Allergies or Illness? 3 Clues You Might Be Sick
If you’re feeling a low-grade ‘yuck’ that doesn’t involve intense symptoms, you might not feel the need for a trip to one of our clinics. But knowing whether you have a cold, allergies or COVID is important so you know whether to tuck yourself into bed and rest, treat for allergies, or isolate.
3 clues that you might be sick:
If you have a sore throat
If your cough is ‘wet’
If you are achy or have a fever
But if your eyes are itchy, you are sneezing or congested and/or you’ve had the symptoms for a week or more, chances are you’re suffering from allergies. At this time of year, it’s likely they’re pollen-related. If you can manage symptoms using over-the-counter medications, you should find that this will pass. If you need help determining which medication to take, or if you’re not feeling better in a few weeks, give your clinic a call or request an appointment in MyChart.
More resources:
Here’s a helpful comparison chart we developed during COVID. Of course, viruses and symptoms vary by person and variant, so if in doubt, always check with your provider.
This FDA article about allergies offers more guidance about over-the-counter medications: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/seasonal-allergies-which-medication-right-you