{"id":141451,"date":"2021-11-13T07:53:32","date_gmt":"2021-11-13T11:53:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=141451"},"modified":"2021-11-13T07:53:32","modified_gmt":"2021-11-13T11:53:32","slug":"got-a-runny-nose-doctor-says-dont-assume-its-the-flu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/got-a-runny-nose-doctor-says-dont-assume-its-the-flu\/","title":{"rendered":"Got a runny nose? Doctor says don\u2019t assume it\u2019s the flu"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CNC3: With all the hysteria around COVID-19, it may be comforting to assume that a runny nose or headache is simply because of seasonal influenza (Flu) or allergies brought on by the Saharan dust.<\/p>

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However, with all three presenting at times with similar symptoms, internal medicine specialist Dr Joel Teelcuskingh advises that it\u2019s better to assume it\u2019s COVID-19 and not the milder, less serious conditions.<\/p>\n

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Differentiating between the conditions based solely on symptomatology, he said, could be a \u201cclinical conundrum.\u201d<\/p>

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\u201cThese three conditions are remarkably similar and the only way sometimes to differentiate amongst them would be via a test,\u201d he said.<\/p>

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Given the current outbreak of COVID-19, the spread of which the country is at ends trying to control, Dr Teelucksingh said it\u2019s safer to assume it\u2019s not the flu or \u201csinus\u201d to avoid transmitting it on to others.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay at home from work or school if you are ill. So if you have symptoms, contact your healthcare provider and go for a test,\u201d he said.<\/p>

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He said it\u2019s especially important for fully vaccinated people who may experience milder symptoms but still transmit COVID-19.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe symptoms are different now (because of the Delta Variant)\u2026some persons may just have headaches, lethargy or a runny nose and this may herald infection with COVID-19,\u201d he said.<\/p>

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There are vaccines now widely available locally for both COVID-19 and the seasonal flu which he urged people to take.<\/p>

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He said the COVID-19 protocols such as mask-wearing, hand washing and social distancing will also work to prevent spreading or contracting influenza.<\/p>\n

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CNC3: With all the hysteria around COVID-19, it may be comforting to assume that a runny nose or headache is simply because of seasonal influenza (Flu) or allergies brought on by the Saharan dust. However, with all three presenting at times with similar symptoms, internal medicine specialist Dr Joel Teelcuskingh advises that it\u2019s better to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":141452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-141451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"yoast_head":"\nGot a runny nose? 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