Seasonal Allergies vs COVID-19: How To Distinguish Between the Two
It’s spring, which means nice weather and a
happier mood to some, and the horrific time of constant sneezing, runny
noses, and itchy eyes for others. In short, it’s seasonal allergy time,
and this unfortunate spring, everything is even more complicated, and
virtually no one is fortunate to enjoy the pleasant weather, all because
of the Coronavirus Pandemic. One of the new challenges many people will
face or are already facing this spring is the need to tell apart
seasonal allergy symptoms and those of COVID-19 - a potentially
lifesaving distinction. Here is how you can figure out whether the
symptoms you may be experiencing are more likely to be an allergy or the
Novel Coronavirus.
Coronavirus Symptoms vs Seasonal Allergies
Since both conditions affect the
respiratory system and cause inflammation in the body, symptoms of the
two conditions may mimic one another, especially in people already
suffering from chronic allergies or asthma, who tend to cough and
experience shortness of breath when exposed to the allergens they're
sensitive to.
Still, there are ways to tell the two conditions apart with some
certainty, as there are specific symptoms that are different in the two
illnesses in question, or such that are more common in one of the
conditions, but not the other. As you can tell by taking a look at the
visual comparison of common allergy symptoms with common signs of
COVID-19 below, one of the main distinctions between the two conditions
is the presence of a fever.
The wide majority of COVID-19 patients who exhibit symptoms of the
disease report having a high fever for days on end and this fever can be
accompanied by a sore throat, fatigue, and muscle pains in the
beginning stages of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. After 5 days of having a
fever, patients may also start feeling a shortness of breath, wheezing,
and other signs of viral pneumonia. Respiratory allergies, on the other
hand, are very rarely associated with a fever, so the presence of such
can point to an infection rather than an allergic reaction.
An indication that you're experiencing a
seasonal allergy, and not a Novel Coronavirus infection, may actually
hide in your nose. Sneezing isn't a known symptom of COVID-19, but it is
a primary sign of an allergy. So, if you're experiencing sneezing, a
runny or stuffy nose, you're likely suffering from allergies or the flu,
and not a SARS-CoV-2 infection. That being said, if you know that you
do have COVID-19, you can spread the virus to others through sneezing,
so make sure to wear a mask and sneeze into your elbow to prevent the
spread of the virus.
Red eyes are also very uncommon among Coronavirus patients, with WebMD
reporting that only 1-3% of COVID-19 patients experiencing this symptom.
This means that a cough accompanied by red or itchy eyes and sneezing
is more likely to be an allergy than the Coronavirus. While all of these
symptoms may be indicative of either one of the two conditions, the
only reliable way of knowing if you have COVID-19 is testing yourself
for the virus.
Precautions For Allergy Sufferers
Please keep in mind that COVID-19 and an
allergy can also occur simultaneously, and also that the Coronavirus can
exhibit no symptoms. If you find that it's more difficult for you to
deal with your seasonal allergy symptoms this spring, consider taking a
Coronavirus test, especially if you have a fever, severe fatigue, muscle
& joint pain, or shortness of breath. In addition, if you're having
allergy symptoms, make sure to wear a mask when outside, since you're
more likely to sneeze and unknowingly spread the virus since most of us
could be carriers of the deadly virus.
Needless to say, it's also crucial for
everyone to abide by social distancing practices and proper hand washing
and disinfecting habits, but especially if you're unwell.
If you're an allergy sufferer and you find it difficult to get your
allergy medication during this time, call your doctor to fill in a
prescription over the phone or discuss over-the-counter options with
your pharmacist.