Should I get tested for COVID if I have a cold?
Medical experts advise getting tested for COVID-19 even if you suspect you just have a cold because the symptoms are similar to that of many differing coronavirus strains. Dr. Joel Tumlison, an outbreak response physician for the Arkansas Department of Health, told KTHV that many Delta variant symptoms can mimic symptoms of the common cold. Its easy to go Oh, its my allergies or oh, its just a little cold. It cant be coronavirus, Tumlison said, adding that his advice is for both unvaccinated and fully vaccinated people to get tested for symptoms even if they think it is nothing more than a common cold. The Delta variants symptoms differ slightly from the original virus. The variant, which initially originated in India, has a wide range of symptoms including:  Stomach pain  Sore throat  Headache  Stuffy nose  Loss of appetite  Vomiting  Nausea  Joint pain  Hearing loss  In most cases, patients with the variant are more likely to be hospitalized, suffer other complications, and require oxygen. Dr. Ganesh Manudhane, a cardiologist in Mumbai, India, told Bloomberg News that he has also seen patients with the Delta variant who have small blood clots. I saw three to four cases the whole of last year, and now its one patient a week, Manudhane told Bloomberg. Dr. Abdul Ghafur, an infectious disease specialist from India, told Bloomberg News that he has seen more patients with diarrhea with the Delta COVID strain than in the initial wave of the pandemic. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com  Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us at nj.com/tips.