Novant Health issued the following announcement on Sep 18.
Millions of Americans experience seasonal allergies. In the fall, ragweed pollen is often the culprit. Mold is also a typical trigger for autumn allergies.
Here's why: Rotting leaves provide an excellent home for mold. This fungi thrives in moist, damp environments, and the tiny spores it releases into the air can cause nasal congestion, runny noses, sneezing, and watery, itchy eyes that people with allergies often experience.
And with COVID still spreading in our communities, it can be difficult to tell the difference between typical allergy symptoms and something more serious.
But there's no reason to panic. Dr. Puja Rajani, an allergist at Novant Health Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, explains a few key differences.
1. Fever
Fever is one of the biggest differentiators between the two, Rajani said. COVID can cause a fever; seasonal allergies cannot.
If you have a known history of allergies, consider this: If you do not have a fever, “try a stepwise approach with using your usual treatments, such as long-acting antihistamines or nasal sprays,” Rajani said.
2. Itchiness
Another major distinction is that allergies will come with some level of itchiness. Itchy or watery eyes are common signs of allergies, Rajani said.
Alternatively, someone with COVID may experience symptoms such as:
- Fever.
- Dry cough.
- Shortness of breath.
- New loss of taste or smell.
A sore throat or body aches could be an indication it’s something more serious.
"A quick onset of aches and pains, fatigue, exhaustion or weakness is unlikely with allergies,” Rajani said. “While allergies can cause fatigue, it is usually very gradual, not ‘hitting you like a ton of bricks’ as has been described with viral infections.”
4. Mucus (Hint: The color matters)
If you’re producing mucus, it’s likely allergies or cold and flu symptoms, and not a COVID infection. A runny nose and mucus is typically clear in allergy sufferers, Rajani said.
Yellow or green-colored mucus likely points to a viral condition, such as the flu.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Novant Health
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