{"id":114465,"date":"2024-10-15T16:26:47","date_gmt":"2024-10-15T09:26:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=114465"},"modified":"2024-10-15T16:26:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-15T09:26:47","slug":"do-you-have-a-cold-flu-or-the-new-covid-xec-strain-all-the-key-symptoms-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=114465","title":{"rendered":"Do you have a cold, flu or the new Covid XEC strain? All the key symptoms revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>IT&#8217;S that time of year again when everyone appears to be sick.<\/p>\n<p>From constant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/11712836\/ejected-bowels-windpipe-sneezing-damage-body\/\" rel=\"\">sneezing<\/a> and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/8352419\/how-stop-runny-nose-dr-zoe-this-morning\/\" rel=\"\">runny nose<\/a> to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/10000333\/how-to-get-rid-of-pesky-cough\/\" rel=\"\">hacking cough<\/a> and a fever &#8211; most people are suffering with something vile.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__media\">\n<div class=\"article__media-img-container open-gallery\" data-index=\"1\"><a href=\"#\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"With lateral flow tests no longer free, it can be hard to know which bug you have\" height=\"960\" width=\"650\" data-credit=\"\" data-img=\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=650\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 335px, (max-width: 520px) 480px, 620px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?w=335 335w, https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?w=480 480w, https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?w=620 620w, https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?w=670 670w, https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?w=960 960w, https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?w=1240 1240w, https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?w=1005 1005w, https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?w=1440 1440w, https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?w=1860 1860w, https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?w=1340 1340w, https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?w=1920 1920w, https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?w=2480 2480w\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/RW-14-10-GRAPHIC-COLD-FLU-COVID.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=650\" role=\"img\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article__gallery-count-value\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"article__media-caption\"><span class=\"article__media-span\">With lateral flow tests no longer free, it can be hard to know which bug you have<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Is it a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/9265387\/long-colds-covid-symptoms-weeks-months-study\/\">cold<\/a>? Flu? Or worse, Covid?<\/p>\n<p>While Covid isn&#8217;t as prominent as it was this time last year, a new concerning variant has arrived, and cases have risen over the past few weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Millions have already had the bug, and the majority of Brits also have protection due to the huge\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/4119705\/uk-first-world-beat-covid-jabs\/\">vaccine rollout<\/a>. But it&#8217;s still circulating. <\/p>\n<p>First detected in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/where\/germany\/\">Germany<\/a>\u00a0in June,\u00a0the XEC\u00a0variant has now been reported in several countries &#8211; including the UK.<\/p>\n<p>And now, it makes up one in 10 Covid cases in England and Wales.<\/p>\n<p>As it stands, scientists believe the fresh bug is not likely to be as deadly as some of its predecessors, but\u00a0it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/12475095\/new-covid-variant-xec-spreads-countries-uk-contagious\/\">could be more contagious<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It comes as experts fear Brits may face a &#8216;tripledemic&#8217; of bugs this winter, and the NHS rolls out a mass\u00a0vaccine drive.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the latest data from the\u00a0UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows\u00a0Covid-19\u00a0hospital admissions in England are continuing to rise.<\/p>\n<p>The admission rate for patients testing positive for Covid-19 stood at 4.5 per 100,000 people in the week to October 6, up from 3.7 a week earlier.<\/p>\n<p>It is the fourth weekly rise in a row.<\/p>\n<div id=\"bc-video-6345363456112\" class=\"brightcove\"><span class=\"article__bc_video-caption\">GP gives their verdict on cheap cold and flu home remedies<\/span><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;If you are showing symptoms of flu or Covid-19 such as a high temperature, cough, and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable,&#8221; Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, from the UKHSA.<\/p>\n<p>With lateral flow tests no longer free, it can be hard to know which bug you have.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s how to tell the difference.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">XEC<\/h2>\n<p>We don&#8217;t know for sure what the specific XEC symptoms are just yet.<\/p>\n<p>So far, the signs aren&#8217;t too dissimilar from what we&#8217;ve seen with earlier strains.<\/p>\n<p>This includes\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/9265692\/conditions-constantly-tired-exhausted-nhs\/\">tiredness<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/10561197\/common-different-types-headache-how-to-treat\/\">headaches<\/a>,\u00a0a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/9710825\/types-sore-throat-treat-tonsillitis-pharyngitis-laryngitis\/\">sore throat<\/a>, a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/lifestyle\/558422\/what-is-a-high-temperature-for-an-adult-and-child-when-you-need-to-seek-coronavirus-advice\/\">high fever<\/a>\u00a0and a dry cough.<\/p>\n<p>The loss of taste and smell &#8211; once a\u00a0hallmark\u00a0sign of the bug &#8211; is only reported by two to three per cent of infected Brits, according to the Office for National Statistics\u00a0(ONS).<\/p>\n<p>If you are suffering from Covid, prioritise rest and hydration while using over-the-counter medications like paracetamol to relieve symptoms.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-boxout\">\n<p><h3 class=\"article-boxout__headline t-s-border-color\">Which cold and flu remedies actually work?