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
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?
Allergies Follow A Pattern And Symptoms Tend To Stick Around Longer
If you have allergies, your symptoms will flare up at certain times throughout the year when the allergens youre sensitive to are present. For example, if you have a tree pollen allergy, your symptoms will first appear in the early spring.
This also means that your symptoms can last for several weeks until that particular allergy season has ended. To put that into perspective, colds usually only last about a week.
Cold viruses are present all year, so you can catch one at any time. However, the winter cold season is when getting sick is more likely.
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Allergies Could Cause A Fever Indirectly Though
Seasonal allergies can cause your sinuses and lungs to get inflamed, explains Purvi Parikh, M.D., an allergist and immunologist with the nonprofit Allergy & Asthma Network. And that, she says, makes you more susceptible to catching viruses and bacteria which lead to infections.
Allergies also mess with an important and basic part of your immune system, says Craig Jones, M.D., medical director of otolaryngology at Mass. Eye and Ear, Cape Cod. Part of our innate immunity is the mucosal barrier in our nose and airways, he says, noting that allergies interfere with this barrier.
Another way your allergies could contribute to you developing a fever: You tend to touch your face more when you have symptoms. Simply by touching a spot, such as a shopping cart, telephone, or computer keyboard contaminated with a virus, and then rubbing the nose or eyes, a person can inoculate themselves with a germ, Dr. Jones says. Patients with allergies are much more likely to rub their eyes or nose due to itching, which puts them at additional risk.
You can develop whats known as a secondary infection from your allergies as well, says Kara Wada, M.D., an allergist-immunologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Secondary sinus and/or ear infections can result from severe allergies, which can cause fevers, she says.
How Coronavirus Affects Your Eyes
The American Academy of Ophthalmology has said that it is possible for the coronavirus to produce conjunctivitis. However, the group says the eye infection only shows up in 1% to 3% of COVID-19 patients.
There are a number of things that can cause conjunctivitis, including:
- Swelling of the eyelids or the conjunctiva the thin layer that covers the whites of the eyes and the inside of the eyelid.
- The whites of the eyes appear pink or red.
- Increased tear production or discharge.
- Crusting of eyelids or eyelashes, particularly in the morning.
- Itching, irritation or burning.
In cases in which conjunctivitis is an early symptom of the coronavirus, the condition typically begins in one eye and travels to the other eye within a few days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Its also said that COVID-19-related eye discharge typically has a watery consistency.
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Allergies Wont Cause A Fever
The symptoms of RSV, fall allergies and COVID-19 can look very similar with one major exceptiona fever.
Allergies, RSV, COVID and other viral infections can cause significant runny nose, congestion, eye irritation and cough as well, Dr. Kim says. So, on the surface, theyll look very, very similar. One very clear difference is going to be fever. Allergies should not cause any type of temperature at all. If parents detect a fever of 100 or higher, that is an infection as opposed to allergies.
Allergy Symptoms Typically Last Longer And Have A Pattern
If you have allergies, the symptoms will usually flare up at specific times of the year when allergens to which you are susceptible are prevalent. For instance, if you have an allergy to tree pollen, your allergy symptoms will manifest in early spring. This also indicates that your allergy symptoms may last for several days or weeks until the season ends.
On the other hand, viruses that cause the common cold are present throughout the year, so its possible to acquire a cold at any moment. However, the likelihood of becoming sick is highest during the winter season. And compared to allergies, the average duration of a cold is one week.
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Do I Have Allergies Or Covid
Paxlovid, sotrovimab, remdesivir, bebtelovimab, molnupiravir, fever reducer, rest, fluids Severity Nonfatal, unless allergies become so severe they trigger breathing difficulties like asthma Coronavirus is fatal for 1.2% of those infected in the U.S., often from complications like pneumonia, cardiac events, and multi-organ failure Prevention Avoiding triggers, using air conditioning and air filters, taking medication before symptoms start COVID-19 vaccine, wearing a face mask in public, Evusheld, frequent and thorough handwashing, disinfecting surfaces, avoiding touching face, social distancing
Treatments For Hay Fever From A Gp
Your GP might prescribe a steroid treatment, such as a steroid nasal spray.
If steroids and other hay fever treatments do not work, your GP may refer you for immunotherapy.
This means you’ll be given small amounts of pollen as an injection or tablet to slowly build up your immunity to pollen.
This kind of treatment usually starts in the winter about 3 months before the hay fever season begins.
Immunotherapy is a specialist service that may not be available everywhere.
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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.
See related: Is it a cold? Or is it Allergies?
Allergies Do Not Cause Productive Coughs
Coughing is a common symptom of colds and allergies, but the two coughs are very different. A dry, barky productive cough is the trademark of a cold, and the phlegm or mucus it produces often turns greenish or yellowish hue as it thickens.
On the other hand, allergies can induce a cough with a tickling sensation in the throat. This is because allergens frequently irritate the nose lining, causing the nasal passages to produce watery mucus, which can drip from the nose and down the back of the throat, causing a tickling feeling. This condition is known as post-nasal drip.
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How Do You Know If Youre Sick Or Have Allergies
In addition to the presence of a fever, there are a number of symptoms that can help you differentiate between allergies and an illness.
