NORTH CAROLINA, USA — As we get into fall, we're hoping to see our COVID-19 numbers level off and drop again. However, at the same time, many people could be confusing COVID symptoms with other symptoms related to allergies.
Coughing, congestion and a sore throat all can be symptoms of both COVID-19 and common season allergies.
We spoke with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist's infectious disease expert Dr. Christopher Ohl to help us explain the difference between the two.
"The difference between allergy symptoms and COVID symptoms. Well, it really hasn't changed much...Just nasal stuffiness, particularly associated with red eyes and itchy eyes that's more likely an allergy than COVID".
But the message that Dr. Ohl wanted to stress is that, if there is any confusion in your mind, go get a COVID-19 test as soon as possible.
"If you have a bit of a cough and a bit of a sore throat, that's a little bit more likely to be COVID than an allergy. Sometimes these symptoms crossover a little bit. So if you're not sure, get a test."
