April 22, 2020, 13:29
Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. Everything around blooms and acquires beautiful colors. However, allergy sufferers think otherwise, because this time is extremely unpleasant and dangerous for them. Especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s how not to confuse a common pollen allergy with COVID-19.
Photo: freepik
Coronavirus infection continues to actively spread around the world, battling person after person. In many ways, the disease has already begun to cause not only health problems, but a real collective panic. People literally shy away at the sight of a sneezing or coughing person. However, in the spring, the number of such characters increases significantly, and not at all because of the coronavirus.
In spring and summer, seasonal allergies suffer furiously. These are people whose immune system reacts negatively to the pollen of various plants. From here arises the disease pollinosis. So, pollen from the surrounding air settles on the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, mouth, enters the bronchi, contacts the skin and causes allergy attacks in people who are sensitive to it.
Photo: freepik
Seasonal illness is easily confused with the coronavirus. In order not to panic and correctly analyze your condition, it is important to understand the signs of the condition. Professor Martin Marshall from the Royal College of Physicians of Great Britain told what to pay attention to.
1. Symptoms
Cough, runny nose, sore throat can be signs of infection, including coronavirus, and pollen allergy. The main thing is to correctly distinguish the symptoms. Here are some ailments characterized by allergies:
- regular watery discharge from the nose or nasal congestion,
- itching, redness of the eyes, watery eyes,
- skin rashes, itchy skin,
- dry cough, shortness of breath or wheezing in the chest.
Temperature, headache and muscle pain are not allergy symptoms, and itchy nose and constant sneezing are not typical for coronavirus.
2. Time and weather
The main difference between COVID-19 and allergies is that the disease does not depend on the weather and time of day. But with pollinosis, things are different. As the specialist explained in one of his interviews, the signs of pollen allergy appear brighter during the day and in the evening. At this time, there are much more irritants in the air. Salvation for allergy sufferers is wet or rainy weather.
In addition, Marshall recommended that people with allergies take antihistamines, saying they reduce their exposure to pollen. By the way, in the days of the coronavirus pandemic, it is very easy to protect yourself from seasonal problems. You can use already known and common preventive measures. Protective masks or respirators will come to the rescue, as well as regular hand washing.
Photo: freepik
Recall that medical experts continue to actively study the impact of coronavirus on the human body. Recently, scientists from China and the United States conducted a series of studies and observations on patients who had recovered from COVID-19 infection. During the analysis, they found serious consequences. It turns out that the virus affects not only the lungs, but the entire human body! Most often, the heart, liver, kidneys and circulatory system suffer.
