Can Allergies Cause Fever And Headache

When To See A Doctor

If you have a fever and headache, you may need to get medical care to determine the cause. Call your doctor to let them know your symptoms.

Go to the doctor right away if you experience any of the following:

• A severe headache
• A headache that doesnt go away with medication
• A fever over 103 degrees F
• Fever and/or headache that are persistent
• Headache and fever that get worse instead of improving
• Headaches and fever that happen more often than usual

Seek immediate medical care if you have fever and headache along with:

• Stiff or painful neck
• Difficulty speaking or moving

You should also go to the emergency room for extremely painful headaches that occur suddenly. These are called thunderclap headaches because they can appear suddenly like a crash of thunder.

Some thunderclap headaches can occur because of a problem with blood vessels in the brain. This can include a stroke or a brain aneurysm.

A thunderclap headache can represent a serious, life-threatening medical condition, so get help right away by either calling 911 or going to your nearest emergency room.

What Does An Allergy Headache Feel Like

When you experience a headache caused by allergies, you may feel them in any of these spaces within your sinuses. It may even feel like your face, rather than your head, is what really hurts. You may have pain in the cheeks that radiates to your jaw and teeth. You may feel pain on the top of your head.

Allergies may also trigger a migraine headache. This type of headache may include throbbing, and is usually felt on one side of the head. You may find that the pain gets worse in sunlight or that you also feel nauseated.

The skull has a series of connected, hollow spaces known as sinuses, which are lined with soft tissue and a layer of mucus. These sinuses help humidify and filter the air you breathe, and help drain the nose. Allergy symptoms often appear in the sinuses, like when your nose is running or stuffed up.

Some of the spaces that make up the sinuses are found in the:

• Between or behind the eyes
• Behind the nose

You may experience headaches and pain if your sinuses are swollen or their openings are obstructed. This often happens with allergies. Swelling and blockage in the sinuses can prevent normal drainage and airflow, causing a buildup of pressure. Other allergy triggers, such as smoke or certain foods, can lead to headaches.

The degree of pain from an allergy headache can vary widely, from dull to almost debilitating. The level of pain may also change with your position, such as whether you are standing or lying down.

Check If You Have Hay Fever

Symptoms of hay fever include:

• sneezing and coughing
• a runny or blocked nose
• itchy, red or watery eyes
• itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
• pain around your temples and forehead

If you have asthma, you might also:

• have a tight feeling in your chest
• be short of breath
• wheeze and cough

Hay fever will last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks.

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Allergies Causing A Headache

Headaches are a symptom of many conditions that mimic allergies. These include colds, the flu, and sinus infections. This is due to the fact that they all share symptoms such as a stuffy or runny nose and sneezing. Allergies can trigger migraines.

The exact link between headaches and allergies is not known.

There is research supporting the fact that the nervous system, hormones, and immune system are all connected. The nervous system is more sensitive to those prone to migraines. On top of that, there may be exposed to an allergen triggering an allergic reaction. This can further fuel the inflammation in the body, which can lead to a headache or migraine. In some cases, migraines are triggered by perfume or other strong odors, or weather changes.

If the allergies are the cause of a headache or migraine, a person will often experience sinus pain. This pain is usually felt behind the cheekbones and forehead. Some may also experience a throbbing headache affecting one side, nausea, or vomiting. Symptoms worsen when exposed to bright light or loud noises.

If seasonal allergies trigger these headaches, youll get them during the spring, summer, and fall.

Symptoms Of Allergic Rhinitis

Your symptoms can vary, depending on the severity of your allergies. Symptoms can include:

• Pressure in the nose and cheeks
• Ear fullness and popping
• Watery, red, or swollen eyes
• Dark circles under your eyes
• Trouble smelling

Allergic rhinitis can last several weeks, longer than a cold or the flu. It does not cause fever. The nasal discharge is thin, watery, and clear. Nasal discharge from a cold or the flu tends to be thicker. Itching is common with hay fever but not with a cold or the flu. Sneezing occurs more with hay fever. You may even have severe sneeze attacks.

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Living With Allergic Rhinitis

Living with the symptoms of allergic rhinitis can affect your daily life. Nasal symptoms can be worse when lying down. This can disturb your ability to sleep well. Fatigue and headaches can affect your ability to function at school and work.

There is also a link between asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis. Therefore, getting good control of allergic rhinitis is crucial for maintaining good control of asthma.

There are many medicines and treatments that can help you manage your symptoms. Talk to your doctor as soon as you feel that your symptoms are getting worse or are not easy to control. Your doctor can help you come up with the right plan to control allergies so they dont affect your ability to live your normal life.

Allergies : What Are Allergies

First off, letâs talk about allergies. Youâre probably familiar with some of the common symptoms, like a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes. But what exactly happens to your body when you get allergies?

According to Cove Medical Director and migraine expert Dr. Sara Crystal, âAn allergy is a hypersensitive reaction to a substance that would not cause symptoms in the majority of people.â

Just like migraine attacks, allergies have triggers. Seasonal allergies, also known as âhay fever,â are triggered by pollen in the air, often in spring and fall. Perennial allergies are similar, except they occur year-round. They are triggered by other things in the air, like mold, pet dander, or dust mites.

