It seems that since going into lock down, the sun has not stopped shining!
Mid April…sunshine…we all know what this means. Hay fever season has arrived to taunt us.
With more pollen roaming around to torment us it may increase worries for those who suffer with hay fever that the symptoms that they are showing might be a result of being Covid-19 positive.
I’m sure many of us have woken up after having our windows open to a panic of “Is this hay fever or have I caught corona?”
You can tell the difference by looking out for these signs and symptoms:
Hay Fever Symptoms
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Runny or blocked nose leading to a decreased sense of smell
- Red, itchy and irritated eyes
- Headache
- Drowsiness and tiredness
- Itchy throat, nose and ears
Coronavirus Symptoms
- A high temperature, this is feeling hot to touch on your chest or back. Normal adult body temperature is 37° and babies and children are around 36.4°.
- A new continuous cough, this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. If you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual.
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Body pains aches and pains
- A sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- There have been some reports of diarrhoea, nausea and a runny nose but these are not common symptoms.
The main thing to notice here is that there is not usually a raised temperature in hay fever but it is very likely to be present in coronavirus. Also a runny nose and sneezing is not something that is likely to happen if you have caught corona but it is very likely to be present in hay fever.
Additionally, hay fever symptoms can be irritating but they don’t usually cause you to feel unwell.
Something to take note of is that people who also suffer from asthma may feel a worsening of their hay fever symptoms if it triggers an allergic asthma attack, this will lead to shortness of breath and possibly a tight chest.
How do I stop hay fever symptoms ?
- Wear wrap around sunglasses
- Apply a nose balm or vaseline around your nostrils to stop pollen getting in.
- Take an anti-histamine tablet, nasal spray or allergy eye drops if your pharmacist advises it for you
- Keep windows closed when indoors
- Change your clothes when you come back in doors.
And if you think you might have coronavirus
- Stay at home and call 111
- Do not go out to protect others, this includes going to your GP practice or local pharmacy
- Self-isolate for 7 days.
- Drink plenty of fluids, drink enough so your pee is pale and clear
- Take pain relief such as paracetamol
