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Hayfever vs coronavirus symptoms: Know the difference
How to tell the difference between hayfever vs coronavirus symptoms? Hayfever season can run into September, while coronavirus cases are rising toward a second peak. Its important to know the difference, and whether your symptoms suggest you need to be tested.
Covid-19 seems enough of a downer this summer. But the good news keeps on coming. The Met Office has warned our changing climate will mean that changes in temperature and rainfall may lengthen the UK pollen season.
In other words, dont be surprised if hayfever remains a nuisance into September, and possibly even beyond.
So, if you finding yourself sniffling, should you be worried?
Heres how to tell hayfever vs coronavirus symptoms apart.
Covid-19 symptoms
By now, youve probably read all about coronavirus symptoms. But for the purposes of our comparison, heres a reminder, from the NHS website:
- a high temperature this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Late summer hayfever symptoms
The NHS lists the following as the main symptoms of hayfever. The symptoms similar to coronavirus are highlighted in bold:�
- sneezing and coughing
- a runny or blocked nose
- itchy, red or watery eyes
- itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- loss of smell
- pain around your temples and forehead
- headache
- earache
- feeling tired
And if you have asthma, you might also:
- have a tight feeling in your chest
- be short of breath
- wheeze and cough
How to know the difference
While the tell-tale signs of the two conditions appear to overlap, if you are suffering with hayfever you wont experience a high temperature. If its hayfever, your cough is also less likely to be new and continuous.
Hayfever can be controlled with a combination of antihistamine medications, nasal sprays, and eye drops, with NHS recommendations listed here.
What to do if you think its the coronavirus
If you do, in fact, have covid-19, then you will probably feel more unwell than you usually do with seasonal hayfever. If you think you might have coronavirus, you should self-isolate, and get tested.
Most people can recover at home with paracetamol and plenty of fluids. However, if you feel worse, you should use the NHS 111 checker or call NHS 111.
And, to prevent you spreading the disease, dont go directly to your GP practice, pharmacy or hospital if you think you have coronavirus. Always go through 111 first.