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-boxout__content theme__background-color-rgba-20\">\n<div class=\"article-boxout__content-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/10\/image_957430.webpstripall.png?strip=all&amp;w=620&amp;h=413&amp;crop=1\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Sun Health reporter Isabel Shaw put nine well-known cold and flu remedies when she was struck with a lurgy.<\/p>\n<p>Over the course of a week, she tried products targeted at all symptoms associated with cold and flu, as well as treatments that only aimed to get rid of specific issues.<\/p>\n<p>These included:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Hot honey and lemon<\/li>\n<li>Steam inhalation and Vicks Vaporub<\/li>\n<li>Echinacea<\/li>\n<li>Chicken soup<\/li>\n<li>A spicy curry<\/li>\n<li>Beechams All in One Oral Solution<\/li>\n<li>Strepsils<\/li>\n<li>Lemsip Max<\/li>\n<li>Sudafed Blocked Nose Spray<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>She took into account pain reduction, and how quickly and for how long they worked.<\/p>\n<p>Read her full verdicts\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/9688127\/best-cold-medicines-flu-tried-tested\/\">here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The best way to protect yourself from Covid is to get vaccinated.<\/p>\n<p>Jabs have been updated to tackle recent variants, though not specifically for XEC, which evolved from earlier Omicron strains.<\/p>\n<p>The NHS is offering autumn Covid boosters to the most vulnerable in October. This includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Over-64s<\/li>\n<li>People aged between six months and 64 years with health conditions that make them more vulnerable<\/li>\n<li>People living in care homes for older people<\/li>\n<li>Front-line health and social care staff, including in care homes for older people<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The NHS will contact eligible patients directly, but they can also book their own appointments now via the NHS App, GPs, pharmacies, drop-in clinics, or by calling 119.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flu<\/h2>\n<p>For many people, having the flu will feel like an exaggerated cold.<\/p>\n<p>The NHS states that flu symptoms can come on very quickly.<\/p>\n<p>They include: <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>A sudden high temperature<\/li>\n<li>An aching body<\/li>\n<li>Feeling tired or exhausted<\/li>\n<li>A dry cough<\/li>\n<li>A sore throat<\/li>\n<li>A headache<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/3740064\/insomnia-types-signs-symptoms-how-treat\/\">Difficulty sleeping<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Loss of appetite<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/3365101\/what-causes-diarrhoea-treat-it-when-see-doctor\/\">Diarrhoea<\/a> or tummy pain<\/li>\n<li>Feeling sick and being sick<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The dry cough could be similar to the cough experienced by people who have contracted coronavirus.<\/p>\n<p>The NHS states that the symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ear and appear less active.<\/p>\n<p>Infection rates and hospitalisations for flu are currently stable across all age groups, according to UKHSA data.<\/p>\n<p>But cases will likely rise in the coming weeks, peaking around Christmas time, according to the NHS.<\/p>\n<p>The health service offers a free flu jab to those most at risk of getting the virus, so if you qualify then you can get it free anywhere that offers it.<\/p>\n<p>This can be at your doctor&#8217;s surgery as well as supermarket pharmacies like\u00a0Asda\u00a0and high street favourites like\u00a0Boots.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re not in the eligible groups entitled to a free vaccination listed below, you can pay for a flu jab at certain stores.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>All children aged two and three<\/li>\n<li>All children in primary and all children in school Years seven to 11 in secondary school<\/li>\n<li>Children aged six months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions<\/li>\n<li>Those aged six months to under 65 years in clinical risk group<\/li>\n<li>Pregnant women<\/li>\n<li>Those aged 65 years and over<\/li>\n<li>Unpaid carers<\/li>\n<li>Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals<\/li>\n<li>Frontline health and adult social care staff<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A cold<\/h2>\n<p>Rhinovirus, more commonly known as the\u00a0common cold, is\u00a0a mild viral infection\u00a0that circulates all year long.<\/p>\n<p>Professor John Tregoning, of\u00a0Imperial College London, previously told The Sun that the bug usually peaks in about October but &#8220;never really goes away&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s normal for a child to have eight or more colds a year, and adults two, official guidance states.<\/p>\n<p>The NHS says a\u00a0common cold\u00a0can cause:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>A blocked or runny nose<\/li>\n<li>A sore throat<\/li>\n<li>Headaches<\/li>\n<li>Muscle aches<\/li>\n<li>Coughs<\/li>\n<li>Sneezing<\/li>\n<li>A raised temperature<\/li>\n<li>Pressure in your ears and face<\/li>\n<li>Loss of taste and smell<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The difference between a cold and the flu is that a cold does not typically cause such a sudden spike in temperature.<\/p>\n<p>There may be more blockage in the sinuses and a feeling of stuffiness, as opposed to flu which is more like total body fatigue.<\/p>\n<p>With a common cold, you can usually expect to see an improvement after less than a week, although this can vary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/health\/9631179\/cold-flu-covid-new-variant-symptoms\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IT&#8217;S that time of year again when everyone appears to be sick. From constant sneezing and a runny nose to a hacking cough and a fever &#8211; most people are &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=114465\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-114465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114465","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=114465"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114465\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=114465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=114465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=114465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}