What Does Covid Sore Throat Feel Like
Have COVID-19 questions?
Well, it can feel exactly the same as a cold, according to Brian Curtis, MD, vice president of Clinical Specialty Services for OSF HealthCare. That makes it hard to tell the difference between a cold and a mild case of COVID.
Its even harder to tell the difference knowing that sore throat is a COVID symptom. The common cold and the virus that causes COVID-19 are both the same type of virus called a coronavirus and can cause similar symptoms.
One of the early symptoms of COVID is a fever. However, as different strains of COVID spread, its possible to have a COVID sore throat and no fever or other symptoms.
But, Dr. Curtis said, its more common to have other symptoms in addition to a sore throat if you have COVID.
Only about 5-10% of COVID-19 patients will have an isolated sore throat. Usually, they will have a touch of fever, loss of taste and smell and difficulty breathing.
Pharmacy First Scotland: Sore Throat Treatment From Your Pharmacy
If you have a sore throat you can get advice and treatment directly from a pharmacy. Find your local pharmacy on Scotland’s Service Directory.
You don’t usually need to get medical advice if you have a sore throat however your pharmacist may advise you see your GP if:
- your symptoms are severe
- you have persistent symptoms that haven’t started to improve after a week
- you experience severe sore throats frequently
- you have a weak immune system for example, you have HIV, are having chemotherapy, or are taking medication that suppresses your immune system
If they’re not open, you should phone the NHS 24 service
If you have a persistent sore throat , you should see your GP who may refer you for further tests. This is because your sore throat may be a symptom of a more serious condition. Some possibilities are described below.
Visit your nearest accident and emergency department or call 999 for an ambulance if you have severe symptoms such as:
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- current or past stomach problems, such as a stomach ulcer
- current or past liver or kidney problems
Children under the age of 16 should never be given aspirin.
Take painkillers as necessary to relieve your pain. Always read the manufacturers instructions so you do not exceed the recommended or prescribed dose.
Herbal Products And Honey
A number of herbal products are claimed to help relieve cold symptoms. But there’s a lack of reliable studies on the benefits of these products. Some studies have shown that certain extracts of ivy, eucalyptus, primrose, pelargonium and thyme can at best slightly relieve a cough.
The situation with honey is similar: Honey can probably relieve the symptoms of a cough somewhat in children if they take it either pure or dissolved in water in the evening before going to bed .
Products made from echinacea extracts are also commonly recommended for the treatment of colds. They are claimed to strengthen the bodys immune system. But the research on these products has not led to clear conclusions.
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Remedies And Treatments For A Stuffy Nose
In general, you want to keep mucus thin, which will help it drain from your nose. Over-the-counter drugs, nasal washes, and positional adjustments may also help.
Breathe in Steam
Steam thins mucus and soothes irritated nasal passages. Taking long showers can also help with muscle aches and mild fatigue, which are symptoms that sometimes accompany a stuffy nose. You can also fill a bowl with hot water and lean over it. Drape a towel over your head to contain the steam and receive maximum benefits.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
Drinking lots of water isnât a bad idea when you arenât feeling well, because it will keep you hydrated, but there isnât much scientific evidence that fluids have a real effect on colds and congestion. You can also drink fruit or vegetable juices, which bring their own health benefits, but be careful not to let sugar consumption spike. Hot herbal teas will both contribute to your fluid intake and provide plenty of steam to flush out your sinuses.
Flush Nasal Passages
A neti pot or nasal irrigator will flush your nose out. You can purchase a saline spray at most drug stores or make your own. Use it several times a day to help clear congestion and keep nasal passages moist. If making your own, combine:
- 1 cup warm water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- A pinch of baking soda
Just be careful to keep your neti pot or irrigator clean. Wash the head and rinse out the body after each use. These devices can easily become contaminated with irritants or bacteria.
Is It A Cold The Flu Or Covid
Your child has a sore throat, cough, and a high fever. Is it COVID-19? Could it be the flu? Or just a cold?
All these illnesses are caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. All are contagious and can spread easily from person to person. And they cause some similar symptoms. So it can be hard to tell them apart.
Here are some things to look for if your child gets sick.
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Decongestant nasal sprays or drops can help relieve a runny or stuffy nose and make it easier to breathe. But it’s not advisable to use these sprays or drops for longer than a week at a time because then they could have the opposite effect, known as rebound congestion . When that happens, just a few hours after using the medication the membranes lining the nose swell up again. The more often the medication is used, the stronger this effect is.
