Certainly, while most healthy people will only have mild symptoms, this virus still can cause severe illness in people who are immunosuppressed, including the elderly. The Anosmia/smell dysfunction returned and Im maybe even seeing this smell loss LAST LONGER than the original COVID variants. A sinus infection, or sinusitis, occurs when the air-filled pockets in the face, called sinuses, fill up with fluid, inflaming the sinus lining and preventing them from draining. An Ohio State expert explains what to expect. As more mucus is produced, buildup occurs and provides a place for bacteria to grow, which leads to infection. Your nose is all runny and stuffed up, and youre losing your sense of smell. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. "They're young people that typically can push through things. Most of these patients retained their sense of smell and had disease course taht was brief 3 days or so. Colds are usually transmitted via coughed or exhaled droplets or infected surfaces. Here's How to Look Decades Younger, 5 COVID-19 is only caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. But this apparent change in the disease that a severe infection in the lungs doesn't seem as common means fewer people need supplemental oxygen or intubation. "Cough is still part of the symptoms," Moreno said. A sinus infection often follows a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. ", RELATED: Secret Weight Loss Tricks to Melt Visceral Fat, Science Says, 4 Whats the best way to remove skin tags, and why do they form in the first place? COVID is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Read On, A Medication to Reduce Your Chances of Getting HIV, COVID-19 Shots During Pregnancy Help Mom and Baby, 3 Things Parents Should Know About Bivalent Boosters for Young Children. Learn about the symptoms of a sinus infection and how to, If your nasal discharge is any color other than clear, it could be a sign of an infection. Almost as soon as Omicron started spreading, doctors noticed slight differences in their patients' symptoms relative to prior variants. You can help prevent a sinus infection in much the same way as you would prevent catching cold and flu viruses. The loss of smell most commonly is resolved by 3 months, but about 20% of patients will have smell loss longer, and about 5% may have permanent loss of smell. By Mark Gurarie Aside from what causes them, this includes another battery of more unique symptoms. Sinusitis generally lasts longer than a cold; while cases can resolve within 10 days, symptoms can last up to a month. Read our. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "I've seen a lot more people reporting fatigue as one of their main symptoms," he said. Sinusitis has a tendency to linger and cause sinus pressure, facial pain, and yellow or green mucus. The yellowish tinge comes from white blood cells that rush to the site of the infection and then are swept away after working . By Emily Brown, MPH Runny noses have been more common with COVID infections with the newer strains. Yellow, Green, Brown, and More: What Does the Color of My Snot Mean? 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. And just like earlier variants, omicron can't be defined as causing only a narrow group of symptoms. This itchiness is one of the key distinguishing factors between allergies and sinusitis. Some steps that you can take will help reduce your risk of either condition, but each also has specific precautions that will help lower your risk. We've consulted with our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians to bring you informed recommendations for food products, health aids and nutritional goods to safely and successfully guide you toward making better diet and nutrition choices. Health spoke with Julia Walker, a registered nurse with Paloma Health who explained symptoms to watch out for. South Africa's largest health insurer listed nasal congestion, sore or scratchy throat, dry cough and lower back pain as common Omicron symptoms. Infections like RSV and the flu. If you have pet dander allergies, make sure your furry loved ones dont sleep in bed with you and wash your hands after petting them and before touching your face. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); Colds are more common than sinus infections and symptoms tend to improve quicker. When the nasal cavity gets inflamed, mucus builds up and gets stuck, further compounding the problem. A viral sinus infection will usually begin to improve after five to seven days. Youll need to take the full prescription, even if you start feeling better within a day or two. The best way to protect yourself from COVID is to get vaccinated and practice protective measures like wearing a face mask, social distancing, and washing your hands. Although that could definitely still happen with omicron, the risk appears to be lower than it was with delta. You cant, unfortunatelybecause the symptoms are so similar, you should be tested for COVID-19. As the name suggests, this illness is so contagious and widespread that its the single most common cause of doctor visits in the United States. Its always better to be safe than sorry. on Hearing Aids Better For Dementia Than Pills? Typically, the loss of sense of smell associated with a sinus infection is going to be accompanied by more significant symptoms such as facial pain/pressure. Discover how doctors determine whether your sinus infection is viral or bacterial. Allergies can develop at any point in your life. Bugs are common during the winter months and with the circulation of Omicron it's important you can tell the difference Credit: Getty - Contributor. This may show up almost like non specific concussion symptoms with fatigue, mental fatigue, eye fatigue, non specific dizziness, feeling dizzy in wide open places, or feeling dizzy in busy indoor areas. Depsite COVID Omicron being milder, January 2022 was one of the deadliest months our country has ever seen. The symptoms of the common cold arise within one to two days of infection. If your infections occur more frequently, and your doctor really wants to establish if they are bacterial or viral, your Otolaryngologist or ear, nose and throat doctor can sample the snot from your nose when youre infected and send it to a laboratory to know for sure. Some of these antihistamines also have an added decongestant to them. Feminine Odor Problems? } I recommend that everyone stock up.. Editors note: As what we know about COVID-19 evolves, so could the information in this story. ", RELATED: Over 60? Sinusitis can occur at any time of the year, but it tends to flare up in cold and flu season and during allergy seasons. Meanwhile, 44% of people in that group reported a persistent cough, and 29% reported a fever. Most sinus infections are caused by viral infections, such as those that cause the common cold, including the rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). They canoccurwith viral infections, too. Sinusitis occurs when your nasal passages become inflamed. Bacterial sinus infection secondary to COVID-19 may be a cause for lingering loss of smell. 