Can coronavirus start with a cold?

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

After the coronavirus infection began to spread around the world, WHO experts voiced the main symptoms that should be paid attention to. Whether the coronavirus can start with a runny nose, sneezing and without an increase in body temperature - let's figure it out further.

Symptoms of a coronavirus infection

When diagnosing a coronavirus, the following signs are noted:

• nasal congestion or runny nose. But a runny nose is only rarely considered a sign of coronavirus, since it is more common for allergies or colds;
• diarrhea;
• pains of a different nature - headache, chest, aches in the limbs.

Nasal congestion and runny nose are experienced by no more than 5% of patients with coronavirus infection.

As for sneezing, this symptom is not at all peculiar to COVID-19. However, the coronavirus can also be transmitted from sneezing people.

Coronavirus and runny nose

Given that the coronavirus infection has not yet been fully studied, there are many opinions about the signs indicating its onset. Some argue that COVID-19 begins with a runny nose without fever, with a sore throat, and in a child with conjunctivitis.

The question of whether the coronavirus can start with the listed symptoms is still controversial - scientists and doctors did not come to a consensus. COVID-19 is an atypical viral disease. Therefore, each patient who contracted it notes his symptoms of its manifestation.

It all depends on how strong the immunity of a particular patient is. Almost all people with COVID-19 have a cough and fever. But such a symptom as a runny nose was detected in only 5% of cases worldwide.

As for children, their immunity has not yet been fully formed, as a result of which the symptoms of coronavirus infection may differ from those inherent in adults. Therefore, in babies, the infection can begin with a runny nose and with a sore throat.

Sneezing with coronavirus

Scientists have made a statement that sneezing is one of the signs of the appearance of COVID-19. Earlier it was reported that the coronavirus infects the bronchi, thereby causing pneumonia. Therefore, the main symptoms of the disease were considered coughing, shortness of breath, and sneezing was not attributed to signs of coronavirus infection.

But now, experts from the World Health Organization say COVID-19 is spread from people who sneeze. The "radius of damage" by a coronavirus infection when sneezing is 7-8 meters. And the formed cloud can last up to several minutes.

But sneezing is not a sign of coronavirus infection, and an increased temperature cannot always indicate that COVID-19 infection has occurred. All such signs may indicate colds, flu. And to make an accurate diagnosis, you must pass a test for the presence of coronavirus in the body.

Differences between coronavirus infection and the common cold

The number of cases of coronavirus infection in Russia continues to grow. As of October 1, 2020, 1,185,231 people were recorded (for all time), while the increase during the day was 8,945 people.

Against the background of an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections, impressionable citizens note the appearance of malaise and coughing. But in order not to miss the onset of the disease, you need to know exactly when to sound the alarm.

According to the therapist A. Lavrischev, there are two ways to detect coronavirus infection:

1. Pass the test.
2. Examine all symptoms.

So, if a patient has a runny nose, conjunctivitis, a slightly elevated body temperature, then most likely these are signs of rhinitis, tonsillitis, but not a coronavirus infection. The doctor also says that the symptoms of coronavirus are not very different from those of the flu.

Patients complain of headaches, body aches. But the infection that came to us from China does not imply the appearance of a runny nose, sore throat.

In children, the coronavirus cannot start with a runny nose or conjunctivitis, as these are more signs of colds.

In addition, the specialist is sure that most of the world's population will get coronavirus infection, but asymptomatic. Such patients will not even have a cough and fever.

Outcomes

The main signs of coronavirus infection are high fever, cough. A sneeze is not a sign of illness, but a person who sneezes can spread COVID-19. Therefore, it is important to maintain social distance and use personal protective equipment in public places.