Is It Allergies or COVID?
If you experience symptoms such as sneezing or coughing, it can be tough to tell if you're dealing with allergies or COVID. One of the best ways to tell COVID from allergies is to know the differences in symptoms. While some symptoms occur in both conditions, some only occur in one or the other.
During allergy season, it can be especially difficult to find out if you have COVID, allergies, or something else like the flu or a cold. That's because symptoms such as sneezing or coughing can happen with all of them.
How can you spot the difference between allergies and COVID? You won't get a fever if you have allergies, but you can definitely have a fever if you have COVID, says Mitchell Grayson, MD, division chief of allergy/immunology at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Likewise, body aches aren't related to allergies but can indicate that you may have COVID, he adds.
Allergies tend to occur at the same time every year (if you have seasonal allergies), while COVID tends to occur when the virus is circulating in the community, which tends not to be on a strict seasonal rotation, Grayson points out.
Let's take a closer look at the symptoms for each condition.
Allergy symptoms
Allergy symptoms happen when your body overreacts to allergens like pollen or mold and then goes on to develop inflammation. People sometimes call allergies "hay fever," but they don't give you an actual fever. A fever is not indicative of allergies.
Common signs of allergies include:
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Dry, tickly cough
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Congestion
- Skin rash or hives
Severe allergies can cause tightness in your chest and shortness of breath, especially if you have asthma, too. Those symptoms can also be serious symptoms of COVID. If you have any of these serious symptoms, including trouble breathing, call 911 right away.
COVID symptoms
Though COVID can cause symptoms that you may experience if you have allergies, such as cough and runny nose, other symptoms like fever don't occur as a result of an allergic reaction.
Possible signs of COVID can include:
- Fever or chills
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Dry cough
- Trouble breathing
- Body or muscle aches
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Loss of taste or smell
- Gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Pink eye
- Skin rash
The evolution of COVID symptoms
With the emergence of newer variants of COVID and growing research, doctors know that symptoms can vary. Some symptoms are more common than others.
Muscle pain and fatigue were the most common symptoms that people noticed when they first got COVID, according to a study published in Advanced Biomedical Research. Fever and cough have also been called out in several studies for being common symptoms of the illness.
Symptoms can change based on the variant you have. Another 2022 study reported that sore throat was more common when the Omicron variant was prevalent compared to when the Delta variant was most prominent.
"The COVID infections from Omicron onward have been more upper respiratory type infections, which can overlap in terms of symptoms with those of allergies," Grayson explains.
COVID vs. Allergies: How to Tell the Difference
"If you can't tell whether you have COVID or allergies, you can test for COVID," Grayson says. "The COVID test is probably the best way to verify if it is COVID or not."
If you're curious about whether or not you have allergies, see an allergist. The doctor can help you tell if symptoms match the allergy season. If symptoms aren't within an allergy season, it could be COVID.
Is Sneezing a Common Coronavirus Symptom?
Sneezing can spread COVID as well as other viruses, such as the flu and common cold. Researchers have found that SARS-CoV-2 can actually cause your nose to tickle and result in a sneeze. A protein in the virus stimulates sensory neurons in the respiratory passages, which can cause you to sneeze and spread the virus. (The neurons can also lead to pain, which is also common in COVID.)
If you know you have COVID and happen to sneeze, it's important to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue to keep the virus from spreading. Wash your hands right away.
Are My Red Eyes Allergies or Coronavirus?
If you notice that your eyes are red, the odds are that it's not because of the coronavirus. Only about 1%-3% of people with COVID will have pink eye (conjunctivitis), which can be from a virus or bacteria and is contagious. About 1 in 10 people who have COVID develop symptoms related to their eyes, such as redness and pink eye, according to some research.
Allergic conjunctivitis, or red eyes from allergies, is different from pink eye and is not contagious. The condition occurs when part of the eye releases histamines in response to allergens or other irritants. Symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis can range from red, watery, or itchy eyes to eye burning, swelling, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light.
Make sure you know the cause of red eyes. Bacterial pink eye can require medication to clear up (viral pink eye doesn't respond to antibiotic drops). Red eyes from allergies may go away on their own, but over-the-counter medications can ease pain and discoloration.
Itchy, watery eyes tend to be more common with allergies, which causes symptoms in both eyes that typically last longer than those of bacterial or viral conjunctivitis. Viral or bacterial conjunctivitis usually affects only one eye. Check with your doctor to find out the cause of any eye irritation.
Can You Have Allergies and Coronavirus?
Yes. You can have allergies and a viral infection, such as the one that causes COVID, at the same time. If you have classic allergy signs, such as itchy eyes and a runny nose along with COVID symptoms, such as fatigue and a fever, call your doctor.
Treating Allergies vs. COVID
Allergies and COVID are treated differently, for the most part. That said, some allergy medications can be helpful with COVID, Grayson says.
For example, antihistamines such as cetirizine, fexofenadine, and levocetirizine may lessen some of the symptoms of COVID (and should reduce allergy symptoms within an hour or two of taking them). The allergy medication montelukast may also help with reducing symptoms, he adds.
Should you have asthma and COVID, your regular asthma medications should work to lessen the risk or severity of an asthma attack from COVID, just like with any other respiratory viral infection, Grayson adds.
You can treat mild COVID symptoms with over-the-counter medications. Prescription COVID treatments for home use include:
- Molnupiravir (Lagevrio)
- Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid)
If you know that you have allergies, you should try to avoid the trigger. Other allergy treatments can include prescription or over-the-counter allergy medicines.
COVID treatments can vary based on the severity of the illness.
Can You Have Allergies and/or COVID?
Though you can try to avoid allergens, it can be difficult to prevent yourself from having an allergic reaction because you can't always avoid allergens. (You can't prevent yourself from developing an allergy, either.)
Similarly, you can try to avoid getting COVID, though there's no certain way to avoid the virus. One way to protect yourself from getting COVID is to receive a vaccine. The COVID vaccines may keep the illness from becoming severe and help prevent hospitalization or death, according to the CDC.
Takeaways
Some symptoms of allergies and COVID can be similar, and other symptoms may indicate one condition and not the other. For instance, fever is not a result of allergies but can be a symptom of COVID or other illnesses.
The best way to tell if you have COVID is to take a test for it. See your doctor if you suspect you have allergies or COVID.
Allergies or COVID FAQs
Is it allergies, or am I sick?
Some symptoms of allergies and COVID are the same, but not all of them. Know which symptoms may indicate that you have one or the other, and know which symptoms (such as fever) are not linked to allergies. The best way to tell if you have COVID is to take a COVID test. You can also see an allergist to confirm if you are allergic to a specific allergen.
Is my sore throat from allergies or COVID?
Sore throat can be from allergies or COVID, as it is a symptom of either condition. To rule out having COVID, which you can spread to others, take a COVID test.
What does the very beginning of COVID feel like?
It depends on several factors, such as the variant and how you respond to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Fever is a common symptom that can indicate you may have COVID, so you may want to take a COVID test to see if you have it. Allergies may make you uncomfortable, but they aren't contagious like COVID.
How long do allergies last?
It depends on the allergen and your body's response to it. Typically, symptoms can persist if you continue to be around the allergen. You may have symptoms within minutes of being exposed to an allergen, though some people get symptoms hours or days after. Symptoms usually go away when you're no longer around the allergen. Allergy symptoms can also come and go if you're constantly around an allergen.
