Are Antibiotics Effective For A Cold Or Flu
Antibiotics are used to kill bacterial infections they are not effective against viral infections, such as a cold or the flu, or against fungal infections, like ringworm or vaginal yeast infections.
You should avoid demanding an antibiotic from your healthcare provider when you have a viral infection as it will not cure your infection it might actually make it worse. In addition, this adds to the problem of antibiotic resistance, and it costs you money you do not need to spend. Your doctor can offer symptomatic treatment to ease your viral infection, or prescribe specific anti-viral medications if appropriate.
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Understanding The Differences Between Allergies And Covid
If your child has a cough, a sore throat, and a runny nose, you probably wonder: Is it allergies or could it be COVID-19?
Allergy season has kicked off earlier this year than usual. This means that all of the time families are spending outdoors while social distancing could be leading to symptoms that look similar to COVID-19, the coronavirus that is making so many people sick in the area. But in many cases, these symptoms are actually triggered by a reaction to pollen or grass.
Dr. Subhadra Siegel the director of the Allergy and Immunology Program at Boston Childrens Health Physicians, says its important for parents to know how to tell the difference between allergies and illnesses, such as the flu and COVID-19, so they can respond appropriately.
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Is It Coronavirus Or Allergies
Allergies and viral infections can present in similar ways, especially nasal congestion, cough, sinus pressure, fatigue, and achiness, Tina Sindher, M.D., allergist with Stanford Health Care and clinical assistant professor at Stanford Medicine, tells SELF.
In fact, if you saw a Venn diagram with symptoms for COVID and allergies, thered be a whole lot of overlap. After all, anything that messes with your immune system can leave you feeling run down. Whats more, there are other viruses out there that can seem similar to COVID-19, which can complicate matters even more.
These similarities can make it challenging to know exactly whats going on in your body if you start feeling sick while the COVID-19 pandemic is happening. Having a good understanding of coronavirus symptoms and signs of seasonal allergies is a helpful first step.
If you have a fever , this is a big red flag that your symptoms may be associated with COVID-19 and not seasonal allergies. In response to an infection, your body temperature might increase in an attempt to kill pathogens. A higher temperature may also trigger your immune system to make more white blood cells and antibodies. You should not get a fever with allergies, Dr. Sindher says. If my patients who have allergy symptoms are reporting fever, Im concerned about an infection.
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Schedule A Telehealth Visit
Most BCHP pediatricians are now seeing patients remotely using telehealth visits to assess symptoms. In some cases, your child may need to go get a flu or strep test to rule out these other illnesses. COVID-19 tests are still limited, so your pediatrician will advise you on whether your child needs testing. BCHP physicians can also prescribe allergy medications remotely.
Learn more about our telehealth visits.
What Are Some Of The Common Symptoms Of The Covid
Trouble breathing and shortness of breath have been telltale COVID-19 symptoms since the beginning. But the virus can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which experts are still learning about. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , people with COVID-19 may have:
- A fever
- A runny or stuffy nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
COVID-19 symptoms can be mild or more severe regardless of your age or overall health, the CDC notes. But the chances of experiencing symptoms that make you feel really ill are higher if you havent been vaccinated. Symptoms in the unvaccinated population tend to be more severe, with high fever, fatigue, headache, cough, shortness of breath, and even low oxygen levels in the blood, Lynn Myers, M.D., family medicine physician with Texas Health Physicians Group, tells SELF. And its worth mentioning that you may experience muscle soreness, fatigue, chills, nausea, or fever for a few days after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC.
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Do You Have A Cold The Flu Or Allergies
The above table details the symptom differences between all three conditions.
The common symptoms of a cold, flu and allergies are a stuffy or a runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat, a cough, a headache, or even fatigue. Two differing symptoms are a fever or aches/pain, these would not be caused by allergies, but could be due to a cold or the flu. Symptoms of the flu are often more severe than a cold.
While the symptoms are similar, the origin of the conditions are different. A cold and the flu are both caused by different viruses, whereas allergies are caused by your immune system reacting to a trigger. Common inhalant allergy triggers are pollen, dust, mold, pet dander.
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What Are Are Chills And How Common Are They With Covid
Chillsalso referred to as rigorsare episodes of shivering paired with paleness and feeling cold, according to the US National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus resource, often as a result of a fever or the beginning of one.
