The new crown virus continues to mutate, Omicron (Omicron) still dominates the current global epidemic, the available data show that although The Omicron is extremely easy to spread, the condition after the onset of infection is not as serious as other new crown variants before, and the symptoms are relatively mild.
The UK Health and Safety Agency (UKHSA) updated its list of COVID-19 symptoms in April, adding nine infection symptoms, including sore throat, muscle pain and diarrhea. However, the NHS, the UK's universal health service, notes that many of the symptoms on this latest list are "very similar" to the common cold and flu.
So, how do you tell if you are infected with the new crown virus or the common cold?
Common symptoms of COVID-19 infection
According to England's latest official list of Covid-19 symptoms, in addition to the original three items – fever, new persistent cough, and loss of smell and taste – include the following nine:
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling tired and exhausted
- Body pain
- headache
- sore throat
- Nasal congestion or runny nose
- Loss of taste
- diarrhoea
- Feeling unwell or sick
People infected with the new crown virus will also experience symptoms such as sneezing and runny nose
What are the symptoms of Omicron? How can I tell if I'm infected?
Omikeron seems to some people more like a cold.
According to ZOE, the COVID-19 symptom tracking software, the five most common symptoms for people who test positive for Covid are runny nose (83%), fatigue (71%), sore throat (69%), headache (69%) and sneezing (68%).
Other previous VARIANTs of COVID-19 are more likely to cause loss or alteration of taste or smell, new-onset, persistent coughing, and fever, which are still listed as the three typical symptoms of COVID-19 disease.
Analysis of samples collected by PCR nucleic acid tests in the laboratory can show that the virus causing the infection is Omikeron, Delta, or other mutant strains.
Confirming whether the case of infection is Omilon requires a complete genetic analysis, which can take four to five days.
Taking a closer look at the genetic material provided by the test sample, scientists were able to confirm whether the infected sample was Ami kerong or a delta that had spread widely.
Fever means that the body is fighting off foreign infections
Who are the high-risk groups for COVID-19?
For most people who have been vaccinated – and children, even if they are not vaccinated – symptoms of COVID-19 infection are usually mild and usually last up to a week.
However, some people are at higher risk of infection than the average person, and especially need to pay attention to immune protection, including:
- senior citizen
- pregnant woman
- Unvaccinated people
- People with a fragile immune system are susceptible to serious diseases, regardless of age
- People with chronic illnesses, regardless of age
Some young children who are born prematurely or have heart disease are also at risk of contracting another respiratory virus, RSV.
Does fever mean covid-19?
A body temperature above 37.8 degrees Celsius is a fever, which means that the body is fighting against an external infection, possibly any infection, not just the coronavirus.
It is best to measure your body temperature with a thermometer, but if you don't have a thermometer, you can touch your chest or back to see if you feel hot.
If you just have the common cold, you are unlikely to have a fever, although the fever is not necessarily infected with the new crown virus, but if you have fever symptoms, you must be tested for the new crown virus.
Is coughing COVID-19?
Both the common cold and influenza can have a cough, as well as other symptoms.
Compared with the common cold, the flu usually strikes more suddenly and the symptoms are more pronounced and severe. In addition to symptoms such as sore throat and runny nose or nasal congestion, flu patients often experience muscle soreness, chills, headaches, tiredness, and more pronounced systemic symptoms.
- Knowledge Post: Do you know the difference between a cold and a flu?
- Loss of smell or taste is an important indicator of infection
- The Scientific Mystery: The True Cause of influenza Spreads In Winter
Droplets sprayed during sneezing can also infect diseases, so it is necessary to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing
The onset of the common cold is slower and milder, but it will make you feel uncomfortable, in addition to coughing, there may be symptoms such as sneezing, sore throat, runny nose, and symptoms such as flu chills, fever, muscle soreness and headache are relatively rare.
The cough symptoms of COVID-19 disease are severe coughing for more than an hour, or more than three times within 24 hours.
If you cough frequently because of other chronic diseases or health problems, the new crown virus will make the cough more severe.
If there is a new, persistent cough, you must be tested for COVID-19.