Covid-19 or Allergies: What you need to know for spring
With spring right around the corner, we are saying goodbye to winter and the dreary weather. It also means we are faced with seasonal allergies. This year, with COVID-19 being so prominent, it can get confusing to know if the symptoms you are experiencing are from seasonal allergies, the seasonal flu, the common cold or COVID-19. To help differentiate between them, we have gathered up some of the main symptoms each of these conditions can present with.
Main Symptoms of COVID-19
- fever
- tiredness
- dry cough
- shortness of breath occuring 5-10 days after developing a fever.
Less Common Symptoms that can be confused with the flu, a cold or seasonal allergies include:
- body aches and pains
- wheezing
- diarrhea
- nasal congestion
- runny nose
- sore throat
Common Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies (Hay Fever):
- runny nose
- itchy eyes mouth or skin
- sneezing
- nasal congestion
Less common symptoms are:
- wheezing
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
After confirming that you indeed are dealing with seasonal allergies, contact your local optometrist to deal with your itchy eyes.
The Main Symptoms of the Seasonal Flu (Influenza) are:
- fever or chills
- cough
- muscle/body aches
- headache
- and tiredness
Less Common Symptoms are:
- sneezing
- sore throat
- runny nose
- nausea
- diarrhea
- and shortness of breath if you develop pneumonia
Main Symptoms of a Common Cold are:
- sneezing
- stuffy nose
- sore throat
- cough
- chest discomfort
Less Common Symptoms are:
- fatigue
- body aches
It can be a confusing time for everyone, if you do develop any of the above symptoms and are unsure if they are from Seasonal Allergies, Seasonal Flu, Common Cold or COVID-19, we recommend you contact your family doctor or call the 811 line for more guidance. We also advise self-isolation for 14 days for any symptoms that could resemble symptoms from the Season Flu, Common Cold and COVID-19 categories above.
Info from www.bccdc.ca: May 2021 Update
We are learning that some symptoms, like fever or chills, cough, loss of sense of smell or taste, and trouble breathing are more likely to be COVID-19 than seasonal allergies. New guidance for when to get a COVID-19 test reflects this new evidence.
- Find out where to get tested
- Find out how to get your test results
- Find out what your test results mean
What you need to know
- Use the B.C. COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to be tested for COVID-19
- A COVID-19 test is recommended if:
- you had a contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and have any one of the symptoms below.
- you are experiencing symptoms as described below.
- If you feel unwell and are unsure about your symptoms, contact your health care provider or call 8-1-1.
Where to get tested for Covid
There are some private pay clinics that offer testing for a fee to people who require asymptomatic testing for reasons that fall outside of B.C. public health recommendations such as for travel or employment.
Please note that the following listings are provided only as a convenience and their inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by the Government of British Columbia or the BCCDC.
Should I get tested if I don’t have symptoms?
If you don’t have any symptoms, testing is not recommended even if you are a contact.
If you are unsure, use the B.C. COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to be tested for COVID-19.
There are some private pay clinics that offer testing for a fee to people who require asymptomatic testing for reasons that fall outside of B.C. public health recommendations such as for travel or employment.
If you are experiencing symptoms, stay calm, stay home, and call a healthcare provider.
