Experts suggested that people should not ignore headaches even if it is not the most commonly reported symptom of the COVID-19. Under normal circumstances, a pounding headache can be considered a sign of seasonal allergies or other reasons such as lack of sleep or skipping the morning dose of coffee. But, in the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, any new symptom including a headache could be a warning sign of the coronavirus infection.

With COVID-19 being a respiratory infection, it is not uncommon to experience a headache similar to that of other respiratory viruses such as the common cold or influenza. But, it is important to note that headaches are incredibly common in a non-COVID-19 world and might have numerous triggers behind them.

However, a new study points to a link between headaches and the deadly novel coronavirus. Also, healthcare workers have reported this symptom pop up in COVID-19 patients.

Here’s everything you need to know about headaches and COVID-19:

  • While a fever, cough, and shortness of breath are the most commonly reported signs of the coronavirus infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its list of COVID-19 symptoms to include a headache.
  • The World Health Organization’s report published in February also mentioned that 13.6% of COVID-19 patients in China had a headache.
  • Although it is not completely understood why the coronavirus infection causes headaches, experts opined that we still continue to learn that the deadly virus can cause a lot of different symptoms.

“When you have a viral infection, your body mounts an immune response to fight it. Your immune cells then release proteins known as cytokines that can cause inflammation and a fever, which can also lead to a headache. Couple that with factors like not sleeping well, not eating enough, and not drinking enough water when you’re sick, and you can end up with a throbbing head,” Prevention quoted Dr. William Schaffner, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Another possible explanation is that the coronavirus might enter the fluid around one’s brain and this could potentially trigger a headache. Most viruses tend to cause headaches that get worse in the evening and sometimes they are often linked to a fever.

“It’s possible that a headache could be the only sign of COVID-19. But it’s more likely that you’ll have other symptoms along with your headaches, like a fever and cough. If a person develops any symptom typically associated with a viral illness, then there needs to be a strong suspicion for COVID-19,” Prevention quoted Dr. Schaffner.

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