The BF.7 variant is driving the surge in Covid-19 cases in China. While the east Asian country is reporting at least 9000 cases in a day. This sudden rise in cases occurred after years of hardline containment restrictions were dismantled last month. The National Health Commission has stopped publishing daily nationwide infection and death statistics in the country.
The Union Health ministry in India had alerted after Christmas last year that the coming 40 days would be crucial for the residents of India, even as it tightens its grip on the Covid testing of inbound passengers from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan.
However it is to be noted that the alarm by the health ministry was sounded also keeping in mind that winter season also breeds several respiratory illness which may necessarily not be Covid-19.
Winters in India also increases the risk of common cold, flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection. It is imperative that one notes the crucial difference in symptoms of the various infection which sets them apart from Coivd-19.
Loss of taste and smell is has been observed to be a common symptoms during respiratory illness.
People who get viral infections often lose their sense of taste and smell. This remained a quintessential symptom of testing for Covid-19 during the first wave of the pandemic.
However, experts have pointed out that stuffy nose reduces the ability of the human body to taste or smell something.
Common Cold
Common cold is a viral infection of the nose and throat.
The typical symptoms of common cold are
-Cough
-Runny nose
-Stuffy nose
-Sneezing
-Sore throat
-Difficulty in breathing
-Fever
-Headache
-Muscle pain
-Body ache
-Vomiting
-Diarrhea
Kids have been noted to be wheezing if they are suffering from common cold.
Influenza
Influenza or flu is caused by influenza virus types A and B, which cause acute respiratory illnesses. The severity of the illness is higher in children aged 5-9 years of age.
The symptoms of flu are
-Cough
-Fatigue
-Fever
-Headache
-Muscle pain
-Body aches
-Runny nose
-Sneezing
-Sore throat
-Vomiting
-Diarrhea
Occasionally symptoms like difficulty in breathing and wheezing is also seen in people who are down with flu.
In children including the infants, the first infection may cause severe bronchiolitis which can be fatal sometimes. In older children and adults without comorbidities, repeated upper respiratory tract infections are common and range from subclinical infection to symptomatic upper respiratory tract disease.
RSV
The classic symptoms of RSV infection are
-Cough
-Runny or stuffy nose
-Wheezing
-Sneezing
-Fever
-Headache
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