Latest news with #TheHuffPost
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Economic Times
‘Razor blade throat': The COVID symptom alarming people right now
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Patients infected with COVID-19 are increasingly reporting an intense sore throat symptom, described by some as feeling like 'razor blades' in the throat. The term 'razor blade throat' has gained traction in parts of China, and search trends in the United States suggest growing concern over this specific to Google trends, searches such as 'new COVID variant painful symptom' and 'COVID razor throat' are on the rise. However, health experts stress that the symptom itself is not new or unique to any recent COVID-19 variant. While the description may sound alarming, physicians note that sore throat has long been among the common symptoms of read: Health experts sound alarm over terrifying new Covid variant found in US. Is it more dangerous? 'In the past, as new variants have come on the scene, there almost invariably have been questions about distinctive symptoms, and after a while, when you gather a lot of data, turns out not to be the case — all of these symptoms have occurred before,' said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to The Huff Post in noted that more recent omicron variants tend to cause less severe illness overall. Similarly, Dr. Carrie Horn, chief medical officer at National Jewish Health in Colorado, said that very sore throats have been associated with COVID-19 infections for some time. 'It's a symptom that has been associated with COVID infections for a while,' Horn said to The Huff stated that although he had not specifically heard the 'razor blade' terminology, he had encountered reports of painful sore throats among COVID-19 patients. Not everyone experiences this intense symptom, and it is not indicative of a new or more dangerous form of the virus.'There is not one outstanding COVID symptom that marks an infection,' said Dr. Mark Burns, an infectious disease specialist at UofL Health in Louisville, Kentucky to The Huff Post. 'A sore throat is a symptom of this, but also fever and cough and fatigue, these are all symptoms as well.'Also read: New Covid vaccine developed by USA researchers is ready to fight Coronavirus. How effective it is? Burns emphasized that the presence or intensity of a sore throat is not tied to any specific variant or form of the virus. 'To sum it all up, the symptoms, including sore throat, are really no different. There's no increased intensity based on sore throat or anything like that,' he noted that COVID-19 infections typically surge twice a year, once in winter and once in mid-to-late summer. He reiterated the CDC Advisory Committee's recommendation that individuals at higher risk of severe illness should receive two vaccinations annually: one in the fall and another in early guidance applies to adults aged 65 and older, individuals with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant people. 'The recommendation is take special precautions and get that extra dose, because if we get infected ... we get that extra protection and to help keep us out of the hospital,' Schaffner further reduce risk, Burns recommended masking indoors, maintaining social distance, frequent handwashing, and increasing ventilation. For those who do become infected, testing and contacting a healthcare provider are essential, especially for high-risk individuals, since effective treatments are read: The Covid connection behind rising measles cases across the US Horn advised using over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to manage symptoms, as well as prioritizing hydration. 'There's no reason to be miserable,' she said. Despite discomfort from sore throat, drinking water and herbal teas is critical to prevent dehydration and soothe inflamed membranes.'If you are sick, it's best to keep your germs to yourself,' Horn added. This includes skipping social events and staying home from work. If attending work is unavoidable, wearing a tight-fitting mask is strongly advised.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
‘Razor blade throat': The COVID symptom alarming people right now
Severe sore throat draws attention in COVID-19 cases Patients infected with COVID-19 are increasingly reporting an intense sore throat symptom, described by some as feeling like 'razor blades' in the throat. The term 'razor blade throat' has gained traction in parts of China, and search trends in the United States suggest growing concern over this specific symptom. According to Google trends, searches such as 'new COVID variant painful symptom' and 'COVID razor throat' are on the rise. However, health experts stress that the symptom itself is not new or unique to any recent COVID-19 variant. While the description may sound alarming, physicians note that sore throat has long been among the common symptoms of infection. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Car Novels Undo Also read: Health experts sound alarm over terrifying new Covid variant found in US. Is it more dangerous? Doctors confirm 'razor blade throat' is not a new symptom 'In the past, as new variants have come on the scene, there almost invariably have been questions about distinctive symptoms, and after a while, when you gather a lot of data, turns out not to be the case — all of these symptoms have occurred before,' said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to The Huff Post in Nashville. Live Events Schaffner noted that more recent omicron variants tend to cause less severe illness overall. Similarly, Dr. Carrie Horn, chief medical officer at National Jewish Health in Colorado, said that very sore throats have been associated with COVID-19 infections for some time. 'It's a symptom that has been associated with COVID infections for a while,' Horn said to The Huff Post. Schaffner stated that although he had not specifically heard the 'razor blade' terminology, he had encountered reports of painful sore throats among COVID-19 patients. Not everyone experiences this intense symptom, and it is not indicative of a new or more dangerous form of the virus. General COVID symptoms remain consistent across variants 'There is not one outstanding COVID symptom that marks an infection,' said Dr. Mark Burns, an infectious disease specialist at UofL Health in Louisville, Kentucky to The Huff Post. 'A sore throat is a symptom of this, but also fever and cough and fatigue, these are all symptoms as well.' Also read: New Covid vaccine developed by USA researchers is ready to fight Coronavirus. How effective it is? Burns emphasized that the presence or intensity of a sore throat is not tied to any specific variant or form of the virus. 'To sum it all up, the symptoms, including sore throat, are really no different. There's no increased intensity based on sore throat or anything like that,' he said. Prevention and treatment for COVID-19 symptoms Schaffner noted that COVID-19 infections typically surge twice a year, once in winter and once in mid-to-late summer. He reiterated the CDC Advisory Committee's recommendation that individuals at higher risk of severe illness should receive two vaccinations annually: one in the fall and another in early summer. This guidance applies to adults aged 65 and older, individuals with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant people. 'The recommendation is take special precautions and get that extra dose, because if we get infected ... we get that extra protection and to help keep us out of the hospital,' Schaffner said. To further reduce risk, Burns recommended masking indoors, maintaining social distance, frequent handwashing, and increasing ventilation. For those who do become infected, testing and contacting a healthcare provider are essential, especially for high-risk individuals, since effective treatments are available. Also read: The Covid connection behind rising measles cases across the US Horn advised using over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to manage symptoms, as well as prioritizing hydration. 'There's no reason to be miserable,' she said. Despite discomfort from sore throat, drinking water and herbal teas is critical to prevent dehydration and soothe inflamed membranes. 'If you are sick, it's best to keep your germs to yourself,' Horn added. This includes skipping social events and staying home from work. If attending work is unavoidable, wearing a tight-fitting mask is strongly advised.
