Dr C’s check-up: Know the signs and ignore the nonsense ‘cures’

Many people worry they won’t recognise if they have the coronavirus, a cold or the flu. Here, Dr C explains the key differences, as well as debunking some of the false ‘remedies’ that have flooded social media

While social media has great benefits at a time like this – keeping people connected while we’re isolating, for example – frustratingly, it is also the source of some very dangerous information.

There have been a lot of bogus claims about the coronavirus and some very silly and risky ‘cures’ being shared online. I strongly urge people to ignore the nonsense and not to share it.

If you’ve been told that any vitamin, essential oil or natural tea can either prevent or cure this virus, it’s utter twaddle.

For example, one ridiculous post that has been circulating claims that blasting hot air from a hairdryer up your nose will kill the virus. This is not only impossible, it’s downright dangerous, as it could in fact make you even more likely to get it, because the resulting dryness might damage the delicate lining inside your nose.

People have also shared tips suggesting that drinking hot fluids every 15 minutes pushes the virus into your stomach and will get rid of it – it won’t! Yes, drink water and stay hydrated, but that won’t prevent the virus.

In terms of immunity, the one supplement I’d advise taking is vitamin D, because we’re coming out of winter, and we may not be outside much this spring and summer thanks to the lockdown, so we all risk being deficient, and vitamin D does affect immunity. Another bonkers post doing the rounds is that you can make DIY hand sanitisers with vodka. The ones in hospitals are 80 per cent alcohol, so vodka, at 40 per cent, isn’t enough. All you need to do is to wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water regularly and thoroughly, particularly after being outside.

As a general rule, if something sounds like a miracle cure or completely mad, it is. If there really was a cure, you’d see it on the NHS website.

If it’s been forwarded to you on Facebook or WhatsApp, chances are it’s absolute rubbish. Stay safe and well, and please, if you can, stay at home.

Meanwhile, the big question on people’s minds is how they can tell if they have the coronvirus or just a bad cold or the flu. It’s actually easier to tell than you might think.

A DRY COUGH THAT WON’T GO AWAY

The main symptom is a new dry cough that you can’t shake off and that is continuous so you keep coughing. It’s very dry, so you won’t be bringing anything up – there won’t be any green or yellow mucus. We call it a ‘non-productive’ cough, which basically just means there will be no gunge.

A FEVER THAT MAKES YOU FEEL SHIVERY

A fever is extremely common, too. Not everyone has a thermometer at home, but you’ll know you have a fever because you’ll have that horrible, shivery, aching, too-hot-then-too-cold feeling. It may feel like even cool air hurts your skin, or that it’s painful to sit on a cold toilet seat.

A RUNNY NOSE AND SORE THROAT IS RARE

Colds and flu tend to give you a runny nose and sore, streaming eyes, but the coronavirus isn’t likely to do that. While a nasty cold tends to give you a sore throat and make you snotty and sneezy, this virus is dry.

FEELING EXHAUSTED, SHORTNESS OF BREATH

You’re also likely to feel very tired, which goes along with the fever. All you’ll want to do is curl up in bed, which is fairly similar to flu, but the difference is this nasty, dry cough that you can’t shake off. The other crucial difference, if it becomes more serious, is that it causes breathing difficulties, which you wouldn’t get with flu.

UNDERSTAND WHAT ‘MILD’ SYMPTOMS ARE

You may have heard medics on the TV and radio describing aching muscles, being shivery and feeling exhausted as

“mild symptoms”. It probably

won’t feel “mild” to you, but it is in medical terms, which is why the advice for those symptoms is simply to selfisolate and rest at home.

It’s mild up until the point you’re having breathing difficulties. If you are struggling to breathe, or have a pre-existing condition, seek medical advice over the phone on NHS 111.

IS IT HAY FEVER?

One last thing to bear in mind now it’s spring and the weather is warmer is hay fever. If you usually get bothered by pollen, it’s far more likely to be that than the coronavirus. Spring allergies can give you a dry cough, as well as itchy eyes and a tickle at the back of your throat and tongue. If it’s hay fever, your usual antihistamine should help.