Instead, scientists will need to sort out how Omicron may have shifted the odds of some symptoms compared to others. For example, loss of smell or taste — called "anosmia" and "ageusia," respectively, by doctors — emerged early during the pandemic as a telltale sign of COVID However, estimates of how many cases actually result in the symptom have ranged widely over the course of the pandemic and between different parts of the world. In November, one study estimated that as many as 1.
Night sweats, another symptom cited by a doctor at a media briefing in South Africa early in the country's Omicron wave, has been touted by tabloids as "a telltale sign which only happens at night that could mean you have been hit by the Omicron variant. Since June, monthly government surveys in the U. A new round of survey data for December, when the Omicron variant began to drive a record spike in cases there, is scheduled to be released later this month.
New clues could also come from ongoing studies investigating Omicron's effects on animals and tissue samples challenged with the virus in labs, which can control for factors like immunity or underlying conditions that might muddy data on the variant's effects in humans. Anthony Fauci, the president's chief medical adviser, told reporters last week.
Fauci pointed to some preprints, which have not yet completed peer review, studying the virus in mice and hamsters that found signs that Omicron may spread poorly compared to Delta in the lungs. Similar findings from researchers in Hong Kong suggest Omicron can spread faster than Delta in tissue from the bronchus the airway that leads to the lungs but slower in the lungs. Willett recently authored a study , which has not yet been peer-reviewed, of how Omicron infects the body's cells.
Delta was "fine-tuned" for infecting cells by fusion, Willett said, a mechanism by which the virus can fuse with the cell membrane. Additional complications could include fluid buildup in the lungs ; bacteria entering your bloodstream; or a lung abscess, which is a pus-filled cavity in the lungs. Like bronchitis, pneumonia can be spread through droplets of fluid launched into the air when someone coughs or sneezes.
You can breathe in those germs or pick them up by touching a contaminated surface. Bacterial pneumonia is usually treated with antibiotics. Viral pneumonia, on the other hand, might be fought with antiviral medications, over-the-counter pain relievers and breathing therapy. Vaccines can help protect the very young and the very old against some types of bacterial pneumonia. Quitting smoking and even avoiding lung-damaging secondhand smoke also can limit your chances of getting pneumonia.
The common symptoms of these two diseases — cough, fever, fatigue and an aching chest — are very similar. Bronchitis can even progress to pneumonia in some cases. But these are two very different diseases affecting different parts of the lungs, says Dr.
Pneumonia symptoms also are usually much more serious and, in some cases, potentially life-threatening. The bottom line? Upper airway infections can leave your lower airways vulnerable to bronchitis or pneumonia. Learn the difference between the two. Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. All sorts of viruses—from the common cold to influenza—can lead to viral pneumonia, which is fairly contagious, Roger Lovell, MD , infectious disease specialist at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, tells Health.
It passes easily between coworkers, spouses, friends, and fellow commuters. The good news? Bacterial pneumonia often occurs after another illness, like the cold or the flu. However, most of the time, the bacteria behind bacterial pneumonia do not spread from person to person, says Dr. The exception: "If you are not healthy or have problems with your immune system or have conditions that make it harder to fight off bacteria, then you are more susceptible to these bacteria, and it can lead to pneumonia," he says.
Along with viral and bacterial pneumonia, there's a third type worth knowing: fungal. This variant is far more rare and generally seen only in people with a weakened immune system due to certain conditions. You probably already know the drill here: Wash your hands frequently , avoid sneezers and their trail of tissues, and clean frequently touched surfaces—elevator buttons, handles, doorknobs—where germs can linger.
And keep your immune system strong with a nutritious diet, lots of water, and adequate sleep, Turner adds. Vaccines are also a powerful preventive measure. Get the flu vaccine annually —influenza on its own is unpleasant, but it can also lead to pneumonia.
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