There are various types of decongestants with different active ingredients. They may cause side effects such as a dry nose, allergic reactions or headaches.
Colds Dont Usually Come With A Significant Fever
While you may be running a little warmer, colds rarely come with a significant fever. And while you can still have the flu without a fever, the flu typically comes with a few days above 100° Fahrenheit.
A flu fever will likely come on fast. This is an especially common flu symptom in kids. Keep an eye on the little ones and the elderly, as they will be more susceptible to complications. Also, keep drinking liquids and get lots of rest.
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Can I Buy Something Similar Cheaper Elsewhere
One of the most common questions that a lot of customers ask is, Can I buy something similar cheaper elsewhere? The short answer is no. When you are looking for a quality cough medicine for cough and sore throat, the most important thing to know is that cheap is not always better. You should carefully research the best cough medicine for cough and sore throat before buying and consult the prices on some online sales websites to make the best decision.
Common Colds: Relief For A Stuffy Nose Cough And Sore Throat
There are no treatments that fight cold viruses directly. But nasal sprays and painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can provide some relief from cold symptoms. Many other treatments have either not been studied well enough or have no proven benefit.
Colds are very common: On average, adults come down with a cold 2 to 4 times a year, and children have as many as 6 to 8 colds a year. The reason that colds are so common is that they can be caused by very many different kinds of viruses. So having had one virus doesn’t make you immune to other cold viruses.
Colds usually go away on their own after about one to two weeks. Although the symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose, cough and headache can be bothersome, you don’t need to take medication. None of the currently available treatments can shorten the length of a cold. Antibiotics only fight so they dont help in the treatment of simple common colds that are caused by viruses. They can have side effects too, so they should only be used if a bacterial infection develops as a complication of the cold.
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Stuffy Nose And Cough
Winter has arrived, bringing with it the gift of common cold resulting in stuffy nose and cough. But common cold is not the only culprit responsible for these bothersome symptoms, they can also result from allergies and some other conditions like asthma, sinusitis, flu and respiratory tract infections.These symptoms are very common and affect a large number of people yearly.
A Pharmacist Can Help With Cold Medicines
You can buy cough and cold medicines from pharmacies or supermarkets. A pharmacist can advise you on the best medicine.
You can:
- ease aches or lower a temperature with painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
- relieve a blocked nose with sprays or tablets
Be careful not to use cough and cold medicines if you’re taking paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets. Cough and cold medicines often also contain paracetamol and ibuprofen so it can be easy to take more than the recommended dose.
Some are not suitable for children, babies and pregnant women.
There’s little evidence that supplements prevent colds or speed up recovery.
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Start With Home Remedies For Colds And Flu
You should stay home if youre sick especially if you have a fever. Actually, its always recommended that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever has gone away without the use of fever-reducing medications. Here are some steps you can take at home to feel better:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Drink lots of fluids .
- Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help lower your temperature, and get some headache or muscle ache relief. Warning: Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers who have the flu, as it comes with a small risk of causing the potentially fatal Reye Syndrome.
What Should You Do If You Have Concerning Symptoms
If you develop a sore throat or other symptoms and think you may have COVID-19, take the following steps:
- Stay home. Plan to go out only to seek medical care. If you live with other people, make sure you distance yourself from them as much as possible. Wear a mask, preferably an N95 or KN95 mask, if youre around other people in your home, or if you have to get medical care.
- Let them know about your symptoms. Theyll give you information on how to care for yourself while youre ill, and may also arrange for you to be tested for COVID-19.
- Keep track of your symptoms. Most people with COVID-19 can recover at home, but about
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A number of herbal products are claimed to help relieve cold symptoms. But there’s a lack of reliable studies on the benefits of these products. Some studies have shown that certain extracts of ivy, eucalyptus, primrose, pelargonium and thyme can at best slightly relieve a cough.
The situation with honey is similar: Honey can probably relieve the symptoms of a cough somewhat in children if they take it either pure or dissolved in water in the evening before going to bed .
Products made from echinacea extracts are also commonly recommended for the treatment of colds. They are claimed to strengthen the bodys immune system. But the research on these products has not led to clear conclusions.
