Essential Checklist During the Pandemic: How to Identify COVID-19 Symptoms vs. Common Cold

The ongoing pandemic remains a significant global health challenge. Consequently, healthcare professionals emphasize the importance of early symptom recognition to identify COVID-19 infection at its initial stages.

Over the past year and a half, anyone experiencing respiratory symptoms often immediately contacts a doctor suspecting COVID-19. However, according to medical experts, distinguishing between a common cold and the coronavirus is often possible almost instantly. In fact, most individuals can self-assess and recognize potential COVID-19 infection.

Both illnesses share similar symptoms such as a sore throat, cough, fever, and runny nose. However, when respiratory signs appear, it’s important to stay calm. People infected with COVID-19 typically notice symptoms that feel distinctly different from other illnesses. Additionally, COVID-19 presents unique symptoms not commonly associated with the common cold.

• How to Recognize Symptoms of the Indian COVID-19 Variant

"Many COVID-19 cases begin with mixed symptoms, including bacterial infections causing sore or scratchy throat," explains Dr. Inna Mishina.

Common symptoms reported by patients include cough, diarrhea, headaches, night sweats, chills, fatigue, and loss of appetite. These complaints often prompt individuals to seek medical attention.

Uncommon symptoms such as burping and eight other subtle signs and consequences of COVID-19 are also being observed.

"If symptoms like nausea and diarrhea intensify rapidly—especially as indicators of the new 'Delta variant'—and coughing worsens with increasing difficulty breathing, it is crucial to seek medical care immediately. Do not wait more than one to two days for symptoms to deteriorate. Most recent patients have experienced rapid symptom escalation, sometimes within a few hours. Until professional help arrives, manage fever and monitor closely," the physician advises.

Interestingly, loss of smell and taste is now less frequently reported among COVID-19 patients. Typically, only specific odors or foods may be unrecognizable, while other scents might be distorted. This change is attributed to viral mutations altering symptom patterns. For instance, the Delta variant often causes unusual eye pain and irritation.

Definitive diagnosis requires blood tests and PCR testing conducted within the first days of symptom onset. Additionally, doctors recommend a complete blood count to avoid false-negative results.

"It is essential to perform a complete blood count and prothrombin index (PTI), which measures blood clotting time compared to normal plasma. A low fibrinogen level indicating poor blood clotting increases the likelihood of COVID-19 infection," the healthcare professional explains in detail.

Source materials: MK

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