What does a stuffy nose and sore throat mean

Q: What does it mean when I have a sore throat and a stuffy nose?

Common causes A sore throat is often a symptom of: colds or flu – you may also have a blocked or runny nose, a cough, a high temperature (fever), a headache and general aches. laryngitis (inflammation of the voice box) – you may also have a hoarse voice, a dry cough and a constant need to clear your throat.

Q: Does Covid start with a sore throat?

Yes, one of the possible symptoms of COVID-19 is a sore throat. Other common symptoms include fever, dry cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, headache and sudden loss of taste or smell.

Q: Can a sore throat and stuffy nose be Covid?

Both COVID-19 and the common cold are caused by viruses. COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, while the common cold is most often caused by rhinoviruses. ... Symptom check: Is it COVID-19 or a cold?.

Q: What to do if u have a sore throat and a stuffy nose?

Take charge with simple do-it-yourself treatments that clear up your stuffy nose and soothe your scratchy throat..

<< Back

Table of Contents Show

Common Cold
Risk Factors
When to Seek Medical Care
How to Feel Better
Over-the-Counter Medicine and Children
What does it mean when I have a sore throat and a stuffy nose?
Does Covid start with a sore throat?
Can a sore throat and stuffy nose be Covid?
What to do if u have a sore throat and a stuffy nose?

March 14, 2020

Eyes watering? Runny nose? Feel like your head is locked in an ever-tighter vice? Sounds like the start of seasonal allergies, maybe a cold or flu . . . but not COVID-19. To keep anxiety levels down, and reduce the crush on local healthcare during the coronavirus pandemic, it's important to know the difference between seasonal allergies or other illness and the more serious COVID-19. "This novel coronavirus causes a respiratory illness manifested by fever, cough and difficulty breathing," said Dr. Virginia Bieluch, the chief of infectious diseases at The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain. Pay particular attention to that combination of three symptoms. Less frequently, says the World Health Organization, a COVID-19 infection can produce symptoms similar to the flu like aches and pains, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion or diarrhea.

Allergies, unlike coronavirus, do not cause a fever and seldom shortness of breath. Yet the sneezing, runny nose, congestion and itchy, watery eyes are more than an inconvenience. Sometimes allergy sufferers don't know whether they're suffering from seasonal allergies, a nasty cold or even asthma that might require a doctor's attention. Unfortunately, your immune system doesn't know, either. Your body can't distinguish an actual infection from a cold and the symptoms caused by harmless pollen or mold. It treats inflammation in the nose and sinus the same: It releases cytokines to counteract an infection, even if one doesn't exist. "While sometimes the cold and the flu can have similar symptoms," says Dr. Bieluch, "a few factors point to the flu. Patients suffering from either illness can experience sneezing, stuffy nose, sore throat, chest discomfort and cough. Fever, chills, body aches, fatigue and headache are more common with influenza." A cold usually reveals itself gradually. The flu can hit like an anvil. "Flu symptoms will permeate the entire body," says Dr. Bieluch. You might experience coughing with both a bold and flu, but the flu often produces a more severe cough. Cold symptoms are typically milder than flu symptoms, too. "As far as telling the difference between allergy and virus," says Dr. Jason Kurtzman of Hartford HealthCare-GoHealth Urgent Care, "it's often hard due to overlap of symptoms. If the primary symptoms are itchy eyes, nasal congestion, postnasal drip, that is more likely allergy. If there is also fatigue or low-grade fever I'm more likely to say virus. Both can have sore throat and cough, but again I'm more likely to link those to viral illnesses. Ultimately, we treat both very similarly." It's relatively easy to distinguish allergies from potential COVID-19 symptoms. Allergy symptoms rarely extend beyond the head -- with nasal congestion, itchy eyes and sneezing -- unless you also get rash. If you similar symptoms each year, it's probably allergies. If in doubt, check the pollen count in your area. The real challenge is telling the difference between a seasonal virus, or flu, and coronavirus, which both affect the lower respiratory tract. Cold and mild flu symptoms resolve themselves with rest, plenty of fluids and over-the-counter medications. More severe flu and coronavirus symptoms can intensify. Call your doctor or schedule a virtual visit with a medical professional. Given heightened threat of coronavirus and the the stress on the state's healthcare system, do not go to a doctor's office, urgent care center or hospital emergency department without calling first.

Common Cold

Sneezing, stuffy and runny nose? You might have a cold. Colds are one of the most frequent reasons for missed school and work. Every year, adults have an average of 2 to 3 colds, and children have even more.

Antibiotics do not work against viruses that cause colds and will not help you feel better.

