Is a runny nose a symptom of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)?

Generally, a runny nose may be accompanied by other symptoms, or have associated risk factors such as exposure history or travel history, which might indicate symptoms of novel coronavirus pneumonia. However, if there has been no contact with confirmed or suspected cases, it may not be symptoms of novel coronavirus pneumonia. Detailed analysis is as follows:

After infection with the novel coronavirus, some patients may experience a runny nose due to viral irritation of nasal mucosa and increased secretions. If, in addition to a runny nose, symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, loss of smell or taste are also present, or if there are risk factors such as exposure or travel history, novel coronavirus pneumonia should be considered.

However, a runny nose is not a specific symptom of novel coronavirus pneumonia. A runny nose can also be caused by other conditions, such as the common cold or rhinitis, which can also irritate nasal mucosa and increase secretions, leading to a runny nose. If only a runny nose is present without contact with confirmed or suspected cases or travel to high-incidence areas, it may be caused by other factors rather than novel coronavirus pneumonia.

In daily life, it is important to take proper personal protective measures to reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus.