Don’t Confuse Allergy Symptoms for COVID-19 Symptoms
Allergy season, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increase of Americans returning to work are all happening at once. This is causing confusion in a number of ways, and one of those ways is the fact that people are mistaking allergy symptoms for symptoms of COVID-19. Thinking that you have the novel Coronavirus, when you actually have a treatable allergy, can bring an unnecessary amount of anxiety that can negatively affect both your work and personal life. We understand the uncertainty because COVID-19 and allergies share many of the same signs.
Common symptoms of seasonal allergies include:
- Sneezing
- Itching
- Runny or blocked nose
- Wheezing, chest tightness
- Ear congestion
- Watery eyes
- Postnasal drainage
Common symptoms of COVID-19, according to the CDC, include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
The following are emergency warning signs of COVID-19 that warrant immediate medical attention:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
Discover the Source of Your Respiratory Symptoms
As you can see, the main symptoms the two conditions share have to do with respiratory issues. If you believe you have COVID-19, or are struggling with serious respiratory issues, it is always best to be seen by your medical provider as soon as possible. We know that this urgency can bring about a lot of anxiety, and to help calm some of those fears, we recommend getting tested for allergies. The Center for Allergy & Asthma of Georgia serves the Atlanta Metro area, where allergies are particularly prevalent.
While COVID-19 tests can be difficult to access, an appointment with our office can be made with ease. However, for the safety of our team and all of our patients, we are not seeing patients who have COVID-19 or who have recently been exposed. All patients are screened when they schedule an appointment and at the time of arrival, and we are implementing a touchless check-in and check-out process. This helps ensure that our allergy-prone patients who are looking for relief from those symptoms do not struggle with the additional complications of this virus. We offer same-day and next-day appointments for new and existing patients and now conduct video appointments as well. This enables us to provide care for patients who might currently be located outside of our service area in Georgia.
Ways that we can detect and diagnose allergy issues include, but are not limited to:
- Asthma treatment
- Allergy shots
- Sinus conditions
- Allergy drops
- Pediatric allergies
- Skin treatments
We understand that you have enough on your plate as you get back to work and begin to navigate the new normal. Don’t let allergy symptoms be one more source of stress and uncertainty. Call us today for a same-day or next-day appointment at (770) 459-0620 or schedule your same-day or next-day appointment online. We will help you kick your concerns to the curb.