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As the temperatures drop and people flock indoors, Covid cases are expected to increase even further.
Fortunately, one tell-tale sign could help you identify the infection “early” and curb further spread.
During all Covid waves, pharyngitis has been considered an early symptom of the virus, usually appearing in the first week of illness.
Characterised by a scratchy or irritated sensation, pharyngitis, better known as sore throat, tends to feel worse on the first day of infection and improve on each following day, the Zoe Health Study reports.
The health portal explains that Covid-related sore throats tend to be relatively mild and last no more than five days.
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Other symptoms of Covid to spot
Dr Johannes Uys, GP at Broadgate GP, told Express.co.uk that other symptoms could also help identify that your scratchy throat is caused by Covid.
Dr Uys said: “In Covid patients, sore throat typically occurs alongside other symptoms such as a steady cough, fever, aching limbs and extreme tiredness.
“If you only have a sore throat, it is less likely to be down to Covid and more likely to be the result of a less severe infection.
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“This isn’t to say that it’s definitely not Covid, though, as symptoms present themselves differently from person to person.”
Sore throat could be a sign of new variants
The GP added that the latest variants to do rounds around the country, Eris and Pirola, can also present with a sore throat.
“New variants such as Eris and Pirola exhibit similar signs to previous Covid strains, which includes a sore throat,” Dr Uys said.
If your sore throat turns out to be a warning sign of Covid, the doctor “strongly advised” avoiding close contact with others to curb the spread.
Dr Uys stressed you should be especially careful not to socialise with vulnerable people, until the virus has left your system.
“You can relieve a sore throat using throat lozenges or other natural remedies such as lemon and turmeric,” the GP added.
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