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. 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, , 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, a, nd to ensure your health don't miss these, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Sinus infection (sinusitis): types, causes, symptoms & treatment. The only way to know what you have for sure is to see a healthcare provider. "Omicron can present in a myriad of different ways," he says. Here's How to Look Decades Younger, "While the variant is considered less severe, more people have it than ever before and people are not isolated like in the early phases of the pandemic," says Walker. Ohio State Health & Discovery brings this expertise together to deliver todays most important health news and the deeper story behind the most powerful topics that affect the health of people, animals, society and the world. Sinusitis is most often caused by viruses. Symptoms like bad breath, yellow or green mucus, fever and headache are not reliable signs of a bacterial infection, he says. If youre not vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu, do so right away to reduce your chances of getting sick and spreading these infections to others. Omicron seems to cause LESS loss of smell due to reduced affinity for the nerve endings! Explore the differences between allergies and sinus infections so that you can determine the likely cause of your symptoms and seek the appropriate treatment for relief. If you know youre allergic to pollen and that pollen season is around the corner, start taking your antihistamine ahead of time. As with previous variants, the vast majority of people infected with omicron have a mix of symptoms that resolve relatively quickly and don't require hospital care. If you test negative but still have symptoms or were exposed, your doctor might want you to be tested again in a few days. If you've been exposed to Omicron or think you have the virus, who explained symptoms to watch out for. runny nose stuffy nose sore throat "Omicron, [meanwhile,] is less likely to invade the lungs," Dr. Singh says. This type of reaction is caused by a negative response to a substance. Children's Health, Cold and Flu, Infectious Diseases. Many of the patients who are being hospitalized often have some underlying health condition, or they're older and more vulnerable to a viral infection. If this persists, smell training therapy can help, though sometimes (rarely) this loss is permanent. Sinus infections also cause thick, discolored mucus, and bad breath. "You don't get off scot-free just because you happen to be infected in the time of omicron. The most commonly-reported symptoms with the original Omicron variant were cough, fatigue, headache, congestion, and runny nose. 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. A sinus infection, on the other hand, occurs when your nasal passages become inflamed. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { Dr. Jorge Moreno said he's seen an influx of COVID-19 cases lately at his outpatient clinic in Connecticut. "It's not like a little tickle in the throat. Therefore, treatment is much the same, where you can use over-the-counter nasal decongestants, lozenges for a sore throat, and acetaminophen to treat fever, headaches, and body aches. Occurring in an estimated 11.6% of American adults, these infections of the nasal passages tend to be more severe. Were hopeful that most people with COVID-19 regain their smell back, but unfortunately many do not. You are not the only one! For example, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing are more likely with COVID-19, while facial pain is more specific to a sinus infection. An Ohio State dermatologist weighs in. ", How to Reduce Inflammation in the Body Fast, If you suspect you have any of the symptoms mentioned here, get tested ASAP. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); Home remedies can often treat sinus drainage. Because symptoms can overlap, I recommend discussing your condition with your physician and/or getting tested if you think youve got COVID-19. 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. If you're sick, the following is recommended: Additionally, some medications can help, many of which are also used for sinus infections: Making sure your symptoms are more than a cold, and could be those of sinus infection, can be critical for managing the condition. Some viral sinus infections, as when the condition is a complication of a common cold, can be contagious. While the data doesn't distinguish between vaccinated and unvaccinated people, 70% of the UK population has had at least two vaccine doses as of Thursday. But experts say symptoms are more like colds and medics have urged the . While COVID cases are dropping in certain areas, the pandemic isn't over and Omicron is still infecting thousands of people daily. When in doubt, see your doctor. Sniffles (Nasal Congestion and Discharge). Some patients of course are much more ill, with about 5 to 10% needing hospital care, and for those patients sinus infection or ear symptoms may go untreated for longer. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The two share certain symptoms, but also have differences. A sinus infection, or sinusitis, occurs when your nasal passages get infected. ", RELATED: The #1 Cause of Diabetes, Say Experts, Walker explains, "When news suggested that the Omicron variant was less severe than the Delta variant, people became increasingly lax about getting COVID. Loss of smell was also relatively rare among Omicron patients. Clinical practice guideline (update): adult sinusitis, Sinus infection (sinusitis): types, causes, symptoms & treatment, Infection by another virus, bacteria, or fungus, Allergy medications like the antihistamines, Getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated, Antibiotics (for bacterial sinus infection), such as Moxatag (amoxicillin) or Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium). 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. Another preprint study, released earlier this month, showed that the viral load from an Omicron infection peaked in saliva one to two days before it peaked in nasal swabs a sign that Omicron may infect the throat before it infects the nose.