Can You Get A Fever From Allergies

My Child Has Allergy Symptoms With A Fevernow What

Fevers aren’t caused by allergies, so if your child experiences a rise in temperature, something else is likely to blame. For example, viruses like the common cold or influenza cause fever as the immune system struggles to fight them off. Bacterial infections like strep throat might also lead to feverand so can ear infections, heat exhaustion, urinary tract infections, and more. Also, COVID-19 can present with fever and allergy-like symptomsmainly runny nose, sore throat, and coughing.

Always let your pediatrician know about any worrisome symptoms in your kid. They might need to treat the underlying cause of their fever with antibiotics. If applicable, they might also recommend a coronavirus test.

Can Allergies Cause Fever & Flu Like Symptoms

Well, this is a question that tickles the mind of many people, especially those who frequently counteract fever. Is the coughing and sneezing occurring from cold or is it because of an allergy, this remains a question that puzzles a lot of people. Here in this article we will be discussing whether allergies can produce symptoms like fever and flu.

Do You Have A Cold The Flu Or Allergies

The above table details the symptom differences between all three conditions.

The common symptoms of a cold, flu and allergies are a stuffy or a runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat, a cough, a headache, or even fatigue. Two differing symptoms are a fever or aches/pain, these would not be caused by allergies, but could be due to a cold or the flu. Symptoms of the flu are often more severe than a cold.

While the symptoms are similar, the origin of the conditions are different. A cold and the flu are both caused by different viruses, whereas allergies are caused by your immune system reacting to a trigger. Common inhalant allergy triggers are pollen, dust, mold, pet dander.

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Can Allergies Cause Fevers Indirectly

Allergies can take quite a toll on your immune system. If your white blood cells are busy fighting off pollen, you might find yourself feeling weak. Its not uncommon to come down with a cold or sinus infection in the midst of allergy season. Sinuses filled with mucus are breeding grounds for bacteria. In this case, allergies can cause a fever, but only indirectly.

If you do come down with a cold during allergy season, you need to make sure that youre taking extra precautions to stay hydrated and relax so your body can recover. It can be exhausting for your body to fight on two fronts at the same time.

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Better Safe Than Sorry

At the end of the day, if you are unsure about your symptoms, then you should err on the side of caution.

If you aren’t feeling well, stay indoors and contact your health care provider. This is the best way to ensure that you aren’t contributing to the spread of coronavirus. You may also call the UMMS to discuss your symptoms. Only people with symptoms can get a doctor’s order to .

Even if you don’t have symptoms or your doctor confirms that you have allergies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a to slow the spread of the disease.

UMMS provides our expert-reviewed content to keep our community informed. When sharing this copyrighted content, please link to our site so that critical updates are reflected.

In This Section:

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Symptoms Of Nasal Allergies

• Clear nasal discharge with sneezing, sniffing, and itching of nose
• Eye allergies also can occur
• Ear and sinus congestion or fullness can occur
• Throat can also feel scratchy or have a tickly feeling at times
• Itchy ear canals, itchy skin or hoarse voice sometimes also occur
• Symptoms happen during pollen season
• Same symptoms during the same month of the last year
• Past diagnosis by a doctor is helpful
• No fever

What Are Colds And Allergies

They have different causes. You get a cold when a tiny living thing called a virus gets into your body. There are hundreds of different types that can get you sick.

Once a cold virus gets inside you, your immune system, the body’s defense against germs, launches a counter-attack. It’s this response that brings on the classic symptoms like a cough or stuffed up nose.

The viruses that cause colds are contagious. You can pick them up when someone who’s infected sneezes, coughs, or shakes hands with you. After a couple of weeks, at the most, your immune system fights off the illness and you should stop having symptoms.

It’s a different story with allergies. They’re caused by an overactive immune system. For some reason, your body mistakes harmless things, such as dust or pollen, for germs and mounts an attack on them.

When that happens, your body releases chemicals such as histamine, just as it does when fighting a cold. This can cause a swelling in the passageways of your nose, and you’ll start sneezing and coughing.

Unlike colds, allergies aren’t contagious, though some people may inherit a tendency to get them.

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Signs Of Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies are caused by the immune system reacting to pollen from trees, grasses and weeds as if they were harmful to the body. This reaction causes symptoms that can be similar to a cold. Seasonal allergies occur at the same time each year. If your child has allergy symptoms all year long, he or she may be allergic to things in the home, such as dust mites, animals, mold and cockroaches.

Allergies can cause itchy, watery eyes, which arenât typical signs of a cold or flu.

