which means you will not be able to be sure of which condition you have by how you feel alone. COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a new virus that causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and, in more severe cases, difficulty breathing. Ways that you can deal with a mild COVID infection at home include: If you are hospitalized with COVID, you might be given: There are certain things you can do to prevent sinus infections and protect yourself from the COVID-19 virus. 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. Bugs are common during the winter months and with the circulation of Omicron it's important you can tell the difference Credit: Getty - Contributor. The variant looked wildly different from earlier versions of the coronavirus and it quickly became clear that these mutations gave omicron an uncanny ability to sidestep our vaccines and spread very rapidly. "The majority of patients that are coming in are coming in for sinus pressure, congestion, just kind of upper respiratory infections or some even think they have a sinus infection."Dufrene said . Sniffles (Nasal Congestion and Discharge), The Connection Between Nasal Polyps and Sinus Infections, What Causes Fever and Headache Together and How Its Treated. Bacteria can also cause sinusitis; these cases tend to arise when theres an existing cold, as the immune system is weakened. By clicking "Subscribe" you agree to our Terms of Use. ", RELATED: Secret Weight Loss Tricks to Melt Visceral Fat, Science Says, 4 A sinus infection (sinusitis) occurs when the lining of your sinuses becomes inflamed. He is an adjunct assistant professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and NYU Medical Center. Is that winter sniffle a cold or a sinus infection? Getting a flu shot will help protect you from the flu virus, which can cause inflammation in your sinuses and lead to a sinus infection. doi:10.1177/0194599815572097. Allergies occur as a result of your immune systems reaction to certain allergens, such as pollen, dust, or pet dander. We've all experienced a cold before and it is no fun. According to the CDC, the Omicron variant spreads more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Delta variant. Its also important for doctors to ascertain whether youre experiencing a viral or bacterial infection as that can influence treatment. Allergies or Sinus Infection: How to Tell the Difference - Healthline At the same time, it appears anecdotally at least that certain symptoms show up more with omicron than they did with delta. Thankfully, both of these conditions are treatable. Allergies can be chronic or seasonal, but avoidance and medication can help alleviate your symptoms. Get articles and stories about health, wellness, medicine, science and education delivered right to your inbox from the experts at Ohio State. However, these conditions arent the same thing. And a small study from Norway found that, among . Omicron Infection Timeline: Exposure to Immunity - Health It is often patients who are susceptible to sinus infections that get them such as those patients who have gotten them before or patients who had ear infections as a child. American Academy of Family Physicians. 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. You may be a good candidate for allergy shots, which can lessen the way your body reacts to allergens over time. Sinus infection (sinusitis): types, causes, symptoms & treatment. Scientists are trying to figure out why. Your source for health, wellness, innovation and discovery news from the experts at Ohio State. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Emily is a health communication consultant, writer, and editor at EVR Creative, specializing in public health research and health promotion. They usually resolve within seven to 10 days, with most feeling improvement after a couple days. Talk to your teens about their mental health. Omicron, the latest variant, is spreading like wildfire across the globe, leading Dr. Anthony Fauci, . Common colds. COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a type of coronavirus. You should also make an appointment if your symptoms worsen or fail to improve despite home treatments. Almost as soon as Omicron started spreading, doctors noticed slight differences in their patients' symptoms relative to prior variants. COVID-19 is most contagious in the 48 hours before symptoms start and the first five days of symptoms. Dust mite allergies can be alleviated with weekly house cleanings and bedding washes. Instead, your doctor lookslargelyat symptom duration to determine the source of your infection. The symptoms of the common cold arise within one to two days of infection. However this leaves the susceptible person open to sinus infections and ear infections caused by bacteria that may last for several more weeks. While its possible that you have the virus, your symptoms could also be caused by another condition, such as a cold or a sinus infection. Along with falling temperatures and shorter days, sinus infections are a common part of winter. Omicron Symptoms: Here's What to Know | Time Dr. Jorge Moreno said he's seen an influx of COVID-19 cases lately at his outpatient clinic in Connecticut. COVID-19 symptoms tend to have more fatigue, cough, shortness of breath and may have gastrointestinal symptoms, too. Home remedies can often treat sinus drainage. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. If you have a disability and experience difficulty accessing this content, contact our webmaster at. And doctors are finding many of these cases tend to look like an ordinary upper respiratory infection. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.