One of the most common symptoms of coronavirus is now a sore throat, according to experts.
Professor Tim Spector, co-founder of the King’s College ZOE symptom tracker app, said some two third of people who have covid experience a sore throat as their first warning sign. Prof Spector also said there are currently around three times as many people with colds as with covid in the UK.
He added: “Fever and loss of smell are really rare now – so many old people may not think they’ve got covid and would say it’s a cold and not be tested.”
READ MORE: What the main differences are in symptoms between covid, the flu and a cold
But what exactly does a sore throat mean and how does it differ from a sore throat when you have a cold or the flu?
Professor Denis Kinane, noted immunologist and founding scientist at Cignpost Diagnostics, recently spoke to the Mirror to offer his insights as many take ill during cold season.
When asked how a person can know their sore throat is due to a covid infection, Professor Kinane explained: “It is hard to differentiate between covid and a cold if all you have is a sore throat, but you can easily test yourself as well as watching out for other symptoms.
“As most people know by now, a sore throat from covid is more or less similar to any other throat infection. But when you get covid, you can also experience pain and scratchiness, especially while swallowing something.
“In many cases, patients additionally feel dryness and irritation which could be an outcome of inflammation in the back of your throat, which can be very discomforting.”
Professor Kinane further explored the characteristics of a sore throat from covid helping a person distinguish between the virus and a common cold:
- Covid sore throat usually appears in the first week of illness and can improve quite quickly.
- Compared to other sore throats, when it is caused by covid, it feels worse on the first day of infection but gets better on each following day.
- A sore throat lasts no more than five days, and it is usually mild.
- Anyone who suffers from sore throat for over five days should get themselves tested for some other illness.
How to treat your sore throat
Prof Kinane added: “Sore throats caused by a cold are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week.”
When it comes to symptoms and changes that should prompt a visit to your GP:
- If your sore throat does not improve after a week
- You often get sore throats
- You're worried about your sore throat
- You have a sore throat and a very high temperature, or you feel hot and shivery
- You have a weakened immune system – for example, because of diabetes or chemotherapy.
When asked how to remedy a sore throat quickly, Prof Kinane advised:
- Gargle with warm, salty water (children should not try this)
- Drink plenty of water
- Eat cool or soft foods
- Digest honey
- Avoid smoking or smoky places
- Suck ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets – but do not give young children anything small and hard to suck because of the risk of choking
- Rest.
You can ask a pharmacist about ways of relieving the pain and discomfort of a sore throat, such as:
- OTC medication including paracetamol or ibuprofen
- Medicated lozenges containing a local anaesthetic, antiseptic, or anti-inflammatory medicine
- Anaesthetic spray (although there's little proof they help).
“If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
ITV Good Morning Britain's Martin Lewis issues £400 scam warning to UK households
Antiques Roadshow guest overwhelmed by staggering valuation of item 'tucked away' in loft
OnlyFans model killed boyfriend after he 'let a man hit her'
Martin Lewis sends OBE back after having honour 'taken' from him
Driving expert explains 'unclear' road sign that many people 'don't know meaning of'
