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Do You Get A Fever With Allergies

Allergies Follow A Pattern And Symptoms Tend To Stick Around Longer

How to get rid of your hayfever & allergies

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.

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.

What Are Some Common Allergy Symptoms

Allergy symptoms can be similar to viral infections, which can make it hard to figure out why youre not feeling well. To see how they compare, below are some common seasonal allergy symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic:

  • Coughing
  • Itching in your mouth, throat, eyes, or nose
  • Wheezing or asthma flare-ups in people who have asthma

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When Do People Usually Get Hay Fever

You can have hay fever any time of the year. Seasonal allergies occur in the spring, summer and early fall when trees and weeds bloom and pollen counts are higher. Perennial allergies can happen year-round. They result from irritants that are always around, such as pet dander, cockroaches and dust mites.

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Can Allergies Cause Fatigue & A Low Grade Fever

How to tell allergies vs. cold in 2020

Whether it is spring or fall, if you suffer from allergies, you run the risk of becoming sick. For some sufferers, allergies cause nasal congestion, headache and cough 1. For others, if their bodies react strongly enough, their symptoms may include a low-grade fever and fatigue. It is important to know how to treat your symptoms so you begin feeling healthy again.

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

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How Do I Know What Is Making Me Sick

It can be difficult to tell the difference between symptoms and conclusively determine on your own whether youre dealing with a bad allergy attack, the cold, or the flu. However, fever is one of the major differentiators between the three conditions. Fever is never associated with allergies, so if you have a fever, you can be certain that your symptoms are being caused by some type of infection rather than airborne allergies. The temperature of the fever is also important, as colds can sometimes cause a low-grade fever and flu typically causes a high fever that can last between three and four days. Headache is also a common symptom of the flu that is uncommon for both colds and allergic rhinitis. On the other hand, sore throats are very common for colds but are much less common for the flu and allergic rhinitis, so a sore throat is often a sign of a cold. Allergic rhinitis often causes itchy, watery eyes, while colds and flu do not. Regardless of what you think might be causing your symptoms, if you notice your symptoms worsening or extending for a long period of time, it is recommended that you call your doctor to discuss your condition. Symptoms of the common cold last up to two weeks, while symptoms of the flu last one to two weeks, and allergic rhinitis can linger as long as the allergens are present.

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Nose And Eye Allergies: Age Of Onset

  • Seasonal pollen allergies usually begin at age 2 to 5 years.
  • The symptoms peak in school age children, teens and young adults.
  • Pollen symptoms are rare in children under age 2. They require at least 2 seasons of exposure to the pollen.
  • Children under age 2 who have chronic nasal symptoms have other causes. Examples are recurrent colds, large adenoids or cows milk allergy.
  • Food allergies can start during the first year of life, but not pollen allergies.

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Allergies Have Chronic Symptoms

COVID-19, like the flu or common cold, is an acute illness, meaning people feel fine until symptoms start showing up.

Allergies, on the other hand, are usually chronic, presenting with symptoms off and on for weeks, months, or even years, Dr. David M. Cutler, family medicine physician at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, California, told Healthline.

Allergies should not cause a fever or body aches, Arthur said. Generally, no cough unless you have a lot of nasal drainage.

Allergies may also cause wheezing, she added, especially in people with asthma.

Allergy symptoms tend to vary with the environment: worsening with exposure to dust, pollen, or animal dander, whereas cold symptoms tend to persist regardless of time of day, weather, locality, or other environmental factors, Cutler said.

Also, as with COVID-19, Colds are more likely to have generalized symptoms like fever, headache, and body aches, whereas allergies usually affect only the respiratory tract, Cutler said. Allergy symptoms tend to improve with antihistamine and other allergy-specific medication. Colds are more likely to respond to decongestants, acetaminophen, fluids, and rest.

The CDC issued guidance on the differences in symptoms between COVID-19 and seasonal allergies.

The agency noted that things such as shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, headache, and sore throat can be symptoms of either COVID-19 or allergies.

