Seasonal Allergies or COVID-19? Here’s how you can tell the Difference

You’re sneezing, nose running, maybe a little congested, eyes burning.  Under normal circumstances, you’d probably reach for the antihistamine.  But because the COVID-19 outbreak overlaps with Spring allergy season, it can be difficult to determine if you are getting sick or just experiencing seasonal allergies.

Dr. Sanjiv Sur, an allergist at Baylor College of Medicine, said one of the key differences between the two is that allergies tend to present the same symptoms every year. “If there is a significant change in your allergy symptoms from what you have had in the past, then you should consider being evaluated by a physician,” Sur said.

Since allergies can sometimes make you feel as though you are catching an illness, Sur explains the differences between the symptoms:

• Allergies mainly cause itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, congestion and sneezing.  Think of it as symptoms that begin at your nose and work their way up in your head.
• Symptoms of COVID-19 include a dry cough, fever and difficulty breathing. Think of it as symptoms that begin at your mouth and work their way down into your chest.

But what if you are prone to allergy-related bronchial congestion?  Sur emphasized that a major difference between allergies and coronavirus is the presence of fever. A fever is a main symptom of coronavirus but not a feature in seasonal allergies.  Take your temperature.  Have a fever?  Call your doctor.