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Symptom time frame and tempo.For a traditional upper respiratory infection or common cold, symptoms generally increase for a few days and then resolve within a week or two, says Chen. On the other hand, if youre allergic to pollen, you will likely have symptoms throughout the season.
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Response to allergy medications. If youre sneezing and have a runny nose and these symptoms get better with antihistamines, which is the most common over-the-counter allergy medication, then you likely have allergies, notes Chen.
Important note: Allergy medication, such as Benadryl, generally isnt recommended for children under 12 months of age. Before administering antihistamines or other medications, please speak with your doctor.
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The presence of aches and pains.Kids with viral illness will often have aches and pains and probably will have been around someone at home or at school who was sick, as well, explains DeBlasio.
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Symptoms get worse outside. Seasonal allergy symptoms are worse when an allergic child spends long periods outside, says DeBlasio. Time spent outdoors wont change the symptoms of a cold.
The Difference Between Allergies & Colds:
When you have a bacterial or viral infection, your body will trigger an immune response. Chemicals called pyrogens, which are produced by white blood cells, cause the temperature in the body to rise. This is a normal inflammatory response that helps to kill off heat-sensitive bacteria.
Allergens, on the other hand, set off no such reaction. During an allergic reaction, your body releases histamines, which make you sneeze and cough. Histamines are only released during allergic reactions, which is why you shouldnt take anti-histamine medication for the common cold or flu.
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Symptoms Of Allergies Last Longer Than Symptoms Of Rsv
Usually RSV and other viral infections clear up after one to two weeks.
If its allergies, you are probably looking at least a couple of months worth of symptoms or at least until the season ends, Dr. Kim says.
Fall allergy season usually starts in September and lasts until the first hard frost, which can be December or sometimes even later.
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 feverâand so can ear infections, heat exhaustion, urinary tract infections, and more. Also, COVID-19 can present with fever and allergy-like symptomsâmainly 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.
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Whats Happening With Allergies In Your Body
Heres how it works. When your body comes in contact with allergens, your body naturally releases histamines. These histamines will lead to side effects like coughing and sneezing not fever. This would be your bodys allergic reaction.
On the other hand, when your body has an infection bacterial or viral your bodys immune response will deploy pyrogens. Pyrogens are made by white blood cells and act as an inflammatory response. They are what cause your temperature to rise as you get a fever.
So, can you get a fever from allergies? No. But keep reading to learn more about allergies, symptoms, and treatment options.
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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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.
Is 991 A Fever
Normal temperature in adults
A normal adult body temperature, when taken orally, can range from 97.699.6°F, though different sources may give slightly different figures. In adults, the following temperatures suggest that someone has a fever: at least 100.4°F is a fever. above 103.1°F is a high fever.
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Can You Run A Fever With Hay Fever
Hay fever is another name for allergic rhinitis, or allergies to environmental triggers such as mold, dust mites, pet dander and pollen. Although the term “hay fever” has been used for centuries, running a fever is not a symptom of the condition. Rather, it is thought that the word “fever” might refer to a general feeling of being ill or unwell.
Actual symptoms of hay fever include puffy, itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, cough, sinus pressure, facial pain, allergic shiners , itchy mouth, nose or throat and decreased sense of taste or smell. Hay fever sufferers may experience some or all of these symptoms, but they will begin immediately after exposure to the allergen or allergens.
In addition to the regular symptoms of hay fever, there are complications that may arise as a result of the condition. These include difficulty sleeping, worsening asthma symptoms, sinusitis, ear infections and oral allergy syndrome . OAS may cause your seasonal allergy symptoms to worsen after you eat certain fresh fruits, vegetables. Common symptoms of OAS include itchiness and swelling of the throat and mouth.
Because hay fever sufferers do not run a fever as part of the condition, a more accurate way to refer to the disease is by its medical name, “allergic rhinitis,” which means “inflammation of the nose caused by allergies.”
Is It Cold Or Allergies Heres How To Tell Them Apart
The typical cold and allergies share symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose, a cough, exhaustion, and headaches. Its conceivable that you have seasonal allergies if you experience abrupt onset cold symptoms around the same time every year. Although common cold and allergy symptoms may be similar, there are significant differences between the two conditions.
Seasonal allergies are immune system responses prompted by exposure to allergens like pollen or pet dander. On the other hand, the common cold is caused by a virus. However, if youre experiencing symptoms and are unsure if its a typical cold or allergies, its best to consult a specialist at urgent care in Fairfield, CT.
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Experts Say You Might Want To Think Twice Before Blaming Your Child’s Low
Allergy sufferers experience a wide range of symptoms, ranging from itchy eyes and runny nose to sore throat and congestion. The symptoms can occur throughout the year or seasonally, depending on the cause of your allergies, and they can negatively affect day-to-day activities, says Sanjeev Jain, M.D., a board-certified allergist and immunologist at Columbia Allergy. But whether your child is allergic to pet dander or pollen, you may wonder if they can have a low-grade fever with allergies. Here’s what parents need to know.
Allergies Rarely Induce Throat Or Body Pain
Allergies rarely cause any severe pain, except for a possible headache due to sinus congestion. Your allergies can result in sore throat only if it is caused by coughing and post-nasal drip. But if youre experiencing sore throat and body aches simultaneously, its an indication that you might have a cold or flu.
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