With the pandemic under control, the majority of the population vaccinated and the lower incidence of the variants and subvariants that continue among us, there are few serious cases of covid in Spain.
However, we must not forget that the coronavirus is still with us and that, although it now manifests itself in a milder way -almost always-, it is necessary to know how to differentiate it from other seasonal conditions.
The flu and common colds have risen in incidence due to the reduction in the use of masks and the fall in restrictions, so now it is more difficult to differentiate if what we have is covid or a common cold.
To begin with, the most common symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and its prevalent variants -BA.4, BA.5 and BQ.1.1-, are the following:
Regarding the duration, the reports suggest that the covid infection with these variants is shorter than other cases that we witnessed during the first days of 2022, in the middle of the omicron wave.
A positive result is usually reversed in two or four days on average and, in addition, the symptoms, in general, attack in a milder way.
How do I tell it from a cold?
Regarding how to differentiate the symptoms of covid from those of a normal cold typical of the winter season in which we find ourselves, it is important to note that a common cold is rarely accompanied by a fever.
Cough, headache, and especially discharge and nasal congestionare the clearest symptoms that we have been victims of a cold typical of low temperatures.
In any case, the best thing to do is to perform an antigen test if we have any doubts and to be able to proceed with the appropriate treatment.
As of December 30, 2022, when the last Health report to date on the current situation of the coronavirus in Spain was published, there were a total of 3,717 people admitted due to covid throughout Spain, 236 of them in the ICU.