Doctors have a term for both seasonal allergies and perennial allergies: allergic rhinitis.

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Are There Medcications That Treat Allergies And Migraine At The Same Time

If you have allergies and migraine, itâs a good idea to see a doctor for both. Your primary care physician may recommend you speak to specialists like an allergist or ENT, or a neurologist.

There are plenty of over-the-counter treatments for allergies, including decongestants, corticosteroid nose sprays, and antihistamines. And your doctor may offer other treatments, such as allergy shots or other prescription drugs.

On top of controlling your allergies with medications, your doctor may still recommend you take preventive or acute medications for migraine.

To make it easier for your doctor to diagnose and help you find the right treatment, itâs important to keep careful track of migraine symptoms and possible allergy triggers, says Dr. Crystal.

What Is The Outlook For People Who Have Hay Fever

Hay fever can make you feel miserable, but it doesnt cause serious health problems. Most people with hay fever manage symptoms with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medication.

People with airborne allergies have a higher risk of ear infections and sinus infections. Because hay fever can make it tough to get a good nights sleep, you may feel tired during the day. If you have asthma, hay fever can make your asthma symptoms worse.

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Can Allergies Cause Sore Throat

Sore throat and allergies often go together to compound the misery of people living with allergies. Typically, an environmental allergen causes nasal congestion and sinus drainage down the back of the throat, making it scratchy or painful. This irritation can cause coughing and throat irritation or even trouble speaking.

Some of the most common allergens that cause a sore throat include:

• Cigarette smoke
• Pet dander, particularly dog and cat fur

Can Seasonal Allergies Cause Joint Inflammation

Another potential link is that allergies can lead to fatigue, which can also make sore joints feel worse. Changes in weather can also lead to joint pain. This is especially true for cold and damp climates and weather-related changes that coincide with seasonal allergies.

Muscle and joint pain can be a coexisting problem resulting from arthritis, Lyme disease and certain immune disorders. It can also be linked to bursitis and osteoporosis. There are other potential causes as well.

If you experience sneezing and coughing as a result of your allergies, you may suffer from muscle, joint and neck pain due to the repeated sneezing or coughing. Seasonal allergies can also make you feel tired, which can ultimately make your symptoms worse.

If youre not sure whether your joint pain is caused by allergies, the best way to distinguish symptoms is to take a short course of antihistamines. You can take antihistamines for a week to determine whether allergies may be a source for your pain.

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Allergies Rarely Cause Sore Throats Or Body Aches

The only ache you may feel with allergies is a headache from all that congestion. Allergies can cause a sore throat if theres enough irritation from post-nasal drip and coughing, but if youre experiencing a sore throat or mild body aches, theyre more likely a sign of a bad cold.

Can allergies cause chills? No. If you have chills, its more likely you have a cold, the flu or another infection .

Joint Pain And Allergies

You may not be aware of this, but allergies can also manifest with chronic joint pain.

Dr. Mark T. OHollaren from Oregon Science University explains allergens are responsible for joint pain because they stimulate the immune system and cause inflammation.

Fatigue is also associated with allergies, and fatigue also goes hand in hand with achy muscles and joints.

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Can Allergies Cause A Cough Headache And Joint Pain

Sneezing, itchy, runny, stuffy nose. Watery eyes. Hives.

These are the symptoms that we tend to associate with allergies. While these are the most common symptoms, is it possible that allergies could cause more?

Many people may experience a cough, headache, and even joint pain. These additional symptoms may also be related to allergic reactions.

In this article, well explore how a cough, headache, and joint pain are other symptoms of allergies to look out for.

Allergies And Dizziness: The Cause And The Treatment

If youre feeling dizzy, you might be wondering whats causing it. Dehydration, medications, and a variety of conditions can cause you to feel dizzy and nauseated.

While dizziness might seem like a mild condition, it can actually be very disruptive to daily life. It can even be so severe that it leaves you stuck in bed for hours or days.

Dizziness can sometimes be caused by allergies.

An allergy is the immune systems response to a foreign substance thats not typically harmful to your body. These foreign substances are called allergens. They may include certain foods, pollen, or pet dander.

Allergy-related nasal and sinus congestion can lead to dizziness or a more severe type of dizziness called vertigo.

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Despite Symptoms Its Not The Flu

COVID-19 is not the flu.

As one of a class of pathogens known as coronaviruses, COVID-19 is actually more closely related to the common cold than the seasonal flu.

However, despite some overlap, the typical symptoms of COVID-19 are more similar to the flu than the common cold .

The Delta variant, however, may have more cold-like symptoms.

In terms of differentiating between flu and COVID-19, it can be almost impossible to distinguish, Dr. Jake Deutsch, co-founder and clinical director of Cure Urgent Care and Specialty Infusion in New York. Thats why people are recommended to have flu vaccinations so it can at least minimize the risk of flu in light of everything else.

Fevers, body aches, coughing, sneezing could all be equally attributed to them both, so it really means that if theres a concern for flu, theres a concern for COVID-19, Deutsch said.

