COVID-19 results from an infection with the virus SARS-CoV-2, so, as with a cold virus, it is not an allergy immune response.
COVID-19 also has some similarities and differences with the common cold. Both are viral illnesses, but a cold tends to cause milder symptoms. Traditionally, COVID-19 often causes symptoms such as fever, chills, loss of taste and smell, fatigue, wheezing, headache, diarrhea, and body aches.
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In severe cases, a person will have difficulty breathing and may lose consciousness. An allergy may cause similar symptoms such as wheezing or shortness of breath if a person also has asthma or is experiencing anaphylaxis, which is life threatening.
However, people with severe COVID-19 may need to be hospitalized and connected to a ventilator to breathe, which is usually not the case with a cold or asthma.
It may be much more difficult to distinguish between COVID-19 and influenza, or the flu — another virus that can cause severe illness.
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Learn how to tell the difference between COVID-19 and the flu.
Cold vs. Omicron variant
Many viruses that cause the common cold are different types of coronaviruses.
Recent research shows that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 may have mutated to acquire some genetic material from another cold-causing coronavirus.
This may explain, at least in part, why this strain appears to be more infectious and its symptoms appear to be milder and more similar to those of a cold.
Data from a COVID-19 symptom study, conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, King’s College London, and Stanford University School of Medicine for the health science company ZOE, showed that Omicron symptoms tend to be cold-like — mainly runny nose, headache, sore throat, and sneezing.
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Omicron also appears to cause less severe illness in children under 5 years.
The symptoms of traditional COVID-19 like the Delta variant usually develop in 1-14 days, with a median period of 5 days. However, with Omicron, the median incubation period appears to be short at 3 days. The cold also usually develops in 2-3 days.
Since a person cannot know what variant of COVID-19 they may have contracted, and the symptoms may be similar, any person who experiences cold-like symptoms should have a test for COVID-19.
When to seek help?
It is not always easy to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy, so it is important to know when to see a healthcare professional. If symptoms last for more than 2 weeks or if they are severe, it may be a good idea to see a doctor.
According to the AAAAI’s referral guidelines, people who have allergies should consult an allergist/immunologist if they:
- need to confirm the diagnosis of allergies or asthma
- require education and guidance in techniques for self-management of allergies or asthma
- are considering immunotherapy — allergy shots
- have nasal polyps
- have co-existing conditions, such as asthma or recurrent sinusitis
- find medications to be ineffective
- experience symptoms that interfere with quality of life or the ability to function, or both
If a person has severe symptoms such as not being able to breathe, they should seek medical attention immediately in case they are experiencing an asthma attack, anaphylaxis, or severe COVID-19.
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