Asthma and Allergies During COVID-19

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many are left wondering what’s to blame for their symptoms, fearful that they may have even caught the contagious virus. While some symptoms overlap, thankfully there are still large differences that separate COVID-19 from both allergies and asthma.

The hallmark signs of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. As more is learned about the virus, the list of potential symptoms grows. Yet even with this new information, the vast majority of patients seem to have an experience described by these 3 main symptoms.

Allergy patients are going to typically suffer from itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, post-nasal drip, and nasal congestion. Over-the-counter antihistamines are effective in reducing these symptoms. Fever and difficulty breathing are not expected of an allergy attack but remain hallmark signs of potential COVID-19.

With asthma sufferers, it can get a bit trickier. Yes, asthma attacks cause shortness of breath and coughing. However, most asthmatics have learned to identify their triggers and are able to tell when an attack is coming on. Furthermore, the attack is generally short-lived and can be relieved with appropriate medications, unlike the prolonged breathing trouble associated with COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, allergy and asthma sufferers are encouraged to continue their normal medication regime, maximize good hand-hygiene, and avoid known triggers. If at any point there is fever or difficulty breathing, these patients should seek medical guidance from their healthcare provider.

Asthma and Allergies During COVID-19