Headache, sore throat and swollen glands

[Jenasaurus]

My DDs bf lives with us and has been in lockdown with us since the beginning of March, not been out at all, but he has now developed a pounding headache and painful sore throat with swollen glands.

Now I know its unlikely to be COVID as he hasn't got a temperature, cough or lost his sense of taste or smell. What I am wondering though is how on earth he has picked up this bug/virus/cold whatever it is as he literally hasn't been out for 9 weeks!

[StatisticalSense]

Sounds like it could well be a allergic reaction of some sort, and quite possibly hay fever as the grass pollen count is very high at the minute.

[Beingslightlymad]

I have similar symptoms due to hay fever.

[TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince]

Same happened to me. Not been anywhere, caught some sort of sore throat and cough thing.

Ds not been anywhere, he got tonsillitis.

There was that guy who died from COVID who hadn’t ever left his house, only went into his back garden.

[Jenasaurus]

QuoteTheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince Thats really sad, poor man.

The only thing I can think of is we have had the odd Amazon delivery, it could be hayfever but if you are inside with windows closed (my DD has a spider phobia) would you still develop hayfever?

[TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince]

I don’t touch any delivery for 3 days.....

[Northernsoullover]

Treat as Covid-19 until you are told otherwise.

[Porcupineinwaiting]

@StatisticalSense really? You think that hay fever causes swollen glands?

OP it could be COVID - in which case you'll see a development of more typical symptoms over a few days but most likely he's caught a summer cold type virus.

[Moondust001]

@Porcupineinwaiting
really? You think that hay fever causes swollen glands?

Actually, it's not a common reaction but yes, actually hayfever can cause swollen glands. Swollen glands as an allergic reaction would normally be associated with an inflammation caused by the autoimmune system (and could very easily associate with the sore throat being described).

OP, there are too many things that these symptoms could describe. He should rest, take paracetamol or ibuprofen for any pain and stay hydrated. Eat softer foods but try to maintain appetite. If the glands continue to swell up, or if he is exhibiting a high temperature for more than a couple of days, call the doctor - there are still a lot of things that it could be that aren't Covid-19.

[MRex]

Try an anti-histamine, if it goes away then look for the allergy source.

[Jenasaurus]

Thanks for the advice, he is feeling a bit better now, we were all just a little confused how someone that hasnt been out for so many weeks could have caught anything at all. Hayfever seems the most likely to be honest. We will keep an eye on his symptoms just in case.