Coronavirus Vs Allergies: Know when you should get tested

The daily COVID-19 cases might not be spiking exponentially as it was in mid-January, but the pandemic is far from over. Every now and then a new mutant variant emerges posing a new challenge. At present, the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron, known as Stealth Omicron is the dominating strain across the globe; this variant is characterized by its high transmissibility rate. But the signs of the infection caused by this mutant variant are identical to that of seasonal allergy which could lead to confusion and often the real infection can remain undiagnosed.

Both coronavirus infection and springtime allergy are related to the respiratory system. The former is an infectious disease caused by a virus belonging to the coronavirus family and the latter is an immune system response triggered by exposure to allergens, such as trees or pollen. Some common signs include:

Cough

Headaches

Tiredness

Sore throat

Sneezing

Itchy or watery eyes

Runny or stuffy nose

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The overlapping symptoms of both conditions can make it difficult to differentiate between them. Also, the Omicron sub-variant causes mild symptoms, which are easy to overlook as seasonal allergies. Even though the Omicron sub-variant is mild, it can lead to a grave health concern that may bother you in the long run if it is not treated on time. The situation can be worse for kids and the elderly. To mitigate the risks associated with the disease, experts have listed three cases when you should get tested in the springtime.

Now that restaurants, cinema halls and all other modes of entertainment have resumed, most people have started stepping out of their houses during the weekends. While it is alright to go out, do not forget to follow all the safety precautions and avoid crowded places as much as possible. If you do visit any crowded place, where people are not wearing a mask, get yourself tested once you come back home.

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Elderly people, kids and those who are immune-compromised are more prone to infectious diseases due to weak immune systems. They may develop severe symptoms and complications due to coronavirus. So, it is advised to get tested before visiting them to ensure that you are not passing on the virus to them.

If you are witnessing respiratory system related symptoms that do not get better in 2-3 days even after taking over-the-counter drugs then it is better to go for the RT-PCR test. Do not ignore the situation just because the symptoms are mild. Delayed treatment can increase the risk of complications.