Spring means pollen, particles and dust in the air. Certain symptoms acting up can have you questioning if you have COVID-19 or seasonal allergies. With varying degrees of symptoms, severe seasonal allergies can be confused with COVID-19 symptoms. Some symptoms fall into the same category, but here are a few ways you can tell if it’s allergies or COVID-19.
Despite the different variants, COVID-19 can have similar symptoms. The most common symptoms include a fever, cough and fatigue, according to the Mayo Clinic. COVID-19 can also come with muscle aches and loss of taste and/or smell. These symptoms usually arise without a stuffy nose, unlike allergies.
Allergies can present with mild to severe symptoms and can be caused by a variety of environmental factors (like pollen, pet hair, mold, etc.). Allergies are not contagious and are your body responding to the environment you’re in, according to Emerson Hospital. They can present as mild or severe symptoms, with degrees that can be worsened in people who have asthma.
Some symptoms, however, don’t overlap. For example, allergy symptoms that are very rarely or never present with COVID-19 are sneezing and itchy nose, eyes, mouth, or inner ear. In contrast, symptoms that are usually present with COVID-19 that are hardly or never present with allergies are fever, muscle aches, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. Take a look at the graph below that shows some of the symptoms of allergies and some of the common symptoms of COVID-19.
So, how can you tell for sure that it’s COVID-19 or allergies? There are a few steps you can take:
Take a look at your symptoms.
Are most of your symptoms generally associated with COVID-19, allergies, or something else? If you are unsure, you can visit the CDC website to view a list of symptoms.
Talk to your doctor.
To prevent potential spread, schedule a telehealth appointment or call your doctor’s office to see what you should do. Always consult with a doctor before self-diagnosing!
Take a test.
Taking a test is the best way to confirm if you’ve contracted COVID-19. Whether you take a rapid antigen test or a PCR test, it’s one way to have peace of mind. You can take a look at the at-home rapid antigen tests we offer on our site letsongo.com.
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