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in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Can’t stop sniffling, coughing or sneezing even though it’s spring? How do you know if it’s a seasonal allergy, a cold or a Covid infection? Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of Doctissimo, explains the differences to be aware of.
Runny nose, scratchy throat, chills… Even though winter is long over, you find yourself consuming paper tissues all day long. But where does this feeling come from? Is it the symptom of a pollen allergy, a cold or Covid which is bursting back into our lives? Because in all cases, it is the nose that is often affected! To find out for sure (and to know which treatment to choose), we asked the question to Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of Doctissimo. How to differentiate them?
Cold, covid or allergy: similar symptoms, but some differences
For our expert, it is indeed possible to confuse the different conditions, because they present similar symptoms (like having to blow your nose regularly!). However, small differences can set you on the path.
- Covid 19 is generally marked by fever, dry cough, fatigue, loss of taste/smell, and difficulty breathing in severe cases;
- The “cold snap”, or cold, will cause a runny nose, cough, sore throat, mild fever and sometimes body aches;
- Finally, allergies cause a runny nose, sneezing, itchy, and watery eyes.
Additionally, Covid can also cause stomach upset, causing nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which are not usually associated with allergies. As for allergies, they can be identified by their “dry” symptoms, that is to say coughs that do not produce mucus.
“For Covid-19, the key difference lies in the loss of taste/smell, absent for allergies and cold snap. But a virological test can confirm Covid-19.” reminds our expert.
Three different treatments to overcome discomfort
If it is important to know the origin of your ailments, it is on the one hand to protect those around you if necessary, but also to direct yourself towards the right treatment. However, this differs depending on the cause as our expert points out:
- “For Covid 19, there is no specific treatment” calls back our expert “but symptom management. And above all compulsory isolation”.
- On the other hand, to combat allergies, the use of antihistamines (or possible desensitization) is recommended. “It’s also about avoiding exposure to the allergen.”
- As for the cold snap, it responds to the usual treatment, whatever the season: “Cough suppressantsdecongestants, painkillers in case of fever and rest”.