When and where you get sick might be the best predictor of whether you have a cold, the flu, or COVID-19, Yildirim said.

People living in communities with low vaccination rates and high rates of COVID-19 are more likely to have COVID-19, she said, especially outside of cold and flu season.

However, she said, differentiating becomes more difficult during the winter, when all three diseases may be widespread.

If you have a mild case of COVID-19, the flu, or a cold, treatment is geared toward management of symptoms, said Cutler.

Mild cases of COVID-19 are thought to last approximately 2 weeks, said Cutler.

Suggestions To Reduce Symptoms

To prevent or limit symptoms of hay fever, minimise exposure to known allergens.

House dust mite minimisation:

• Wash sheets, pillow cases and other bedding weekly in hot water.
• Cover mattress, pillow and quilt with dust mite resistant covers.
• Remove sheepskins or woollen underlays from the bed and bedroom.
• Remove soft toys from the bedroom.

Pet dander minimisation:

• Ensure pets are kept out of bedrooms.
• Keep pets outside.

• Remove visible mould by cleaning with bleach or other mould reduction cleaners.
• Ensure adequate natural ventilation, including extractor fans.
• Avoid working with garden compost, mulch or mowing lawns.

• Remain indoors during pollen seasons, particularly on windy days or after thunderstorms.
• Avoid activities known to cause exposure to pollen, such as mowing grass.
• Shower after outdoor activities where exposure to pollen is high.
• Use re-circulated air in the car when pollen levels are high.
• Wear sunglasses .
• Dry bedding and clothing inside or in a tumble dryer.

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Spring Is Here 5 Things Allergy Sufferers Need To Know

Due to global climate changes, allergists warn that spring allergy season continues to worsen each year. Dr. Jigisha Morosky, an allergist/immunologist with Starling Physicians, addresses the most common questions about seasonal allergies.

How do you know if it is a cold, allergy or COVID?

Sometimes it is difficult for people to determine if sniffles, sneezes, sore throat and coughs are caused by allergies, a cold or even sinusitis. Dr. Morosky explains that nasal allergy symptoms and common cold symptoms are essentially identical. Variables we examine are exposure to an allergen, like pollen or a pet, the duration of symptoms months versus 1 to 2 weeks, and if there is improvement while taking allergy medications.

Spring allergies can cause itchy water eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, sneezing, coughing and even hives. The symptoms of a cold are often characterized by runny nose, sore throat and cough. Patients with severe seasonal allergies can feel very fatigued and have low grade fever making the distinction even harder.

Acute sinusitis is characterized by a stuffy or runny nose accompanied by pain in the forehead and/or over the cheeks. Often both the common cold and allergies can cause swelling of the nasal passages, which prevent the sinuses from draining, then this can lead to sinusitis. Sinusitis can be treated with antibiotics, however it often recurs if due to uncontrolled allergies.

What are best over the counter methods to treat allergies?

When To See A Medical Provider

Seasonal allergies are common, but they dont cause fevers.

If you have a fever along with allergy symptoms, you dont necessarily need medical care right away.

But if your symptoms dont improve or they worsen, see a doctor. You could have a viral or bacterial infection.

Also, if you experience any of the following, seek emergency medical care:

• Fever greater than 103º F
• Yellowing of the skin

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Fever With Allergy Symptoms

When you develop congestion, regardless of the cause, the buildup of mucus in your sinuses can be a breeding ground for bacteria. When an infection takes hold, you can be hit with a fever that can last for several days.

Congestion can be the result of sinusitis, allergies, or something more serious, such as the flu virus. Its sometimes hard to know whats causing your symptoms, because a cold or flu can mimic many of the signs of an allergy.

Discovering exactly whats causing your symptoms, even if theyre mild, is important. Once you know the cause of your symptoms, you can start an effective treatment plan. And, in the case of an allergy, you can take steps to prevent symptoms or flare-ups in the future.

The key, however, is a proper diagnosis.

Food Allergies And Joint Pain & Inflammation

Seasonal allergies arent the only type of allergies that can contribute to joint pain. There are also certain pre-existing conditions and food allergies that can cause joint inflammation and your body to have inflammatory responses. Inflammation is what causes the joints to swell and create pain or discomfort. There are two main culprits for food-related joint pain:

• Food allergy or sensitivity

If you already have arthritis, then you probably have experienced some amount of joint pain in the past. Although there are many different types, arthritis is basically inflammation that affects your joints, causing pain and stiffness. Some patients with this condition experience increased inflammation after eating certain foods. This is especially true of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes chronic joint inflammation, especially in the hands and feet.

Even though arthritis causes your body to be in a constant inflammatory state, its important to be aware of the triggers that can cause bouts of increased inflammation and lead to painful joint symptoms. Some foods known to impact arthritic patients and cause joint pain include:

• Food allergy/sensitivity test
• Elimination diet
• Nutritional deficiency test

Whether it be gluten, dairy or an assortment of other foods, identifying and eliminating these triggers from your diet could help you manage joint pain. An anti-inflammatory menu will also be beneficial to your overall health and well-being.

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