When you have a fever , it stimulates your body to release inflammatory chemicals and other substances to try to rid yourself of the illnessand that can raise your temperature, Dr. Giordano says. “A raised temperature may help viruses and bacteria get cleared by your immune system faster,” he explains. “In response, you feel cold, your muscles shake to generate heat to warm your body, and you reach for a blanket. The chills get better when you reach the new higher temperature, and now you have a fever.”
Because chills are usually linked with a fever, which is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19, Thomas Giordano, MD, MPH, professor and section chief of infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine, tells Health, that means they’re also quite common with a coronavirus infection. One study of 164 symptomatic coronavirus patients released by the CDC in July found that 63% reported having chills. And a meta-analysis of 24,410 adults with COVID-19 published in PLOS Onein June found that 2,834 reported having rigors, i.e. severe chills that cause whole-body shaking.
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Allergies Vs Cold Vs Flu Vs Covid
While symptoms for all of these conditions can overlap, there are some key differences.
Allergies can sometimes be confused with the common cold or the flu, but with a cold or the flu you will have a fever and be more fatigued, you can have body pain, not just sneezing and itchy eyes, says Dr. Lahari Rampur, an allergist who sees patients at UW Medical Center Montlake and Harborview Medical Center.
Sneezing, runny nose, post-nasal drip, and itchy, puffy, watery eyes are common seasonal allergy symptoms and can also happen if you get a cold.
Flu typically involves a fever, body aches, chills, fatigue and possibly a headache or cough. With COVID-19, the most common symptoms are a fever, throat pain, or a new cough or new shortness of breath, though runny nose or nasal congestion can also occur. Some people lose their sense of smell or taste or have gastrointestinal symptoms.
If all you have are allergies or a cold, you probably wont get a fever or body aches and if you do, they will be mild. If you do get the flu or COVID-19, youre unlikely to have sinus or eye symptoms.
While seasonal allergies can make someone wheeze or cough, , it will usually be pretty mild.
Infection Due To A Kidney Stone
You might get chills because of an infection that starts when you have a kidney stone.
Sometimes minerals and salts stick together to form a hard mass inside your kidney called a kidney stone. This is more likely to happen if you don’t drink enough water each day, eat a diet that’s high in protein, or have a high body mass index
If the kidney stone irritates or blocks your urinary tract, it can cause an infection, which could cause chills.
Other symptoms you might get with kidney stones are:
- Pain in your side, back, belly, or groin
- Pain when you pee
- Pee more or less than you usually do
- Cloudy urine that smells funny
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What Are Other Causes Of Chills
As many as two in three people experience chills and shivering after receiving general anesthesia for a surgery. Even if you arent feeling cold, a drop in body temperature may cause you to shiver as you come out of the anesthesia.
Some people tremble from a surge of adrenaline after a traumatic event like an accident or near accident. Psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder , may also make you feel shaky.
Treating The Common Cold
Your body will get rid of the cold virus over time. Since antibiotics only kill bacteria, they wont work on the viruses that cause colds. Still, there are medications that can help relieve your symptoms while a cold runs its course.
Cold remedies include:
- pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
Cough syrups and OTC medications arent recommended for children under 4 years old, while nasal sprays arent recommended for children under age 6.
Ask your doctor before taking any OTC cold medication, especially if you also take prescription medications, have any existing health conditions, or are pregnant.
Dont use cold medications for a long period of time. Using them for extended periods can cause side effects such as rebound congestion.
You can also try home treatments to relieve a cold, such as:
- drinking more fluids like water, juice, and herbal tea
- loratadine-pseudoephedrine
Decongestants come in pills and nasal sprays. However, nasal decongestants such as oxymetazoline can make your congestion worse if you use them for more than three days in a row.
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You Have A Viral Or Bacterial Infection
When chills are accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, body aches or fatigue, theyre more likely associated with a systemic infection, such as flu or pneumonia.
Chills boost your bodys core temperature when your immune system attempts to fight off infection, Taroyan explains. Your body temperature increases, even though you might feel cold. If you have a viral infection, you will usually notice other symptoms along with chills, such as sore throat, cough, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. Most of the time, it can be self-limiting and will resolve within 2 weeks. Its important to get plenty of rest and increase your fluid intake.
What Is The Difference Between A Cold And Flu
Flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms are more intense. Colds are usually milder than flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations. Flu can have very serious associated complications.
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Ask For Allergy Shots
If antihistamines, nasal spray and staying inside arent controlling your symptoms, theres a more extreme measure you can take: getting allergy shots.
