Is it COVID, the flu, or just Georgia allergies? How to know how sick you really are.
Fall may bring cooler temperatures for Georgians, but it also brings its fair share of germs. It’s important to know what you’re dealing with when the coughing and sneezing starts.
At this time of the year, these symptoms could mean anything from COVID-19 to the flu to seasonal allergies, but the difference could mean very different things for your recovery.
Common symptoms shared by all three ailments
According to Piedmont Hospital, there are quite a few overlapping symptoms that you could experience with COVID, flu, or allergies.
Runny or stuffy nose
Headache
Fatigue
Sore throat
Cough
Shortness of breath
Muscle aches (more common in COVID and flu)
Congestion
Fever (less likely with allergies)
Distinguishing features of COVID XEC strain
By mid-October, Yale Medicine reported that the latest variant of COVID, XEC, was responsible for 10% of COVID infections in the US.
The good news is that there is little evidence to suggest the latest strain causes drastically different or more severe symptoms than past strains.
Symptoms of COVID (versus the flu or allergies) tend to come on faster and affect the upper respiratory tract. Other things to look out for:
Dry cough
Voice changes
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Characteristics of the flu
The World Health Organization warns there are a billion cases of seasonal influenza annually, including 3-5 million cases of severe illness.
With the latest version of the flu, the symptoms will come on faster than the flu or a cold, usually in one or two days. There is also extreme fatigue at the onset of symptoms, but you are less likely to experience shortness of breath or respiratory issues.
If you have the flu, you most likely experience at least one of these distinguishing symptoms:
Sudden onset of fever (usually high, 100-102 degrees)
Chills
Severe muscle or body aches
Headache
Very sore throat
Symptoms of seasonal allergies
Fall allergies are often the result of exposure to ragweed, mold, dust mites, or pet dander, says WebMD, and fall can be just as fraught as spring for allergy suffers.
Symptoms unique to allergies, in addition to the shared symptoms, can include:
Itchy nose, eyes, and throat
Watery eyes
Frequent sneezing
Postnasal drip
This is by no means an exhaustive list, so consult your doctor if you have concerning or persisting symptoms.
It’s also important to remember to wash your hands, stay home when you’re sick, get vaccinated if you’re able, and eat your veggies.
This story was originally published October 22, 2024 at 12:53 PM.
