COVID-19 and seasonal allergies have a great deal in common.
Both conditions can trigger similar symptoms, from an unpleasant cough to unrelenting fatigue. However, their causes and their risks differ in many key respects. Allergies, for instance, are non-contagious and often very easily manageable; COVID-19, in contrast, is a highly infectious virus that can pose a serious risk of life-altering complications.
If you’re feeling on edge and aren’t sure whether you should risk staying home from work or keeping your kid out of school, it’s almost always best to review your symptoms and, if you’re still not sure, stop into a Treasure Valley urgent care clinic to get a second opinion.
The Importance of Assessing Your Symptoms
Novel coronavirus shares symptoms with many common conditions, including seasonal allergies.
Of course, no matter how similar some symptoms may be, each of these illnesses has its own characteristics and potential to influence not only your health but the health of everyone around you. As a general rule, seasonal allergies aren’t contagious, and they very rarely pose a direct threat to your life or physical well-being.
Novel coronavirus, in contrast, spreads faster than the flu. Even children and healthy adults, who have low rates of COVID-related mortality, can still develop long-term complications if they become infected.
The Most Common Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies
If you’re allergic to pollen, dust, or another substance, your body will respond by producing special antibodies that bind to your skin, respiratory tract, and mucus membranes. These antibodies help purge allergens from your body, but they can trigger the release of a substance called “histamine,” which is often implicated in allergic reactions.
Seasonal allergies are often closely associated with symptoms like:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Runny nose
- Itchy nose
- Itchy throat
- Itchy eyes
- Burning or watery eyes
Allergies can also trigger complications, especially for people who have conditions like asthma.
Non-seasonal allergies, including allergies to foods and medications, often prompt immediate and life-threatening reactions. These can range in severity from localized itching to nausea, vomiting, and hives.
The Most Common Symptoms of COVID-19
COVID-19 is part of the coronavirus family of viruses.
Although most coronavirus species can be spread through close contact, COVID-19 is especially and unusually infectious. You can catch coronavirus by shaking hands with an infected coworker, spending time with a COVID-positive family member, or simply sharing the same space with an infected stranger at the mall or supermarket.
If you develop a COVID infection, you could have mild, moderate, or severe symptoms—or, perhaps, no symptoms at all. Some of the most common signs of infection include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Fever or chills
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Loss of taste or smell
- Congestion
- Nausea or vomiting
Unlike seasonal allergies, coronavirus infections have an “incubation period.” In the medical field, an incubation period is the time between contact with an infected person and the presentation of symptoms. It typically takes anywhere from 2 to 14 days for COVID infections to become symptomatic.
If You’re Uncertain, Don’t Delay: Come Visit Core Medicine of Idaho Today
At Core Medicine of Idaho, we work hard to ensure that our patients receive care that is both empathetic and effective. Our experienced team of Caldwell health care professionals could help you get back on your feet by:
- Reviewing your vital signs
- Talking through your symptoms
- Administering a COVID antigen or COVID PCR test
- Administering vaccinations
- Prescribing the medication you need to begin reclaiming your health
If you’re feeling under the weather, don’t take chances with your health.
Unlike big Boise hospitals, Core Medicine of Idaho’s Caldwell urgent care clinic can usually accommodate walk-in patients without any significant wait time. We have an on-site laboratory and pharmacy, making it easy for you to get everything you need without making another stop.