Causes

More than 200 viruses can cause a cold, but rhinoviruses are the most common type. Viruses that cause colds can spread from person to person through the air and close personal contact.

Risk Factors

Many factors can increase your risk of catching a cold, including:

Close contact with someone who has a cold
Season (colds are more common during the fall and winter, but it is possible to get a cold any time of the year)
Age (infants and young children have more colds per year than adults)

Symptoms

Symptoms of a cold usually peak within 2 to 3 days and can include:

Sneezing
Stuffy nose
Runny nose
Sore throat
Coughing
Mucus dripping down your throat (post-nasal drip)
Watery eyes
Fever (although most people with colds do not have fever)

When viruses that cause colds first infect the nose and sinuses, the nose makes clear mucus. This helps wash the viruses from the nose and sinuses. After 2 or 3 days, mucus may change to a white, yellow, or green color. This is normal and does not mean you need an antibiotic.

Some symptoms, especially runny or stuffy nose and cough, can last for up to 10 to 14 days. Those symptoms should improve over time.

When to Seek Medical Care

See a doctor if you have:

Trouble breathing or fast breathing
Dehydration
Fever that lasts longer than 4 days
Symptoms that last more than 10 days without improvement
Symptoms, such as fever or cough, that improve but then return or worsen
Worsening of chronic medical conditions

This list is not all-inclusive. Please see a doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning.

Colds can have similar symptoms to flu. It can be difficult (or even impossible) to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Learn more about differences between cold and flu.

When you have a cold, mucus fills your nose and could cause post-nasal drip, headache, and a sore throat.

How Long Will Symptoms Last with a Typical Cold?

When you have a cold:

a sore throat could last for 8 days
a headache could last for 9 or 10 days
congestion, runny nose, and cough could last for more than 14 days

baby icon Talk to a healthcare professional right away if your child is under 3 months old with a fever of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher.

Treatment

Your doctor can determine if you have a cold by asking about symptoms and examining you. Your doctor may also need to order laboratory tests.

There is no cure for a cold. It will get better on its own—without antibiotics. Antibiotics won’t help you get better if you have a cold.

When antibiotics aren’t needed, they won’t help you, and their side effects could still cause harm. Side effects can range from mild reactions, like a rash, to more serious health problems. These problems can include severe allergic reactions, antibiotic-resistant infections and C. diff infection. C. diff causes diarrhea that can lead to severe colon damage and death.

How to Feel Better

Below are some ways you can feel better while your body fights off a cold:

Get plenty of rest.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Use a clean humidifier or cool mist vaporizer.

Use saline nasal spray or drops.
- For young children, use a rubber suction bulb to clear mucus.
Breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water or shower.

Suck on lozenges. Do not give lozenges to children younger than 4 years of age.
Use honey to relieve cough for adults and children at least 1 year of age or older.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about over-the-counter medicines that can help you feel better. Always use over-the-counter medicines as directed. Remember, over-the-counter medicines may provide temporary relief of symptoms, but they will not cure your illness.

Over-the-Counter Medicine and Children

Carefully read and follow instructions on over-the-counter medicine product labels before giving medicines to children. Some over-the-counter medicines are not recommended for children of certain ages.

Pain relievers:
- Children younger than 6 months: only give acetaminophen.
- Children 6 months or older: it is OK to give acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Never give aspirin to children because it can cause Reye’s syndrome. Reye’s syndrome is a very serious, but rare illness that can harm the liver and brain.

Cough and cold medicines:
- Children younger than 4 years old: do not use over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in young children unless a doctor specifically tells you to. Cough and cold medicines can result in serious and sometimes life-threatening side effects in young children.
- Children 4 years or older: discuss with your child’s doctor if over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are safe to give to your child.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the right dosage of over-the-counter medicines for your child’s age and size. Also, tell your child’s doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter medicines they are taking.

Prevention

You can help prevent colds by doing your best to stay healthy and keep others healthy, including:

Clean your hands.
Avoid close contact with people who have colds or other upper respiratory infections.
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke.

What does it mean when I have a sore throat and a stuffy nose?

Common causes A sore throat is often a symptom of: colds or flu – you may also have a blocked or runny nose, a cough, a high temperature (fever), a headache and general aches. laryngitis (inflammation of the voice box) – you may also have a hoarse voice, a dry cough and a constant need to clear your throat.

Does Covid start with a sore throat?

Yes, one of the possible symptoms of COVID-19 is a sore throat. Other common symptoms include fever, dry cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, headache and sudden loss of taste or smell.

Can a sore throat and stuffy nose be Covid?

Both COVID-19 and the common cold are caused by viruses. COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, while the common cold is most often caused by rhinoviruses. ... Symptom check: Is it COVID-19 or a cold?.