How to Know Its Allergies or Covid

In today’s world, with every sneeze, cough, or tickle in the throat, many people wonder: do I have COVID-19? For the millions of allergy sufferers across the country, this question gets a little more complex: allergies or COVID-19 (aka coronavirus), or maybe a cold or the flu? The following are ways to find out if you have allergies, a cold or the flu, or if you should call your doctor and get tested for COVID-19.

For any non-emergency health problem, contact your doctor or visit an urgent care center where doctors can examine you and determine the best treatment. The symptoms of COVID-19 vary widely and can range from mild to severe.

ALLERGIES

Allergy symptoms range from mild to severe and can occur seasonally or be present throughout the year. In patients with asthma, allergies can cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Allergies are caused by an overreaction of your immune system to normal things in your environment, such as pollen, dust, mold, and pet dander, and they are not contagious. Medications can usually treat your symptoms, and allergy immunotherapy – allergy shots – can often help patients find long-term relief.

Allergy Symptoms VS COVID-19 Symptoms

Throughout the US, pollen has started to bloom and cause typical symptoms in those with allergies right as we have seen the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Allergies typically cause nasal symptoms such as a runny nose and sinus congestion but do not usually result in a fever, as is found with coronavirus or the flu. While some symptoms of the coronavirus overlap with allergies, there are several differences.

It’s important to note that this article is not intended to provide comprehensive medical advice. If you have concerns, please always contact your doctor and use general best practices.

The Symptoms of the Coronavirus

According to the CDC, reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Coronavirus is spread through coughing, sneezing, and close personal contact. We recommend following the CDC guidelines and those of your local health department to prevent the spread of the virus.

Symptoms of Allergies

Symptoms of seasonal allergies range from mild to severe and occur seasonally. The most common include:

• sneezing
• runny or stuffy nose
• watery and itchy eyes
• itchy sinuses, throat, or ear canals
• ear congestion
• postnasal drainage

Less common symptoms include:

• headache
• shortness of breath
• wheezing
• coughing

Allergies are caused by a response in the immune system and are not contagious. Medications can treat your symptoms, and immunotherapy can help those with allergies find relief. 

Take a look at our comprehensive chart below detailing the differences between the flu, allergies, and cold. Then, take a quiz provided by the CDC to see if your symptoms warrant medical attention for COVID-19.

SYMPTOMS	COLD	FLU	ALLERGY
FEVER	Rare	High (102-104°F) last 3-4 days	Absent
HEADACHE	Rare	Prominent	Common
ACHES, PAINS	Slight	Usual; often severe	Never
FATIGUE, WEAKNESS	Quite Mild	Can last up to 2-3 weeks	Common
EXTREME EXHAUSTION	Never	Early and prominent	Unusual
STUFFY NOSE	Common	Sometimes	Common
SNEEZING	Usual	Sometimes	Common
SORE THROAT	Common	Sometimes	Sometimes
CHEST DISCOMFORT, COUGH	Mild to Moderate, hacking cough	Common, can become severe	Sometimes
COMPLICATIONS	Sinus congestion or earache	Bronchitis, pneumonia; can be life-threatening	Asthma, ear infection, sinusitis, bronchitis, nasal polyps
PREVENTION	None	Annual vaccination; antiviral drugs	Controlling environment
TREATMENT	Only temporary relief of symptoms	Antiviral drugs 24-48 hours after onset of symptoms	Controlling environment, medication, allergy injections
OCCURRENCE	3-4 times yearly	Once yearly	Seasonally/ Repeatedly

KEY POINTS TO DETERMINE ALLERGIES OR COVID-19 INFECTION

1) Time line and past history.

• Often people with allergies have a history of seasonal allergies.
• Allergy symptoms tend to be more long-lasting than viral symptoms.

2) Allergy symptoms often respond to allergy medications.
3) Allergies typically make people itchy. Itchiness is not a symptom of viral illness.
4) Patients with allergies do not develop a fever. Often people with COVID-19 do.
5) Patients with allergies may also have asthma, which can cause coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing. COVID-19 typically does not cause wheezing.