Like vaccines that protect you against viruses, there are shots that can prevent your body from reacting to pollen exposure. They treat the underlying problem rather than just the symptoms.
Unlike regular vaccines, however, you cant just get one allergy shot and call it good.
You have to come in regularly for shots for three to five years, its labor intensive and there are potential risks, Ayars explains.
Those risks range from mild things like redness at the injection site, to hives, to rare but serious things like anaphylactic shock.
Still, if youre someone who used to have mild sniffles during spring pollen season and now cant get through the day without antihistamines, it might be worth talking with your doctor about other treatments including allergy shots.
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Symptoms As Listed By The Cdc
Overall, the symptoms for COVID reported by the CDC include:
- Fever or chills
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
“This list is not all possible symptoms,” the CDC states. “Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.”
The CDC also has what it calls a “coronavirus self checker” that allows people to answer a series of questions to determine if they should seek medical care.
“The Coronavirus Self-Checker is an interactive clinical assessment tool that will assist individuals ages 13 and older, and parents and caregivers of children ages 2 to 12 on deciding when to seek testing or medical care if they suspect they or someone they know has contracted COVID-19 or has come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19,” the CDC’s website reads.
The CDC urges those who have or may have COVID-19 to watch for emergency warning signs and seek medical care immediately if they experience symptoms including:
- Trouble breathing
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Living With Allergic Rhinitis
Living with the symptoms of allergic rhinitis can affect your daily life. Nasal symptoms can be worse when lying down. This can disturb your ability to sleep well. Fatigue and headaches can affect your ability to function at school and work. There are many medicines and treatments that can help you manage your symptoms. Talk to your doctor as soon as you feel that your symptoms are getting worse or are not easy to control. He or she can help you come up with the right plan to control them so they dont affect your ability to live your normal life.
Is It Winter Allergies Or Covid
Amy Isler, RN, MSN, CSN, is a registered nurse with over six years of patient experience. She is a credentialed school nurse in California.
Angela Underwood’s extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder.
- Some allergy and COVID-19 symptoms can overlap.
- The key difference between the two is the severity of the symptoms.
- A viral infection will typically cause fever, chills, fatigue, and shortness of breath which are not associated with allergies.
As we enter the second winter season of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can still be confusing trying to tell the difference between winter allergies and COVID symptoms. The rise of the Omicron variant has only made the situation more complex.
A runny nose and sneezing, congestion, and sore throat are a few symptoms that can pop up if you have allergies or COVID-19the key difference is in how severe they are.
Allergy symptoms can be very similar to symptoms of COVID-19. However, allergy symptoms are going to be more mild, Amina Ahmed, MD, a pediatrician at Stanford Childrens Health, told Verywell. A viral infection will usually present with more severe symptoms that may include fever, chills, headache, and diarrhea.
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Can You Have Allergies And Covid
Keep in mind theres also the possibility that youre dealing with both allergy symptoms and COVID-19. If you have an overlap of characteristic symptoms that would normally distinguish these conditions from each other, like a fever, cough, sneezing, red eyes, and nasal itching, unfortunately, that could be whats going on.
Can Allergic Rhinitis Be Prevented Or Avoided
Allergic rhinitis cannot be prevented. You can help your symptoms by avoiding the things that cause your symptoms, including:
- Keeping windows closed. This is especially important during high-pollen seasons.
- Washing your hands after petting animals.
- Using dust- and mite-proof bedding and mattress covers.
- Wearing glasses outside to protect your eyes.
- Showering before bed to wash off allergens from hair and skin.
You can also avoid things that can make your symptoms worse, such as:
- Aerosol sprays.
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What Causes Chills
You experience chills when your bodys core temperature drops. For most people, the average core temperature hovers around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit . A normal temperature can vary between 97 F and 99 F, though.
Your bodys temperature naturally varies. But very low temperatures are dangerous. Exposure to extreme cold can lead to hypothermia . This problem occurs when body temperature drops below 95 F .
These health conditions can also make you shiver:
- Viruses, including those that cause the flu.
What Are Allergies
Allergies occur when your immune system has an adverse reaction to certain substances. When youre exposed to an allergy trigger, known as an allergen, your immune system releases chemicals called histamines. This release of histamines is what causes allergy symptoms.
Allergies and colds share some common symptoms, such as:
Allergies are more likely to cause:
- itchy eyes
- skin rashes, such as eczema or hives
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