Differences Between Seasonal Allergies and COVID-19

Seasonal Allergies vs. COVID-19 Overview

Are you suffering from flu and a sore throat? Do you think of it as COVID-19? By the time COVID-19 started affecting the world, people became more worried even about their seasonal allergies. But it is not necessary that whenever you get flu or fever, it is because of COVID-19. If you are confused between the symptoms of seasonal allergies and COVID-19, this writing piece is for you.

The reason behind the confusion is that both the diseases share almost similar symptoms. But still, the two are different. Many people are suffering from COVID-19, and the virus badly affects their health. But it is not always COVID-19; the symptoms you are experiencing might be because of seasonal allergies caused by pollen or grass. Unfortunately, the allergy season makes it difficult for us to differentiate between the two. But there are ways to tell the cause behind the symptoms you are experiencing. So, before we dive into the discussion, here is the overview of both illnesses.

What is COVID-19 And Its Symptoms Symptoms?

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that spreads from person to person. The condition is caused by a virus, SARS-CoV-2, and shares the symptoms of cold and flu as well. COVID-19 is considered harmful as it affects the respiratory system upon worsening. The disease spreads through the respiratory droplets of an affected person that can reach any individual in the range of 6 feet through coughing, sneezing, talking, singing, and touching.

COVID-19 Symptoms

• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of smell and taste
• Fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Phlegm
• Body ache
• Cough
• Flu
• Nausea
• Sore throat
• Chills
• Congestion

The symptoms may range from mild to severe. Fever, cough, breathing difficulty, and tiredness are the most common symptoms. If you notice any of these, there are chances that you may have developed COVID-19. Try to contact your medical provider to get the testing done for further confirmation. Otherwise, you will end up spreading it to others while making it worse for you.

What Are Seasonal Allergies and Their Symptoms?

Allergies are caused by inflammation resulting from the reaction of your body against molds and pollen. It is usual and happens to anyone due to the change in season. There Are no viruses causing allergies, as these are immune system responses triggered by seasonal conditions. These are known as seasonal allergies because of the cause. And to your surprise, fever is not a common allergic symptom.

Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

The common symptoms of seasonal allergies are as follows:

• Smell loss
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Lower energy levels
• Nasal congestion
• Dry cough
• Breathing issues
• Sneezing
• Itchy or watery eyes

A runny nose is also common for people suffering from the delta variant, which is why it can’t be a specific symptom of seasonal allergy. Also, the breathing difficulty doesn’t usually happen with seasonal allergies until you are a patient with any respiratory disease.

How to Differentiate Between COVID-19 and Seasonal Allergies

There is no actual way to differentiate between the two without any testing. But some points can make it a bit clear for you. COVID-19 is a life-threatening illness with a system-wide response. It can get severe in some cases, whereas seasonal allergies are quite normal. The target of such allergies is usually the nose, eyes, and throat. The same goes for itchiness. Itchiness is a common symptom of allergies and doesn’t come with COVID-19.

If you are not suffering from severe nasal symptoms but a sudden loss of smell and taste, don’t take it easy. It can be a sign of COVID-19. Too much sneezing does not point toward COVID-19. But nasal symptoms associated with loss of smell or taste indicate the occurrence of COVID-19.

Seasonal allergies are known to worsen when outside, whereas the symptoms of COVID-19 are steady everywhere.

If we talk about pink eye, COVID-19 has no relation to it, but allergies do. As the target area of seasonal allergies is your face and neck, the symptoms remain around them, such as itchy eyes and nose. On the other hand, a person with COVID-19 will not have any kind of itchiness.

Are Allergy Victims Prone to COVID-19?

Suffering from any seasonal allergy doesn’t mean you will be a victim of COVID-19. Seasonal allergies are pretty normal. There is no evidence of increased chances of COVID-19 in allergic victims yet. The allergic symptoms will go away with time without causing severe illness because they signify a healthy ad responsive immune system.

Can You Suffer From Seasonal Allergies and COVID-19 At The Same time?

Well, this is a common question these days because of the badly spreading COVID-19. People might think that COVID-19 and seasonal allergies can’t come at the same time. But this is not true. COVID-19 can affect a person with an allergy. If you are having prolonged symptoms with a sudden change in them, you need to visit your healthcare provider. Allergic symptoms will always respond to the appropriate medications and will gradually improve. If that’s not happening, there might be another reason, such as COVID-19.

Seasonal allergies are easy to treat with a variety of medications depending on the person’s condition and immunity. If your immunity is strong, you will get intense symptoms because of the body’s response. There is nothing to worry about; let it happen so that your body can cope with allergens in the surrounding.  But if you notice that the symptoms are getting changed or become severe with no improvements even after treatment, you must visit your healthcare provider.

Conclusion

There are ways to differentiate between COVID-19 and seasonal allergies, but it will not help you prevent any of them. So, it’s better to seek help from a professional especially if you have coronavirus symptoms. The only way to get rid of COVID-19 is to wait while keeping yourself distant from others so that you don’t spread it. For allergies, a good medication can work wonders without causing any harm. Don’t forget to keep in touch with your medical supervisor for the safety of yourself and the people around you.

Written by: Madiha Ather Hashmi (April 27, 2022)

Medically Reviewed By

I have reviewed the articles on seasonalallergies.org and I would like to say that I was very surprised.
Over years, I have seen many different articles in the field of allergy, but these articles were very interesting.
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Looking for more allergy types? Find a full list of other allergy causes here.

Last Updated on July 5, 2023