What Are Dust Mites

Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever & Seasonal Allergies) Signs & Symptoms (& Why They Occur)

Dust mites eat skin cells that are shed by people. They thrive in warm, humid environments, such as bedding, upholstered furniture and carpeting. While its nearly impossible to kill them, there are things you can do to prevent them.

Preventive measures include using allergen-proof bedcovers, washing your bedding weekly, keeping the humidity low in your home, dusting and vacuuming regularly, eliminating dust-collecting clutter, installing tile or hardwood floors in your home, avoiding bedcovers that easily trap dust and buying stuffed toys that can be washed.

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Is It Coronavirus Or Allergies

Allergies and viral infections can present in similar ways, especially nasal congestion, cough, sinus pressure, fatigue, and achiness, Tina Sindher, M.D., allergist with Stanford Health Care and clinical assistant professor at Stanford Medicine, tells SELF.

In fact, if you saw a Venn diagram with symptoms for COVID and allergies, thered be a whole lot of overlap. After all, anything that messes with your immune system can leave you feeling run down. Whats more, there are other viruses out there that can seem similar to COVID-19, which can complicate matters even more.

These similarities can make it challenging to know exactly whats going on in your body if you start feeling sick while the COVID-19 pandemic is happening. Having a good understanding of coronavirus symptoms and signs of seasonal allergies is a helpful first step.

If you have a fever , this is a big red flag that your symptoms may be associated with COVID-19 and not seasonal allergies. In response to an infection, your body temperature might increase in an attempt to kill pathogens. A higher temperature may also trigger your immune system to make more white blood cells and antibodies. You should not get a fever with allergies, Dr. Sindher says. If my patients who have allergy symptoms are reporting fever, Im concerned about an infection.

Identify When Symptoms Start

So youve decided you probably have seasonal allergies. Great. But also, not great, because while allergies from pollen arent typically serious, they also arent fun.

Some people are like, Oh, its just allergies, but allergies can be debilitating. Quality of life goes down, people miss school and work and theres an economic impact, says Dr. Drew Ayars, an allergist who sees patients at the allergy clinics at UW Medical Center Montlake and UW Medical Center Eastside Specialty Center.

Your first step toward getting relief is figuring out what kind of seasonal allergies you have.

Does your foggy-headed misery set in before the first flowers bloom? Or later in spring when everyone starts mowing their lawns again?

You dont have to be tested to know what youre allergic to. You can correlate symptoms to pollen counts around that time, he explains.

Thats because different types of pollen emerge at different times. In late winter and early spring, the most prevalent pollens are from trees hazelnut, birch, alder, oak, cottonwood, ash and juniper are especially common in the Seattle area, Rampur says. Mid- to late spring is full of grass pollen, and the biggest culprit in late summer to fall is weed pollen.

Once you notice when specifically your allergies flare up, you can put a plan in place for dealing with them .

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Clear Signs You Have Seasonal Allergies

Dont confuse allergies with a head cold.

For some people, just the thought of being outside during spring or summer makes them want to sneeze.

Some people love spring and summer: Blooming flowers, warm sunshine and chirping birds are a welcome arrival for many people after the dark and cold winter months. For about 8% of American adults, though, the change of seasons spells misery.

Those 20 million people deal with allergic rhinitis, or seasonal allergies, a condition caused when your immune system reacts to something in the environment. In most cases, that something is pollen from trees, grasses and weeds.

Commonly called hay fever, seasonal allergies actually have nothing to do with hay or fevers. That misnomer comes from a long-gone era when symptoms would strike during hay harvests in late summer and early fall, before medical professionals knew what allergies were.

Think you might have seasonal allergies? See how your symptoms match up against these four big signs.

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Can Allergies Cause Fevers Indirectly

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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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Can A Cold Or Flu Cause Allergies

An allergy is an inflammatory immune response to specific foods or something in the environment, known as an allergen. Colds and flu are caused by viruses or bacteria. Therefore, a cold or flu cannot cause an allergy.

