18 September 2023 , 07:58
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Healthcare professionals are finding it increasingly difficult to distinguish Covid-19 from the common flu or seasonal allergies, as an increasing overlap in symptoms is being observed.
However, a significant difference in detecting and combating those is the impact of immunity. Doctors have claimed that vaccination and previous infections are contributing to milder Covid-19 symptoms. In contrast, vaccines are available for the flu, but their effectiveness can vary from season to season. Allergies are not caused by viruses and are typically managed with antihistamines and avoidance of allergens.
Covid-19 symptoms have evolved over time, and they can overlap with those of the flu and allergies. The common cold, flu, and allergies can cause symptoms like congestion, sore throat, and cough. Covid-19 often starts with a sore throat, congestion, and sometimes sneezing, followed by other symptoms such as headache, fatigue, muscle aches, fever, chills, and post-nasal drip. Loss of taste or smell, which was more common earlier in the pandemic, has become less frequent in Covid-19 cases.
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Milder Covid-19 symptoms are attributed to immunity from vaccinations and previous infections (Getty Images)Generally, Covid-19 symptoms observed today are milder than they were earlier in the pandemic. Many Covid-19 patients experience mild upper respiratory symptoms and do not require hospitalization or specific treatment. Dr. Dan Barouch, director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, attributed the mild symptoms that doctors are seeing to immunity from vaccines and previous infections. He told NBC News: "Overall, the severity of Covid is much lower than it was a year ago and two years ago. That’s not because the variants are less robust. It’s because the immune responses are higher."
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Covid-19 symptoms can last for several weeks and while loss of taste or smell was a hallmark symptom in the early stages of the pandemic, it has reportedly become less common with the prevalence of the omicron variant. Hospitalisation rates are also generally lower than they were earlier in the pandemic, especially among younger individuals. Rates of hospitalisation are highest among older adults, particularly those without recent vaccination or infection.
Long Covid, a condition where individuals continue to experience symptoms well after the acute phase of the illness, is still being observed, although rates have declined with the omicron variant. Long Covid symptoms can include rapid heart rate and exercise intolerance.
The most prevalent subvariant currently in circulation is EG.5, followed by FL.1.5.1, contributing to an increase in Covid cases. There's also a variant called BA.2.86 with numerous mutations, although it's not among the dominant variants. Booster shots are expected to be effective against these variants.