While some symptoms of the coronavirus overlap with that of an allergy, there are several differences.
The Biggest Differences Between Allergy Symptoms (Hay Fever) and Coronavirus?
One of the biggest differentiation is fever.
Though some people refer to spring allergies as “hay fever”, people with spring allergies do not typically have fevers or achiness. In comparison, fever is common with coronavirus. The other is itchiness – people with allergies are often itchy (can be in your eyes, ears, throat, or nose), but this is not a reported symptom of COVID-19.
Symptoms Of The Coronavirus Are:
According to the CDC, reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:
Signs of COVID-19 include:
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Trouble breathing
- Body aches
- Very sore throat
- Fatigue that comes on quickly
- Gastrointestinal problems like nausea or diarrhea
- If you have any of these, especially a fever, call your doctor.
Symptoms Of an Allergy Are:
Symptoms of seasonal allergies range from mild to severe and occur seasonally. The most common include:
Signs of Allergy
- 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.
One of the best ways to give yourself peace of mind about whether you could have coronavirus will be to take your allergy medications consistently. If your symptoms go away and you don’t have other coronavirus symptoms, you are not likely infected with coronavirus.