Is it Allergies or COVID-19?
You’re enjoying the balmy, late-spring weather when boom, it hits—your throat is a little scratchy, your head feels off, and your nose starts to run at an alarming rate. Is simple allergy symptoms, or is it COVID-19?
Only a medical professional with COVID-19 testing capabilities can definitively answer this question. This is because COVID-19 symptoms can vary significantly from person to person, and some people may not have any noticeable symptoms at all. While you’re waiting for your coronavirus test results, though, here are a few key differentiators between allergies and COVID-19 symptoms that can help provide some clarity.
Seasonal allergies are more likely to cause:
- Sneezing
- Red, itchy, or watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Congested-feeling ears
- Post-nasal drip
COVID-19 is more likely to cause:
- Fever
- Nausea or diarrhea
- Dry cough
- Body aches
- Significant fatigue
- Loss of taste or smell
A few other notes:
- Symptoms caused by allergies should respond quickly to allergy medication.
- Allergies may cause wheezing in people with asthma, which is not a COVID-19 symptom.
- Allergies can lead to a feeling of itchiness, which is not a COVID-19 symptom.
Rapid COVID-19 Testing at Fast Track Urgent Care
Fast Track Urgent Care in Silver Spring and Kensington, Maryland, is pleased to offer rapid COVID-19 testing every day on a walk-in basis, along with convenient telemedicine services that allow patients to consult with our board-certified practitioners from the comfort and safety of home. Find the answers you need—contact us today to learn more!
