COVID-19 or Environmental Allergies? How Do You Tell the Difference?

Knowing if it's environmental allergies or COVID-19 can help you find relief.

A man sits in bed under the covers coughing into his hand.

COVID-19 symptoms vary from patient to patient. However, there are some ways to determine if you have a common cold or seasonal allergies — so you can make the right treatment decision.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 and allergies

A COVID-19 infection can resemble the symptoms you get from a mild allergy for many people, especially those who have received one of the recommended vaccines from BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax or Pfizer.

"It can be difficult to tell the difference between whether you're experiencing sneezing and a runny nose from a virus or an environmental allergy," said Shuba Lyengar, M.D., MPH, an allergist for Allermi.

So how do you know if it's a cold or an environmental trigger? Look for patterns.

"For instance, some people with allergies often have recurring symptoms throughout the year, and sometimes the symptoms are worse when the pollen counts are higher outside; this includes spring and summer," Lyengar said.

Here are some common symptoms of environmental allergies:

Coughing, wheezing and asthma
Eye irritation
Fatigue
Headache
Nasal obstruction
Skin conditions, such as hives
Sore throat

These are some of the common symptoms of a COVID-19 infection:

Cough
Digestive issues
Fever and chills
Headache
Loss of taste or smell
Nasal congestion
Shortness of breath
Sore throat

How do you test for COVID-19 or allergies?

Testing for COVID-19 is much faster and less expensive than the testing process for allergies.

A COVID-19 test is simple and involves taking a sample with a cotton swab from your nose or mouth. There are two types of COVID-19 tests:

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests
Antigen tests

PCR tests are more accurate than antigen tests, but they may take up to three days to receive your lab results. Antigen tests are self-tests or at-home tests with results in 15-30 minutes.

Get tested for COVID-19 even if your symptoms are mild. Sometimes other more serious complications evolve from the infection, such as erectile dysfunction (ED).

There's another important reason to test for COVID-19.

Suppose your COVID-19 symptoms persist long after a positive test. In that case, it will help your doctor to determine if you may be experiencing long-COVID which has been shown to show signs as broad as neurological function or affecting your libido.

An allergy test is performed in a very different way to a COVID-19 test. An allergist may perform a skin test by placing small amounts of different allergens on the surface of your skin and then pricking the skin to see if a small reaction or irritation occurs.

Allergists may also use tiny needles to place specific allergens under the skin.

"Allergies can also be diagnosed by the type of symptoms and pattern of symptoms that someone is having," Lyengar said.

Talk to your doctor to see if an allergy test is right for you.

How can you better manage nasal congestion?

Nasal congestion can make you feel miserable. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most common side effects of allergies and COVID-19.

"Common complications of having environmental allergies include sinus pressure and pain. This can happen when the nose gets so swollen that all the mucus that wants to come out of the nose can't, so it gets stuck in the sinuses and causes sinus pain and pressure," Lyengar said.

Luckily, nasal allergy symptoms are easily treatable.

"We often recommend nasal sprays," he said. "These are considered to be one of the most effective treatments for nasal allergies and usually have few side effects associated with them."

Can you get help at home with telemedicine if you have allergies or COVID-19?

If you think you have allergies or COVID-19, getting help remotely is a great option to determine if an allergy or COVID-19 test is right for you. From there, a telemedicine doctor may be able to prescribe you medications to help alleviate mild allergy symptoms.

There are many online telehealth services available to patients, for everything from your allergies to struggles with menopause.

Track down a good telemedicine doctor through your health insurance carrier. Many telehealth services are also available to those without insurance coverage.

However, if your symptoms are more severe, see an in-person physician.

If you test positive for COVID-19, are immunocompromised and are experiencing trouble breathing or more severe symptoms, visit the nearest emergency room.

An allergy attack can be just as dangerous and life-threatening.

If you are experiencing trouble breathing, swelling of the face or neck, or any other severe symptom of allergies, head to the emergency room closest to you.

The bottom line

Environmental allergies do not have to control your health. Many options for treatment are readily available. If you're not sure if you are dealing with allergy symptoms or something viral, visit your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

For updated information on the coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.