Other common symptoms of seasonal allergies include:

• Sneezing
• Itchy nose, throat, eyes, and ears
• Nosebleeds

Are The Symptoms Of Allergy And Flu Same Or Do They Have Some Differences

Headache, muscle aches, loss of energy, abdominal cramps and upset stomach are all symptoms of fever and flu however, sometimes, they also indicate an allergy known as Allergic Rhinitis. Most of the people experience flu not more than twice or thrice a year, but if you are encountering these symptoms frequently, then chances are high that you might be suffering from allergy. Let us now look into different ailments and what their symptoms generally indicate an allergy or just flu?

Fever: Fever is a common symptom of influenza and usually is sudden in onset. The temperature generally ranges between 102-106 degrees Fahrenheit. Often adults run low temperature than children. Body aches is another symptom that accompanies flu.

However, the major difference here is that the fever which is associated with allergy doesnt have that sudden onset and the body`s temperature seldom rises in allergy fever unlike seen in flu.

Nausea & Vomiting: These are the common symptoms of food allergies which often leads to some gastrointestinal symptoms. Food allergies to certain food items like dairy products, eggs, wheat etc. leads to symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Diarrhea is another symptom that only crops up with allergy and not flu.

If you are experiencing these symptoms regularly when exposed to certain food items, then its probably allergy to some type of food.

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What If It’s Coronavirus Symptoms

can look similar to seasonal allergies, but often include fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. A subset of patients may complain of not being able to taste or smell, or experience diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. If you don’t have any of these symptoms, it might just be seasonal allergies.

Quick Read Sneezing Season Has Begun

• Seasonal allergies involve sneezing, post-nasal drip and itchy, watery eyes.
• COVID-19 symptoms are different: fever, new cough and new shortness of breath.
• Cold symptoms can seem like seasonal allergy symptoms.
• Flu symptoms usually involve fever, chills, and body aches, however.
• Seasonal allergies can be caused by tree, grass or weed pollen.
• They can worsen over time, and you can get new allergies as an adult.
• To lessen symptoms, take non-drowsy antihistamines and use medicated nasal spray.
• If your symptoms get worse, ask about getting allergy shots.

Now that the COVID-19 outbreak is overlapping with spring allergy season, those sniffles or that cough you normally would have dismissed are suddenly more concerning.

Do your symptoms just mean your seasonal allergies are back? Maybe you have a cold or the flu? Or is it possible you caught the new coronavirus?

Read on to learn the differences between them and what you can do to ease your symptoms.

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Hay Fever Management And Treatment

Avoid triggers by making changes to your home and to your behavior.

• Keep windows closed during high pollen periods use air conditioning in your home and car.
• Wear glasses or sunglasses when outdoors to keep pollen out of your eyes.
• Use mite-proof bedding covers to limit exposure to dust mites and a dehumidifier to control mold. .
• Wash your hands after petting any animal, and have a nonallergic person help with pet grooming, preferably in a well-ventilated area or outside.

What people dont realize is most of the over-the-counter medicines are designed for milder allergies. For the people who have more moderate to severe allergy problems, its very rare that over the counter medicines are enough.

Allergist James Sublett, MD

How To Treat Allergy Symptoms

Theres an important step when trying to manage the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Decreasing exposure to the allergens youre allergic to is an important action that people often dont think about, says Dr. Hui. For example, keeping the windows of your home and car closed when the pollen counts are high or showering after outdoor activities.

When it comes to medications, there are many that can treat your symptoms. Intranasal steroid spraysfor example, Flonase or Nasacortare available over-the-counter or by prescription, and studies have shown great benefit when used consistently the spray reduces inflammation and thus decreases symptoms like sneezing and congestion, says Dr. Hui.

Oral antihistaminesfor example, Zyrtec or Allegraare also particularly helpful when someone has hives. Finally, allergen immunotherapy, or allergy shots, often provide long term benefit and are tailored towards the allergens youre specifically allergic to.

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Can You Get A Fever From Allergies

• #1 09-21-2010 06:39 PM by Dom33I’ve read varying reports on the Internet.From my personal experience and those of my kids, I say you definitely can. The scenarios are the same. In all cases, a major allergy attack hits starting with itchy burning eyes, lots of sneezing. In a few hours or a day it turns more cold like, but i think still allergies, with sore throat, a feeling weak. In three cases where I or my kids have experienced this, we get a fever of up to 101 for a very short period of time, not more than a few hours. The fever then disappears with nasal congestion continuing, but otherwise not clearly sick, rather more like an allergy attack. Having seen this scenario played out at least three times and in all cases clearly from an allergic cause, it seems clear to me that allergies can cause short duration fevers. I hadn’t questioned it, i had assumed it’s the common understanding.Now I’m trying to talk with allergists about my kids allergies and they tell me that there’s no way that you can get a fever from allergies. The allergist today then proceeded to ignore everything i had said regarding two years of history trying to figure out what they’re allergic to because according to her, if there was a fever it must have been an infection and not an allergy.Is there any studies supporting the possibility of allergies causing fevers? Or is all my allergy history in doubt.
• #2

Fever As A Secondary Symptom Of Allergy

When you have a fever along with your allergies it is the sign that something else is going on. The allergic reaction may have produced sinusitis. This is an infection of the sinus cavities and can happen when untreated allergies cause inflammation that prevents the sinuses from draining properly.

