Is It Seasonal Allergies or an Infection?

April 1, 2023

The spring season has arrived with warmer temperatures, brighter sunshine and…a runny nose. Feeling sick is never fun, but it can be especially frustrating if you don’t know what is causing your symptoms to appear.

If you have seasonal allergies, you might just attribute your symptoms to a flareup, but not so fast! You should understand what is causing your symptoms so you can avoid potentially spreading an illness to someone else.

Our AFC Urgent Care Chattanooga team is here to explain the difference between seasonal allergies and an infection, so keep reading.

What Are Seasonal Allergies?

Seasonal allergies are a reaction to allergens like pollen in the air. If your body recognizes a substance as an invader, it will produce symptoms to help your body get rid of it as soon as possible. Seasonal allergies tend to follow a predictable pattern, so if you have a tree pollen allergy, you can expect your symptoms to flare up in early spring.

One easy way to determine whether you have an infection or are just suffering through seasonal allergies is to take your temperature. While not all infections produce a fever, allergies never do! Remember, a fever is not diagnosed until your body temperature reaches 100.4 degrees.

Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Runny nose
Itchy, watery or red eyes
Sneezing
Headache

Do Seasonal Allergies Cause a Cough?

They could! A cough that is due to seasonal allergies feels more like a tickle in your throat that you can’t satisfy. That is because allergens can irritate the lining of your nose and can cause postnasal drip to happen. That’s where mucus continually drips down the back of your throat.

When you have an infection, the cough tends to be productive. A wet cough will bring up mucus or phlegm that is yellow or green. If you still aren’t quite sure what is causing your symptoms, come see us! We can perform a full evaluation and help determine what is causing you to feel this way.