How to tell the difference between Covid-19 and hay fever

The new strain, previously identified as the Indian variant, has become the prominent variant in the UK.

Since the start of the pandemic people have been told to look out for a dry, persistent cough, a temperature and a loss of taste or smell.

But scientists are now reporting a headache and sore throat are more common symptoms, as well as a runny nose.

The change could be in part because the new variant is currently spreading among younger people, reports The Sun.

Millions of Brits have been reporting symptoms in the ZOE Covid Symptom Study since March 2020.

Professor Tim Spector, the lead on the study, told The Telegraph: “Since the start of May, we’ve been looking at the top symptoms and they are not the same as they were.

“Number one is headache followed by sore throat, runny nose and fever.

“All those are not the old classic symptoms, number five is cough, so it’s rarer and we don’t even see loss of smell coming into the top 10 anymore.

“This variant seems to be working slightly differently.”

But with peak hay fever season in full flow, it is not easy to tell the difference.

When does hay fever season start?

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen and usually occurs when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat. Hay fever season typically starts at the end of March until the end of September, with various pollen stirring allergies at different times throughout the summer.

Tree pollen occurs first, typically from late March to mid-May. Grass pollen then usually lasts from mid-May until July, with weed pollen covering the end of June to September.

However, the Met Office explains that depending on where you live in the UK, the hay fever season will start at different times.

“For example, there’s a later start and shorter season in the north of the UK, where generally there is less pollen,” said the Met Office.

Urban areas tend to have lower counts than the countryside, and places inland have higher counts than around the coast.

Grass pollen also has two peaks, with the first usually starting in the first two weeks of June and then the second, lower peak occurring in the first two weeks of July, after which things tail off slowly.

These peaks may be masked by how wet, dry, warm or cold it is, and the timing of the peaks also depends on the weather conditions during spring and early summer.

Pollen is also dependent on how “hardy different species are and how well they cope with a mixture of different types in one region,” added the Met Office.

What are the symptoms of hay fever?

According to the NHS, symptoms of hay fever include:

• sneezing and coughing
• a runny or blocked nose
• itchy, red or watery eyes
• itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
• loss of smell
• pain around your temples and forehead
• headache
• earache
• feeling tired

If you have asthma, you might also:

• have a tight feeling in your chest
• be short of breath
• wheeze and cough

How can I treat my hay fever symptoms?

Although there’s no cure or prevention for hay fever, you can do things to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high.

The NHS suggests the following:

• put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
• wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes
• shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off
• stay indoors whenever possible
• keep windows and doors shut as much as possible
• vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
• buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car and a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter

You can also speak to your pharmacist if you’re suffering with hay fever symptoms. They can give advice and suggest the best treatments to help with your symptoms, such as antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays.

Your GP may also prescribe you a steroid treatment, sthen your GP may refer you for immunotherapy.

There are also things you can avoid doing to prevent making hay fever symptoms worse including:

• not cutting grass or walking on grass
• not spending too much time outside
• not keeping fresh flowers in the house
• not smoking or being around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse
• not drying clothes outside – they can catch pollen
• not letting pets into the house if possible – they can carry pollen indoors

How to spot the difference between Covid and hay fever

One in five Brits suffer from hay fever and but experts warn that during the ongoing pandemic some people could mistake usual signs of hay fever with coronavirus.

Although a cough will be common in both, there is a difference you should be aware of.

If you have a hay fever your cough will be tickly and dry and will usually occur when you are outside and exposed to allergens.

If your cough is more persistent it could be a sign of Covid-19.

Jo Byfleet, a GP and lead physician at Bupa, says you can tell the different between the symptoms.

She says: "If you have hay fever, you’re likely to find yourself sneezing, with a runny or stuffy nose – which aren’t typical symptoms of coronavirus.

"If you have a blocked nose because of hay fever, this may affect your smell or taste. Losing your ability to taste or smell because of coronavirus isn’t usually because of a blocked nose because this isn’t a symptom."

Last year, GP Dr Gordon Sinclair told The Sun that it is important for people to understand the difference between the two.

He said: "We don’t want people to get unduly anxious about their hay fever. However, we also want to make sure that they don’t go out and about, assuming they have their usual allergies, when they may actually have coronavirus and should stay at home.

"While the symptoms of coronavirus and hay fever can overlap, people with hay fever don’t experience a high temperature and most won’t feel unwell.

“Hay fever and allergy symptoms tend to be milder, for example, itchy eyes, sneezing and coughing.”

He added: "Symptoms may vary over the course of the day or depending on the weather, as the pollen count changes.

"They can also usually be controlled through antihistamines or nasal sprays."