Hay fever and Covid share a few symptoms, but there are some that are unique to the virus. GP Dr Rupa Parmar shares the common Covid symptoms that shouldn't be confused with allergies

Hay fever, a common ailment for nearly ten million Brits, shares symptoms with the Coronavirus.

However, unlike hay fever, COVID-19 is highly contagious and can escalate into severe health complications such as disability, blood clots, and respiratory issues.

Dr Rupa Parmar, GP and medical director of Midland Health, highlights the COVID-19 symptoms that shouldn't be confused with hay fever during allergy season:

1. Fatigue

Fatigue is a shared symptom of both hay fever and COVID-19. Hay fever-induced fatigue can leave you feeling excessively tired and cause brain fog.

It's typically not severe but can be challenging to manage. In contrast, the fatigue caused by COVID-19 is more intense, characterised by symptoms like tiredness, irritability, and slow reflexes.

It also tends to last longer than fatigue resulting from allergies, sometimes persisting for several weeks after contracting the virus.

2. Congestion

Congestion is a prevalent complaint among hay fever sufferers, but it's also a symptom of COVID-19. The accompanying symptoms with a runny or stuffy nose are key in distinguishing between the two.

Congestion paired with itchy eyes and sneezing points towards hay fever, whereas with COVID, congestion usually comes with a loss of smell or taste.

3. Coughing

In the case of allergies, any coughing is typically due to excess mucus at the back of your throat. A cough triggered by hay fever usually occurs intermittently and is a reaction to postnasal drip.

On the other hand, a persistent dry and chesty cough is much more likely to be a symptom of COVID.

4. Fever

Despite its name, hay fever doesn't actually cause a fever. In contrast, common symptoms of COVID-19 include chills or a high temperature.

If you're feeling poorly, take your temperature; a spike could suggest a bout of COVID.

5. Aches and pains

Hay fever isn't known to make your body ache, save for possibly triggering a headache through a blocked nose. On the flip side, when COVID takes hold, it often starts with headaches and aching muscles that can be tender to the touch.

6. Sore throat

An itchy and dry sensation typically points to a sore throat caused by hay fever. If it's COVID, the sore throat might give more of a lump-in-the-throat feeling and can also lead to neck pain and swollen glands.

The accompanying symptoms will assist in distinguishing between COVID-19 and mere allergies.

7. Worsening Symptoms

When dealing with allergies, it’s rare for your symptoms to escalate, and usual hay fever signs like sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy eyes are unlikely to get too intense. However, if you're no stranger to allergies but they seem to hit harder than before, consider getting tested for COVID-19.

Dr Rupa Parmar emphasizes the ongoing relevance of COVID vigilance: "It's still important to be aware of the symptoms of COVID. Although we are no longer in a pandemic, catching the virus is still possible, and we should do our best to avoid spreading it. You can do this by knowing the symptoms, testing, and avoiding contact with others if you have COVID.

"If you have allergies, it's essential to understand what's normal for you. This means you can better identify unusual symptoms that may indicate something more serious."