Is runny nose and mild headache a sign a Covid-19?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern. First and foremost, I would suggest you not panic anymore, even if there is a rise in COVID-19 cases. The virus is naturally bound to create new variants of itself and there will be outbreaks every year. Getting yourself tested is not going to change the treatment. Getting yourself vaccinated repeatedly with boosters is not going to help in any major way either (unless you are severely immunocompromised due to an underlying medical condition). I would suggest you follow the instructions mentioned below.

1. Salt water gargles at least five to six times a day for the next 10 days.

2. Tablet Sinarest LP (Levocetirizine, Phenylephrine, and Paracetamol) or its equivalent in the morning and evening after food for the next seven days. You can consider an analgesic tablet for the headache daily.

3. Tablet Allegra M (Montelukast and Fexofenadine), one tablet in the morning and evening after food for five days.

4. Keep sipping on boiled warm water every two hours.

5. Steam inhalations at least two to three times a day for five to seven minutes.

6. Avoid consumption of spicy or cold alcoholic beverages and refrain from smoking.

7. Avoid exposure to dust or smoke and non-ventilated places.

I think this should be sufficient for the time being. Your problem should be resolved in the next seven to ten days. If the nasal congestion prolongs for more than ten days, you need to consider seasonal allergies and it has to be addressed and treated appropriately.

Here are some red flags that you should not ignore:

1. If you persistently have a high fever in the range of 101 or 102 ⁰ F.

2. If you are breathless at rest and your oxygen saturation is less than 80 %.

3. Severe fatigue with restlessness and photophobia.

If you happen to encounter the above symptoms, I would suggest you approach the nearby emergency care facility. Mild fatigue, loss of appetite, mild fever with headache, and in some cases, loss of smell and taste will be there in minor viral infection. There is no such demarcating symptom to differentiate COVID from flu as the symptoms are fairly the same. Some patients may experience the same symptoms more often with COVID.

I hope this answers your query.

Thank you.

Regards.