Is It COVID-19, Allergies, Flu or a Cold?

Los Angeles Postnasal Drip Specialist Address COVID-19 Ahead of the Fall Season
According to almanac.com, a trusted resource for long-range weather forecasts, the official kick-off to the fall season starts on September 22, 2020. Along with cooler temperatures, this time of year can mean the onset of allergies and upper respiratory infections, not to mention the common cold and flu. To make matters worse, many scientists, researchers, and infectious disease experts believe that we may also see an uptick in new coronavirus cases, also known as COVID-19, as we head into the fall season. As such, many people might confuse symptoms of common illnesses that typically occur in the fall with the novel coronavirus. Of course, this is not too hard to fathom as some fall-related illnesses do trigger symptoms associated with the deadly respiratory virus. Contacting our ENT doctor Los Angeles if you are experiencing sinus symptoms.

How to Tell If You Have COVID-19 or Just One of Many Fall-Related Illnesses
To understand what you might be up against should you start feeling ill this fall season, it helps to know a little more about allergies, upper respiratory infections, influenza, and the common cold, all of which tend to go hand-in-hand with cooler temperatures. That said, let’s take a moment to go over these illnesses and some of the associated symptoms:

Fall allergies – During the fall season, many people will encounter allergies that are typical of the season, such as watery eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and a runny nose. Some individuals may also experience post-nasal drip, which can lead to throat irritation. To combat these symptoms, many Los Angeles post-nasal drip specialists will advise patients to use antihistamines and over-the-counter nasal corticosteroid sprays. It is worth noting that the allergen that impacts most people in America during the fall is ragweed, which pollinates from around mid-August through early October.

Common colds and upper respiratory infections – Along with allergies, the fall season is a time when many people will develop the common cold, which often gives way to an upper respiratory infection, according to many Los Angeles postnasal drip specialists as well as head and neck doctors. Common symptoms or a cold can include a runny nose, low-grade fever, and a mild cough. Over-the-counter medications can resolve these symptoms. However, individuals who develop shortness of breath, headaches, diarrhea, or other symptoms not in line with the common cold should be seen by a physician.

Influenza – Also known as the flu, influenza is a virus that is quite similar to the coronavirus and claims the lives of more than 36,000 people every year. Fortunately, unlike the coronavirus, there are vaccines available that can protect against the flu. That said, common flu symptoms that are also associated with the coronavirus include muscle pain, chills, fatigue, dehydration, runny nose, headaches, shortness of breath, and a chronic cough.

Post Nasal Drip Treatment Los Angeles Explains When COVID-19 Testing Might Be Necessary
When it comes to fall allergies, the cold, or the flu, these illnesses are generally short-lived. As such, most head and neck doctors, particularly those with Chronic Nasal Mucus Treatment Los Angeles, often advise patients to schedule an appointment if their symptoms persist for more than a few weeks. And this is especially the case if they have a fever, dry cough, and severe shortness of breath. In these cases, most physicians, such as those with Chronic Nasal Mucus Treatment Los Angeles as well as those with post nasal drip treatment Los Angeles, for example, will, as a precaution, administer a COVID-19 test to their patients.