New Mexico doctor explains allergies vs COVID-19 symptoms
It is allergy season, and as our pollen count continues to surge, so do our symptoms, but it can be hard to know if our coughs and sneezes are from allergies or COVID-19. Dr. Murry Sturkie explained the differences. One in five people have seasonal allergies, and it’s been a rough allergy season so far. Sturkie says our drought has played a big part in it. “That’s when the pollen will get out there, and then the dry wind comes out and blows all the pollen around. That’s where people get very symptomatic,” Sturkie said. Those symptoms like coughing and sneezing can be very similar to the symptoms of the newest COVID-19 variant. “The omicron and the BA.2 variants are more upper respiratory like a cold,” Sturkie said. The doctor says symptoms from the delta variant were more severe than omicron or BA.2 symptoms, so it was easier to distinguish from allergies. “It’s hard to distinguish those symptoms as COVID-19, the symptoms allergies because they are so close together in symptoms,” Sturkie said. He also says it’s essential to use rapid COVID-19 tests whenever you feel symptoms coming on because COVID-19 can show up in just a few days, even after a negative test. If you test negative for COVID-19 and still have allergy symptoms, Sturkie says to stay away from areas like these, especially on days with high pollen counts. “The pollen can get caught underneath the contact lenses, and your eye irritation, runny eyes, scratchy eyes, the sensation can be worse,” Sturkie said.Sturkie also says there are a few ways you can try to limit those symptoms. “Find the right medication that works for you. Air conditioning helps filter out the pollen, so try not to leave the windows open. The wind will blow in the pollen, and your symptoms can get worse,” Sturkie said.Sturkie says if you test negative for COVID-19 and your symptoms don’t go away with allergy medication, talk to your doctor about getting tested for the flu or strep throat.
It is allergy season, and as our pollen count continues to surge, so do our symptoms, but it can be hard to know if our coughs and sneezes are from allergies or COVID-19. Dr. Murry Sturkie explained the differences.
One in five people have seasonal allergies, and it’s been a rough allergy season so far. Sturkie says our drought has played a big part in it.
“That’s when the pollen will get out there, and then the dry wind comes out and blows all the pollen around. That’s where people get very symptomatic,” Sturkie said.
Those symptoms like coughing and sneezing can be very similar to the symptoms of the newest COVID-19 variant.
“The omicron and the BA.2 variants are more upper respiratory like a cold,” Sturkie said.
The doctor says symptoms from the delta variant were more severe than omicron or BA.2 symptoms, so it was easier to distinguish from allergies.
“It’s hard to distinguish those symptoms as COVID-19, the symptoms allergies because they are so close together in symptoms,” Sturkie said.
He also says it’s essential to use rapid COVID-19 tests whenever you feel symptoms coming on because COVID-19 can show up in just a few days, even after a negative test. If you test negative for COVID-19 and still have allergy symptoms, Sturkie says to stay away from areas like these, especially on days with high pollen counts.
“The pollen can get caught underneath the contact lenses, and your eye irritation, runny eyes, scratchy eyes, the sensation can be worse,” Sturkie said.
Sturkie also says there are a few ways you can try to limit those symptoms.
“Find the right medication that works for you. Air conditioning helps filter out the pollen, so try not to leave the windows open. The wind will blow in the pollen, and your symptoms can get worse,” Sturkie said.
Sturkie says if you test negative for COVID-19 and your symptoms don’t go away with allergy medication, talk to your doctor about getting tested for the flu or strep throat.
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