The coronavirus has infected more than many thousands people
worldwide. With all of the news of event cancellations, empty flights and
health precautions (wash your hands!), it's natural that people may get a
little anxious every time they feel a tickle in their throat or the beginnings
of a bad cough.
While the coronavirus is certainly something to take
seriously, the chances of any individual person getting it are still low. However,
if you are wondering whether that stuffy nose could end up being a worst-case
scenario,
Itchy eyes? Runny nose? You probably have allergies — or a garden-variety cold.
The issue with seasonal allergies is that they affect the
nose and eye. "They tend to be nasal, and most symptoms are localized to
the head, unless you also experience a rash
Allergy symptoms are regularly occurring, and usually mild.
If you have had the same symptoms around the same time, year
after year, you're probably experiencing seasonal allergies. In that case, over
the counter medication and other regular health precautions will help you feel
better
Coronavirus and flu
symptoms tend to be systemic
That is, they affect
the whole body.
"The flu and the novel coronavirus, these affect other
systems and the lower respiratory tract, “You probably won't have a runny nose,
but what you might have is a sore throat, a cough, a fever or shortness of
breath. Therefore, it is a subtly different clinical diagnosis.
Pay attention to your temperature: it is very unlikely that
allergies would result in a fever. They usually do not cause shortness of
breath either, unless you have a pre-existing condition like asthma
Coronavirus and flu symptoms can put you out of commission.
If you have an acute case of coronavirus or flu, you will
feel so tired, so achy, you will be force to bed. Everybody would see the
difference, "Allergies may make you feel tired, but they're not going to
cause severe muscle or joint ache."
Coronavirus and acute flu symptoms could get worse over time.
If you have a nasty case of the flu or coronavirus, you may
get worse when you expect to get better. This is a sure sign to seek medical
care.
What would increase the suspicion of coronavirus would be if
you were short of breath, “People can also develop pneumonia from the flu,
which has a similar presentation, so either way you're going to want to seek
medical attention.
Cold and mild flu symptoms usually resolve themselves.
With normal illnesses, you'll start feeling better with rest
and proper care within a few days (unless you are elderly or have other health
conditions, in which case even mild illnesses may take longer to pass
Early symptoms of allergies, cold, flu and coronavirus could be similar.
Unfortunately, the initial stages of colds, flus and the
coronavirus can be very similar, and some coronavirus and flu cases can be so
mild they do not raise any red flags. That is why you have to pay attention to
see if your symptoms persist, especially if you are in an at-risk group.
We are worried about older people, people with asthma or
other lung diseases, people with heart disease or diabetes, and pregnant women
Summary
While taking precautions to prevent the spread of the
coronavirus is important, you may need to live with some uncertainty when it
comes to the general health anxieties it inspires.
It is up to you to stay vigilant, take into account your
medical history, monitor any symptoms and think critically about whether your
specific situation puts you at risk -- or whether you just need a allergy
medicine and some rest.