Sometimes, allergies can lead to a sinus infection, which may develop into a fever. Sinus infections are the result of excess mucus and debris getting trapped in the air-filled sinus passages. However, the infection develops due to the bacteria or viruses present rather than the allergens.

Knowing what a person is allergic to can help in treating the allergies. A person can be allergic to several allergens at once. Some of the key steps to reducing allergy symptoms include:

A person with severe allergies may benefit from immunotherapy. This approach involves injecting increasing amounts of allergens in the body to de-sensitize the bodys immune response. A doctor must prescribe these injections.

What Are The Symptoms Of Allergic Rhinitis

Hay fever symptoms can appear throughout the year. Outdoor allergies are worse in the spring, summer and early fall. In warm weather, weeds and flowers bloom, and pollen counts are higher. Indoor allergies, such as those that result from pet dander and dust mites, can get worse in winter because people spend more time indoors.

Symptoms of hay fever include:

  • Nasal stuffiness , sneezing and runny nose.
  • Itchy nose, throat and eyes.
  • Headaches, sinus pain and dark circles under the eyes.
  • Increased mucus in the nose and throat.
  • Fatigue and malaise .
  • Sore throat from mucus dripping down the throat .
  • Wheezing, coughing and trouble breathing.

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Stay Away From Triggers

You can ease your allergy symptoms by avoiding or reducing your exposure to triggers. For seasonal allergies, you should:

  • Stay indoors as much as possible during peak pollen counts and windy days. Ragweed is highest in the morning. Tree and grass pollens peak in the early evening.
  • Close windows and use your air conditioner.
  • Wear glasses or sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes.
  • Wear a mask when you work outdoors.

For perennial allergies to indoor animals and pests:

  • Use dust mite-proof covers for pillows and mattresses.
  • Wash your sheets and blankets often in hot water.
  • Keep humidity levels down in your home with dehumidifiers and air conditioning.
  • Wash your hands after you touch animals.
  • Keep your pet out of your bedroom while you sleep.
  • Replace carpets with hardwood, tile, or linoleum flooring.
  • Use a HEPA filter on your HVAC system and your vacuum.

Saline rinses. They can ease nasal congestion and wash allergens and extra mucus out of your nose. You can use a premixed solution in a squeeze bottle or a neti pot. Use distilled, sterile, or boiled water if you decide to make the saline mixture yourself. Use purified water to rinse and sterilize the bottle or neti pot after each use. Let them air dry.

Although there’s no cure for hay fever, if you work with your doctor, stick to your treatment plan, and avoid the triggers for your seasonal and perennial allergies, you can manage your symptoms before they manage you.

What Are The Symptoms For A Cold

Do you suffer from hay fever? Philips has some suggestions!

Like COVID, the symptoms of a cold are often coughing, sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, a sore throat, tiredness and sometimes a fever. Symptoms usually appear one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus.

Unlike COVID, a cold is usually harmless and cold-sufferers generally recover in three to 10 days.

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What To Avoid If You Have Seasonal Allergies Or Hay Fever

Thankfully, even if you are allergic to certain things you arent powerless. We are going to talk about supplements that can help fight hay fever and allergies in a moment. But first, lets look at what you can do to avoid having intense reactions to common allergens.

This will help supplements do their jobs in keeping your body strong. Rather than inundating them with common allergens, consider avoiding them all together when possible.

Pollen Allergies Are Seasonal

The season for pollen allergies can last for several months and occurs when the plants are flowering. This will vary depending on location and the type of plant. For instance:

  • Non-native trees tend to pollinate in late winter and spring.
  • In Victoria, winds from the north tend to bring pollen from non-native grasses growing inland between October and December.
  • White Cypress pine is the only Australian tree that produces highly allergenic pollen and it flowers between late July and the end of August.
  • Species of casuarina or Australian oak trees produce pollen throughout the year and can cause hay fever symptoms at any time.

The medical specialists who diagnose allergies have online calendars showing when common species of pollen cause allergies in the states and territories of Australia.

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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.

How You Can Tell The Difference Between Cold And Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

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