Or you could easily point the finger at allergic fever if you are particularly prone, as Britain has been hit repeatedly by a pollen bomb. But as the pandemic has worn off, Covid himself has become much milder. And with the virus sweeping the country once again, it means that the symptoms that leave you stuck on the couch with a box of tissues may actually have been triggered by Covid. So, since all three diseases can destroy people in a similar way, here is the ultimate guide to telling what is really behind your runny nose, cough or aches and pains. The graph shows: Common (green tick), occasional (orange circle) and never (red cross) symptoms of the common cold, allergic fever and Covid Covid infections have almost doubled in a fortnight in the UK, rising to around 1.4 million in the last week
Symptoms of covid
Common
Fever Cough Loss of taste or smell
Sometimes
Headache Runny nose or stuffy nose Sneeze Fatigue Sore throat Pains or aches Breathing difficulty Diarrhea Nausea and vomiting Loss of appetite
Never
Itching, red or watery eyes
Covid At the beginning of the pandemic, people were told to watch out for three Covid warning signs: loss of taste or smell, persistent cough and fever. But as new variants evolved and vaccines and repetitive waves reduced the threat of the virus, the official list of symptoms continued to grow. The NHS now recognizes 12 symptoms associated with Covid. According to the ZOE symptom monitoring study, the most commonly reported signs of the virus are now runny nose (66%), sore throat (65%), headache (64%), persistent cough (63%). and fatigue (62 percent). But because of the range of symptoms and the high prevalence of the virus, Professor Tim Spector, an epidemiologist at King’s College London who is leading the study, encourages people to take a test anyway. The virus is currently in its fifth wave in Britain, led by Omicron subunits BA.4 and BA.5, which are thought to be more contagious but just as mild as their ancestor. The most unique feature of Covid is the complete loss of smell or taste, known as anosmia, which is rarely reported in colds and allergic fevers. Researchers at Harvard University published a study in Science Advances in July 2020, showing that the virus invades blood vessels in the nose and stem cells in the nose that supply energy to nerves that transmit the sense of smell to the brain. However, Omicron is less likely to cause loss of taste or smell because the variant multiplies deeper in the lungs than in the nose, experts say. Of the newer symptoms reported for Covid, only diarrhea and nausea or vomiting are unique to the virus and are also not caused by allergic rhinitis or colds. Suggests that if you have these as well as coughs, it may well be Covid. NHS guidance instructs people to stay home and avoid contact with other people if you have Covid symptoms – and have a PCR test. People are no longer legally required to take tests if they are symptomatic, nor should they be isolated if they are positive.
Symptoms of allergic fever
Common
Runny nose or stuffy nose Sneeze Itching, red or watery eyes
Sometimes
Cough Loss of taste or smell Headache Fatigue Breathing difficulty
Never
Fever Sore throat Pains or aches Diarrhea Nausea and vomiting Loss of appetite
Grass fever High levels of pollen over the past two weeks have left millions suffering from allergic rhinitis. Experts suspect that staying indoors longer than usual in the last two years of the pandemic has left many vulnerable to pollen, making their reactions to it more intense this year. Unlike the common cold and Covid, allergic fever is an allergic reaction to pollen – rather than an illness caused by an infection. This means that the symptoms are caused by an overreaction of the immune system to a foreign body that perceives it as a threat – in this case pollen. Runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and itchy, red or watery eyes are the most common signs of an allergy. But watery eyes are, in theory, the only unique feature that is not at least occasionally characteristic of Covid or the common cold. The body naturally tries to flush the pollen out of the body, causing the tear ducts to begin to produce fluids to help alleviate the presence of dust produced by plants. The eyes also ache as the body causes inflammation, known as allergic conjunctivitis – when a thin, clear film covers the whites of the eyes and the inside of the eyelids. The histamine produced during the reaction also irritates the nerve endings, causing itching, while the blood vessels dilate and swell to fight the irritant, resulting in redness. Unlike the other two diseases, allergic fever does not cause higher temperatures, said Marc Donovan, chief pharmacist at Boots, so it is safe to rule out allergies if these are your symptoms. Mr Donovan said: “Allergic fever does not cause high fever and most people do not feel well. “Symptoms include sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itching, red watery eyes or itchy throat.” He said he used barrier balms, such as Vaseline, around his nostrils to trap pollen and wore sunglasses to keep pollen out of his eyes to keep symptoms under control. Antihistamine tablets and nasal sprays can also be used to combat symptoms.
Cold symptoms
Common
Cough Sore throat Runny nose or stuffy nose Sneeze
Sometimes
Pains or aches Fever Loss of taste or smell Headache Fatigue Loss of appetite
Never
Diarrhea Nausea and vomiting Breathing difficulty Itching, red or watery eyes
Common cold The common cold, although less common in the summer, can affect people all year round and is especially prevalent during festival seasons, when people return from live events with thousands of people in attendance. Two years of lockdown have lowered people’s immunity to colds, and the hundreds of thousands who went to Glastonbury last week will inevitably be exposed to viruses under the prevailing conditions. Coughing, sore throat, runny nose or stuffy nose and sneezing are the most common symptoms caused by hundreds of viruses that cause the common cold. Aches and pains, fever, headaches, fatigue and loss of appetite can also be indicative signs, while loss of taste or smell is also an occasional symptom. The absence of swollen eyes could be a sign that you are really having a cold and not a seasonal allergy. Meanwhile, diarrhea, nausea or shortness of breath beyond the previous symptoms could indicate that it is actually Covid and not a simple cold you are experiencing. Symptoms are caused when any of the 200 different viruses cause inflammation of the membranes that cover the nose and throat. They are not actually caused by cold weather, but the body is more susceptible to infection when the immune system is weaker – something that can be caused by a drop in temperature. Mr Donovan said: “Colds can still occur during the warmer months and usually include sneezing and coughing, along with a sore throat, headache and sometimes loss of taste and smell. “You could consider taking painkillers to relieve pain or relieving a stuffy nose with a decongestant nasal spray or decongestant tablets.”