The fever you experience isnt because of the allergic reaction. It is because the allergic reaction has resulted in an infection. You may be able to clear the infection with antibiotics, but if the allergies arent treated the infection can return and bring a fever with it.

If your allergies cause inflammation that results in fluid in the ear, you can get an ear infection. In this instance, the fever is a result of the infection of the ear. Its not the allergic reaction that caused the fever its the infection that was caused by the allergic reaction.

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Why Does Anaphylactic Shock Require An Er Visit

Symptoms of an anaphylactic shock worsen quickly and include fast heartbeat, fainting, vomiting, hives, swelling of the face, and swelling of the airways, making it difficult to breathe. If you or someone you know is having symptoms of anaphylactic shock, call 911 immediately.

For someone who has suffered from anaphylaxis in the past, a doctor may prescribe an emergency epinephrine injection. This shot can save a persons life by stopping the allergic reaction.

Once the epinephrine shot has been given, symptoms usually improveor even resolve completely. However, even if symptoms improve, a trip to the emergency room is still mandatory for follow-up care.

While an urgent care clinic can treat minor allergic reactions, like minor food allergies or skin rashes, severe reactions like anaphylaxis require an ER visit.

How Do I Know If It’s Just Allergies

“Take your temperature. That’s probably a good first step, since coronavirus almost always includes a fever. If your temperature is normal, it is likely allergies,” says allergist an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

She adds, “Also, think about whether this happens to you every year. Come March and April, do you usually have itchy eyes and a runny nose?” If so, this may just be seasonal allergies acting up.

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Triggers Of Nasal Allergies

• Cause. An allergic reaction of the nose and sinuses to an inhaled substance. The medical name for this is allergic rhinitis. The allergic substance is called an allergen.
• Most allergens float in the air. That’s how they get in the nose. Here are the common ones:
• Pollens. Trees, grass, weeds and molds are the most common pollens. Tree pollens come in the spring. Grass pollens come in the summer. Weed pollens come in the fall. Pollens cause seasonal allergies. You can’t avoid pollens because they are in the air. Most nasal allergies continue through the pollen season. They can last 4 to 8 weeks. Pollens cause seasonal allergic rhinitis. This is also called hay fever.
• Pets. Allergens can also be from cats, dogs, horses, rabbits and other animals. Most people don’t keep a pet that they are allergic to. They only have sporadic allergy symptoms when they are exposed to that specific animal. These symptoms will usually last a few hours. If someone with a cat visits you, they will bring cat dander with them. This will cause brief symptoms. If you own the pet, though, your child will have symptoms all the time.
• House Dust. House dust contains many allergens. It always contains dust mites. If your humidity is high, it will contain mold. House dust causes year round, daily symptoms. The medical name for this is perennial allergic rhinitis.

Do You Have A Cold Or Allergies

WebMD Feature

Do you know how to tell the difference between a cold and allergies? Are you sure?

Its easy to get them confused. Just ask Paul Ehrlich, MD, a professor of pediatrics at New York University. Hed been an allergist for years when he came down with what he thought was a cold. Id had a watery, runny nose for several days when one of my patients took a look at me and said, Oh, you have allergies, too!’ Ehrlich says.

Hed never had allergies before, but a checkup with another doctor confirmed that the patient was right. Turns out I was allergic to birch trees, which were in bloom at the time, he says.

A cold is an infection caused by a virus. Allergies are your immune systems reaction to a substance like pollen or pet dander. Because the two conditions cause similar symptoms, like sniffles and stuffiness, many people get them mixed up. Knowing which is which can help you get the right treatment, and that will help you feel better faster.

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Ask For Allergy Shots

If antihistamines, nasal spray and staying inside arent controlling your symptoms, theres a more extreme measure you can take: getting allergy shots.

Like vaccines that protect you against viruses, there are shots that can prevent your body from reacting to pollen exposure. They treat the underlying problem rather than just the symptoms.

Unlike regular vaccines, however, you cant just get one allergy shot and call it good.

You have to come in regularly for shots for three to five years, its labor intensive and there are potential risks, Ayars explains.

Those risks range from mild things like redness at the injection site, to hives, to rare but serious things like anaphylactic shock.

Still, if youre someone who used to have mild sniffles during spring pollen season and now cant get through the day without antihistamines, it might be worth talking with your doctor about other treatments including allergy shots.