Emergence of COVID-19 has caused the world to be on halt for more than 2 years. This pandemic has not only affected the physical health of a person but has taken a toll on their mental health. During the early days of the pandemic, symptoms of fever and loss of taste and smell sensation were the most common symptoms reported but currently has become the least reported symptoms. A latest study shows that the most common symptoms of a person developing COVID-19 is having a sore throat, followed by headache and a blocked nose. Finding doctors would be the wisest step to take when such symptoms are spotted and become worse.
Although we have been facing with COVID-19 for quite a while, symptoms of having one certainly differs between one person and another. Sometimes, a person might already catch this virus infection but did not show any symptoms and only is known after testing. In the early days, COVID-19 can easily be suspected when a person has a history of being in contact with another person contracting the disease or travelling from places that are high with COVID-19 cases. Unfortunately, nowadays with the COVID-19 becoming endemic to this country, everyone is at risk of catching this disease and spreading it to others. Thankfully, vaccine roll out has helped to curb the infection and continuously resulted in less mortality and morbidity.
However, with recent cases of COVID-19 showing symptoms of sore throat being the most common one, it can be difficult to distinguish a sore throat caused by COVID-19 and other potential causes. This is because a sore throat may also be caused by a common cold or flu stemming from the influenza viruses. People with influenza might also show similar symptoms of a COVID-19 like fever, cough, fever, body aches, fatigue and headaches. It is extremely difficult to distinguish COVID-19 and flu merely by looking at the signs and symptoms alone. Specific testing is necessary to detect the exact illness and to confirm a diagnosis.
Hence, you must have been wondering what a sore throat feels like if you are having COVID-19 infection. Well, it literally feels like having the typical flu or common cold. Much or less, you may experience some degree of fever, headache, easily tiredness and cough. Since a sore throat with COVID-19 feels similar to having a flu or influenza, you might want to get further evaluation by a healthcare professional. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 can cause more severe illness compared to flu and people infected with COVID-19 may take longer time to exhibit symptoms compared to people with flu. This makes COVID-19 much more contagious.
Therefore, by making sure that you are or are not having COVID-19, can greatly help to reduce the rate of infection by immediate self-isolation. Even though it is true that having the vaccines available helps to reduce the likelihood from getting complications, that does not mean it eliminates the possibility of getting infected by one. Practising good hygiene such as frequent washing hands using soap or hand sensitizer is the simple way of preventing yourself from catching COVID-19. Usage of face masks especially in crowded places and confined spaces can minimise risk for getting infected by the virus. The war against COVID-19 has not ended and society needs to be more vigilant as we are living along with these viruses on a daily basis. The fact that COVID-19 virus is able to evolve over time, is actually terrifying. Thus, we should always remember that the likelihood of anyone getting infected with the virus is always at an all-time high.