Cough And Sore Throat: Causes And Symptoms
One day youre fine, and the next day you wake up with a cough and sore throat. Weve all been there, and it isnt fun. Cough and sore throat are common symptoms for a number of illnesses, so its not always easy to tell what kind of illness you are suffering from based solely on your symptoms. There are many reasons you might have a cough and sore throat, such as allergies, viruses, and bacterial infections.
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When To Call The Doctor About Cold Symptoms
Except in newborns, colds aren’t dangerous. The symptoms usually go away without any special treatment. But when you’re sick it can wear down your body’s resistance, making you more open to an infection by a bacteria.
See your doctor if your cold symptoms are severe and you aren’t getting better. They’ll likely check your throat and ears, and listen to your lungs. They may take a throat culture by brushing your throat with a long cotton-tipped swab. This will show whether you have an infection that needs treatment with antibiotics.
When To Worry About A Sore Throat
A sore throat by itself is typically not something to worry about, Dr. Curtis said.
Your throat could be irritated from allergies, air pollution or overuse. It could also be due to smoking, in which case the solution is simple .
If it lingers longer than a week, however, you should contact your physician.
The main point, according to Dr. Curtis, with so many diagnoses, its safest to get it checked out. You should contact your physician if you have any questions or concerns about your health and any symptoms you experience.
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Extreme Fatigue Is A Telltale Sign Of The Flu
If youre dragging, or feeling extreme fatigue, its likely from the flu. Sometimes youll continue feeling run down for a few days even after other flu symptoms stop. On the other hand, a cold will rarely stop you from performing your day-to-day tasks.
Weve all had colds and know that you can get a mild fever, achiness or cough with it. But if you feel like youve been hit by a truck, its more likely that you have the flu.
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Painkillers like acetylsalicylic acid , ibuprofen and acetaminophen can relieve cold-related symptoms such as headache, earache and joint pain. These painkillers can also lower a fever. They don’t help to relieve a cough or stuffy nose.
Acetaminophen is the painkiller of choice for children in particular because it is tolerated better than painkillers like ASA and ibuprofen. ASA shouldnt be used in children and teenagers who have a fever anyway. This is because it can cause a rare but dangerous side effect .
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When To Talk To Your Doctor
It is best to talk to your doctor if your stuffy nose and coughing is getting worst, and any or all of the following symptoms appear:
- High grade fever, chest pain and difficulty in breathing
- Green or greenish yellow snoot or phlegm with persistent cough
- Persistent sore throat and pus on tonsils
- Severe headaches for several days
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How Is Strep Throat Diagnosed
If your child has a sore throat and other strep throat symptoms, call your doctor. The doctor will likely do a rapid strep test in the office, using a cotton swab to take a sample of the fluids at the back of the throat. The test only takes about 5 minutes.
If it’s positive, your child has strep throat. If it’s negative, the doctor will send a sample to a lab for a throat culture. The results are usually available within a few days.
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You Have A Metallic Taste In Your Mouth
If youre experiencing a metallic taste in your mouth, it could point to another sore throat cause. According to Sheneen Lalani, DO, a board-certified internal medicine doctor working with COVID patients, this is typically present when you have gastroesophageal reflux disease .ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
The Mayo Clinic says GERD patients usually experience acid reflux at least twice a week, which can be aggravated by smoking, eating large meals, eating late at night, eating fatty or fried foods, drinking alcohol or coffee, and taking certain medications like aspirin. And for more up-to-date information, .
Fever Aches And Sore Throat
These symptoms are usually mild with a cold compared to a more serious illness, like the flu. Still, if you feel bad and canât rest, most experts agree itâs OK to take something to ease pain and lower a fever, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Fever may be a good thing. It helps the body fight off infection by suppressing the growth of bacteria and viruses and activating the immune system. Doctors no longer recommend fighting fever for most people, except perhaps for the very young, the very old, and those with certain medical conditions such as heart disease or lung disease. But if youâre uncomfortable, its fine to take these medications.
Young people , however, should avoid aspirin. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are best. Each type of medicine has risks, so check with your doctor or pharmacist as to which type of pain reliever or fever reducer is best for you.
Drinking lots of fluids and using salt water gargles can often ease the pain of a sore throat. Some oral medications and medicated lozenges and gargles can also temporarily soothe a sore throat. Check with your doctor before using any medications, including over-the-counter drugs, and dont use lozenges or gargles for more than a few days. The drugs could mask signs of strep throat, a bacterial infection that should be treated with antibiotics.
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