Coronavirus: pollen allergies or Covid-19?

In the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, allergy sufferers fear missing the symptoms of Covid-19, what are the differences? Should we continue to take treatment?

Spring has arrived and with it an explosion of pollen. Allergy sufferers have itchy eyes again, runny nose, sometimes some people even develop asthma, in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, they wonder about the right gestures to treat themselves and are afraid of missing out on Covid-19 symptoms.

How to make the difference ?

“In allergy, there is no temperature, no infectious picture, no fever, no chills and generally the patients do not have either intense fatigue or loss of smell as it has was reported in Covid-19 ”, explains Professor Chantal Raherison, President of the French-speaking Pneumology Society.

However “The temperature may be a little skewed by taking other medications, like Doliprane, and for some patients with severe asthma, the fever may be masked by taking cortisone long-term. In case of unusual shortness of breath, you should consult ”, she says.

“If you start to have expiratory whistles in your chest, a rather dry, quintuous cough, which can appear at night, which increases with laughter, with exercise … It is a respiratory manifestation of an allergy often improved by Ventoline, a bronchodilator. ” adds Chantal Raherison.

Allergies and containment

However, there are not only allergies to pollens, our interior is also conducive to developing allergic rhinitis in some sensitive subjects. Professor Gilles Garcia, pulmonologist of the Asthma & Allergies Association says “Containment is a special period: people who usually have allergies to animal hair, mites, molds, cockroaches … can see their allergy symptoms increase from staying locked up at home “,

The Asthma & Allergies association has a toll-free number (0800 19 20 21) and a website to answer questions.

Specialists recommend not to take antihistamine treatment to relieve allergy symptoms, but if unusual signs persist, a doctor’s advice is advised.