Is it a Cold or Covid 19?

Cold or Covid 19?

The common cold and COVID are both respiratory illnesses, the former affect only the upper respiratory track while the latter can affect the lungs too. Both of these viruses can cause similar symptoms, like cough, sore throat, runny nose, and body aches. However, there are some key differences between the two:

Cause: The common cold is caused by a variety of viruses, while COVID is caused by the Corona virus.

Severity: The common cold is generally a mild illness that resolves on its own within a week. COVID can be more severe, especially for people with compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions, and it can lead to complications such as pneumonia or hospitalization.

Fever is not too high in common cold whereas it gets high in Coronavirus infections.

COVID-19 symptoms usually start 2 to 14 days after exposure to SARS-CoV-2. But symptoms of a common cold usually appear 1 to 3 days after exposure to a cold-causing virus.

Treatment: There is no specific treatment for the common cold. Typical treatments include rest, fluids, decongestants etc., Corona viral infections are treated with set protocols.

If you are experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness, it is important to seek medical attention to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. A doctor or an ENT specialist will help to determine whether you have a common cold or the serious covid infection and can provide guidance on how to manage your symptoms and prevent the spread of the illness to others.

Follow these standard precautions:

• Get vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick or has symptoms.
• Keep distance between yourself and others when you’re in indoor public spaces. Keep in mind that some people may have COVID-19 and spread the COVID-19 virus to others even if they don’t have symptoms or don’t know they have COVID-19.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water and avoid crowded indoor spaces and indoor places that have poor air flow, also called ventilation.
• Improve the air flow indoors. Open windows. And turn on exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen.
• Cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw away the used tissue. Wash your hands right away.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Avoid sharing dishes, glasses, towels, bedding, and other household items if you’re sick.
• Regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, electronics, and counters.
• Stay home from work, school and public areas and stay in isolation unless you’re tested negative for Covid.