As temperatures rise and spring weather settles in across Connecticut, many people are starting to experience sneezing, congestion, watery eyes and coughing. But according to Dr. Melanie Raffoul, Chief Medical Officer at Yale New Haven Health, not every symptom should automatically be blamed on seasonal allergies.
Dr. Raffoul says one of the biggest mistakes people make this time of year is assuming they have allergies when they may actually be dealing with a respiratory virus — and treating the wrong condition can make symptoms last even longer.
“Is it seasonal allergies or a respiratory virus?” Raffoul asked. “This is an important question because the answer changes your treatment entirely.”
Seasonal allergies are caused by the body’s immune response to environmental triggers like pollen. Respiratory viruses, however, are infections caused by germs such as viruses. Because the causes are different, the treatments are different too.
Antihistamines may help allergy symptoms but won’t help a virus. Likewise, antiviral medications or antibiotics won’t relieve allergy-related symptoms.
According to Raffoul, symptoms more commonly linked to allergies include:
• Sneezing, runny or stuffy nose
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Symptoms that stay relatively consistent day to day
• No fever
• Symptoms improving indoors or away from pollen triggers
On the other hand, signs that may point to a respiratory virus include:
• Fever or chills
• Fatigue and body aches
• Symptoms worsening over several days
• Painful sore throat
• Chest tightness or a productive cough
Raffoul says the overlap between the two conditions can make self-diagnosis difficult, which is why seeking medical guidance can make a major difference.
“The overlap is real and that’s exactly why guessing isn’t a great strategy,” Raffoul explained. “Both conditions are very treatable. The right diagnosis will help you feel better, faster.”
She also advises people to seek care if symptoms continue for more than a week without improvement or if a fever develops at any point.
