When the warm days are over, we all know what's likely to follow - a stuffy nose. This year, that well-known phenomenon may be a cause for concern, considering the pandemic caused by the disease COVID-19.
The fact is that runny nose and stuffy nose are listed as symptoms of the coronavirus, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but according to Dr. Nehe Vyas of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, is not considered the most common symptom. So how concerned should we be if our nose is runny, stuffy and sneezing?
For now, there is no data on how many infected people have this symptom, but the World Health Organization says that there are. At the very beginning of the pandemic, they published results according to which 4.8 patients in China also reported this symptom. The figure is much lower than symptoms such as fever (87.9%), dry cough (67.7%), and fatigue (38.1%).
Like many symptoms of the coronavirus, nasal congestion is not a specific symptom, meaning it can be associated with a number of illnesses. This is especially important to know at a time when we are threatened by the flu and allergies, as well as the common cold, reports ordinacija.hr.
dr. Vyas explains that if a patient comes to her with a stuffy nose, she first checks whether the patient has other symptoms of COVID, in addition to their general health. "It is important not to draw conclusions without checking, so every doctor will ask if there are allergy symptoms and if you have the same problems every year when autumn comes," he adds.
In addition, your lifestyle also plays a big role. If you ignore instructions on distancing, don't wear a mask or don't wash your hands, the coronavirus text should be the next step, concluded Dr. Vyas. However, if you're one to follow recommendations, your doctor of choice probably won't immediately advise testing for the coronavirus.
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