How to determine whether a sore throat is COVID-19, and what it could be instead | Insider

CEID Core Faculty Dr. Cassandra Pierre shares insights on COVID-19 symptoms, including a sore throat:

“…COVID-19, another viral infection, can also cause a sore throat — but it may feel a little different. You may feel less soreness in your throat and more scratchiness, says [Dr. Pierre]. Almost half of people with COVID-19 develop a sore throat, according to health data from the Zoe Health Study. The best way to be sure a sore throat isn’t COVID-19 is to take a test, says Pierre.

…While the early strains of COVID-19 caused more lower respiratory symptoms, recent Omicron infections tend to cause mild to moderate symptoms, including sore throat. Pierre has noticed that patients are noting sore throat as a COVID-19 symptom more often.

Though some people with COVID-related sore throats have severe soreness, Pierre says that mild or itchy sore throats are the most common with COVID-19.

Sore throat may be someone’s only sign of COVID-19, but Pierre says it’s more common to have other symptoms, too”

Read the full article here.