In the early days of the pandemic, it was thought that having a runny nose was not a symptom of COVID-19, and was much more likely to be a sign of a regular cold. However, data from the ZOE COVID Symptom Study app suggests that having a runny nose can be a sign of COVID-19.

Besides, What is it when your nose runs like water?

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is a condition where the fluid that surrounds the brain leaks into the nose and sinuses. Head trauma, surgery, or even birth defects can make a hole in the membranes that hold this fluid. It then leaks into your nose or ear, causing a watery, runny nose. CSF rhinorrhea is very rare.

Keeping this in mind, How do I know if it’s just a cold or Covid? COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, while the common cold is most often caused by rhinoviruses.



Symptom check: Is it COVID-19 or a cold?

Symptom or sign COVID-19 Cold
Tiredness Usually Sometimes
Sneezing Rarely Sometimes
Sore throat Usually Usually
Runny or stuffy nose Usually Usually

What are the first few symptoms of Covid?

Share on Pinterest A dry cough is a common early symptom of coronavirus infection.




They may also have a combination of at least two of the following symptoms:

  • fever.
  • chills.
  • repeated shaking with chills.
  • muscle pain.
  • headache.
  • sore throat.
  • new loss of taste or smell.

Is runny nose a symptom of Covid in child?

Symptoms typically begin one to three days after a child is exposed to the virus and may include: Stuffy or runny nose. Scratchy, tickly throat. Watery eyes.

How do I stop my nose from running like water?


Typically, the best treatment for a runny nose includes:

  1. Rest.
  2. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
  3. Use a saline nasal spray to help relieve symptoms. …
  4. A cool-mist humidifier at your bedside can combat congestion worsened by dry winter air.

When I bend down water drips from my nose?

An individual with a CSF leak may also notice clear, watery fluid draining from their nose or ears when they move their head, especially when bending forward. CSF may also drain down the back of the throat. People describe the taste as salty and metallic.

How do I know if I have runny nose or CSF?


For patients with cranial CSF leaks, the most common indicators are:

  1. Drainage from the nose (rhinorrhea)
  2. Salty or metallic taste in the mouth.
  3. Sense of drainage down back of throat.
  4. Drainage from the ear (otorrhea)

What’s the difference between a chest cold and Covid?

While both can cause coughing, coronavirus causes a dry cough and can often leave you breathless. The common chest cold will cause a yellow or green phlegmy cough. If you have a common chest cold, your symptoms are more likely to be mild and stay mild. The average cold will last 7 to 10 days.

What does your throat feel like when you have Covid?

“Having just an isolated sore throat. Only about 5-10% of COVID-19 patients will have that. Usually, they will have a touch of fever, loss of taste and smell and difficulty breathing.

How do you know if u have Covid?


People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

  1. Fever or chills.
  2. Cough.
  3. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
  4. Fatigue.
  5. Muscle or body aches.
  6. Headache.
  7. New loss of taste or smell.
  8. Sore throat.

How soon do symptoms of Covid appear?

On average, symptoms showed up in the newly infected person about 5.6 days after contact. Rarely, symptoms appeared as soon as 2 days after exposure. Most people with symptoms had them by day 12. And most of the other ill people were sick by day 14.

What mild Covid feels like?

Symptoms during ‘mild’ COVID-19 can still be serious

Even for mild cases, COVID-19 can take a toll. The CDC reports that normal symptoms include fever, chills, shortness of breath, nausea, headache, vomiting, and loss of taste or smell. And those are the symptoms that don’t require immediate medical attention.

How soon do Covid symptoms appear?

Symptoms may vary for different age groups or variants of the virus. It can take up to 14 days after you are infected for symptoms to show. You can spread COVID-19 during this time. Symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to symptoms of cold, flu or hay fever.

How do you get rid of a runny nose fast?


Stopping a runny nose with home remedies

  1. Drink plenty of fluids. Drinking fluids and staying hydrated when dealing with a runny nose can be helpful if you also have symptoms of nasal congestion. …
  2. Hot teas. …
  3. Facial steam. …
  4. Hot shower. …
  5. Neti pot. …
  6. Eating spicy foods. …
  7. Capsaicin.

What is the best medicine to dry up a runny nose?

Antihistamines, as noted above, are often found in combination cold and flu medication because they help treat sniffling, sneezing, itchy, and watery eyes and are the best meds for drying up a runny nose.

Can a constant runny nose be serious?

In rare cases, a runny nose may be a sign of a more serious condition. This could include a tumor, polyps or a foreign body that’s lodged in the nasal tissue. It can even be fluid from around your brain, masquerading as mucus.

Is a CSF leak serious?

A CSF leak is very dangerous and potentially life-threatening as it can lead to meningitis. For a condition as serious as a CSF leak, you should consult with a sinus specialist immediately to begin the proper treatment.

Is CSF leak an emergency?

If a CSF leak is suspected, you should see a physician as soon as possible. If symptoms of meningitis (high fever, light sensitivity, neck stiffness) are suspected, you should go to the emergency room.

What do you do if you suspect a CSF leak?

After conservative treatments have been tried, an epidural blood patch is the most common treatment for spinal CSF leaks. In this procedure, your own blood is injected into the spinal canal. The blood clot that forms creates a seal to stop the leak.

Does CSF leak cause stuffy nose?

When a leak occurs, your CSF pressure drops around the brain and spinal cord. This is a very serious condition that may lead to the following symptoms: Clear drainage from the nose or into the back of the throat. Nasal congestion that does not improve with medications for a runny nose.

Can CSF leak symptoms come and go?

Patients who have had a CSF leak have described the fluid as having a salty or metallic taste. Dr. Frank P.K. Hsu, chair of the department of neurological surgery at UC Irvine Health, said that the fluid may also “come and go.

What are the symptoms of low spinal fluid?


The nonheadache manifestations of CSF leak also vary greatly, including but not limited to:

  • Neck or interscapular pain.
  • Tinnitus, change in hearing and dizziness.
  • Nausea and emesis.
  • Gait unsteadiness.
  • Diplopia.
  • Trouble with memory or cognitive function.
  • Movement disorders, such as chorea or parkinsonism.