Coronavirus, allergies or flu? Here's the difference between COVID-19 and other illnesses
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Is it allergies or the coronavirus?
As flu season comes to an end and allergy season starts to heat up, there may be concerns about symptoms that mimic the new coronavirus COVID-19.
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It's allergy season and we haven't exactly cleared flu season yet, but that hasn't stopped the new coronavirus from spreading throughout the nation and creating a new normal for Americans who are now stuck at home.
Symptoms of the coronavirus include a fever, dry cough and shortness of breath, but those symptoms closely resemble other illnesses, as well. So, how do you know if you have coronavirus or something else?
Dr. Maria Granzotti, chief medical officer at Ascension Texas, breaks down the differences between allergies, cold, strep, flu and COVID-19 to put your mind more at ease before going to the doctor.
Allergies
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Red, swollen eyes
- Itchy eyes
- Itchy nose
- Tickle in the throat
- Rarely a fever
Cold
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Aches and pains
- Mild dry cough
- Rarely a fever
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Strep
- Sore throat
- Painful swallowing
- Fever
Flu
- Fever is common
- Dry cough
- Quick onset
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Sometimes a runny nose
- Sometimes diarrhea
New coronavirus, COVID-19
- Shortness of breath
- Fever (above 100 degrees)
- Dry cough
- Gradual onset (two to 14 days after onset)
- Sometimes headache
- Sometimes aches and pains
- Mild sneezing
- Sometimes fatigue, but it’s not predominate like the flu
- Diarrhea is rare