Allergies or Covid-19

In the midst of a pandemic, allergy season is now just entering full bloom. With summer around the corner and pollen filling the air, we understand how it can be confusing to differentiate allergy symptoms from something more concerning like the coronavirus. While it is good to stay vigilant of your symptoms, the first sign of a sniffle shouldn’t send you into a panic.

Over 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year. Comparing that to the 1.7 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in America (as of May 25th), it is more likely that a sneeze is due to allergies than the coronavirus.

The most characteristic symptoms of allergies are:

· Nasal congestion

· Runny nose

· Sneezing

· Itchy/watery eyes

· Scratchy throat

· Hives

Allergies can even exacerbate asthma, causing:

· Shortness of breath

· Coughing

· Wheezing

We see how most of these symptoms can overlap with COVID-19, as well as other infectious diseases like the flu or the common cold, and it important to be able to distinguish them. The best way to do so is an ENT evaluation and we at CSENT are here to help!

At our practice, allergy testing can be performed via either a quick pain-free skin test or by a blood test. Both types of testing are safe and can be effective for diagnosing environmental allergies. Skin testing has the advantage of being performed in office and immediately obtaining results.

If you or a family member have any upper respiratory symptoms, please do not hesitate to contact us and schedule an allergy evaluation as your first step towards symptom relief.

Opinions expressed here are those of Marco DiBlasi, BA and Daryl Colden, MD. They are not intended as medical advice and cannot substitute the advice of your personal physician