Allergies are caused when your immune system reacts to something foreign in the environment, like pollen, pet hair or dust. Sometimes, the symptoms of allergies can feel similar to a cold or flu – and that can be scary with the current concerns about COVID-19 infection.
Here is a helpful table of common symptoms, to help you tell the difference between “spring sneezes” and other conditions. If you are worried about your symptoms, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
| Allergies/ Hay Fever | Common Cold | Flu | COVID-19 | |
| Sneezing | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Coughing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Runny nose | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stuffy nose | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Red, itchy eyes | ✓ | |||
| Sore throat | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Itchy skin | ✓ | |||
| Itchy throat | ✓ | |||
| Fatigue | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Loss of smell | ✓ | |||
| Loss of taste | ✓ | |||
| Fever | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Body aches | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Chills | ✓ | ✓ |