Spring brings allergy symptoms and worry about coronavirus

Spring has finally come! With the warmer weather we are greeted with bright colors of blooming flowers and full trees, green grass, and pollen in the air.
    This is a welcome time for most after the cold Idaho winter. It does, however, bring with it suffering for many. Red noses, runny eyes, sniffling, coughing, and a scratchy throat that in any other year we wouldn’t think much of.
    This year the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has brought with it a new sense of awareness and in some cases panic over symptoms that would have otherwise gone unnoticed in previous years.
    How do we know the difference between normal allergy symptoms and when to call the doctor? According to the CDC, the coronavirus has three common symptoms of a fever, a dry cough, and feeling very tired.
    Some people have symptoms of nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea and body aches. It can affect everyone a little bit differently.     
    On average, it takes someone who has been affected with coronavirus five to six days to start showing symptoms, but it can take up to 14 days to show symptoms if they will show any at all.  
    With allergies, there will rarely ever be a fever. The affected person will have a runny nose, a dry, tickly cough, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and nasal congestion. These symptoms happen quickly after the affected person has been exposed to the allergen (flowers, grass, pollen, mold, etc.) Allergies are an overreaction of the inflammatory system within the body.
    Allergy symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter allergy medications (always seek medical advice before starting any new medication). Tracking new symptoms with the pollen count can help to know when to start allergy medications to avoid allergy flare-ups.
    Washing your hands and face often will avoid pollen in the eyes and nose. Remove shoes when entering the home to keep pollen out of the carpet and off furniture. Vacuum carpets and remove dust from the home to remove allergens from the house. Use a quality air-conditioning filter to remove as much of the allergens circulating throughout your house and improve overall air quality.
    Regardless of the cause, if someone is having symptoms of an uncontrolled cough, difficulty breathing, fever, a headache that will not go away, and tiredness not resolved with rest, please call your doctor to have the symptoms assessed by a medical professional.
    Please continue to practice good social distancing for as long as it is recommended. Good handwashing has always been a best practice and will continue to be needed. Avoid touching your eyes and face.
    Use a mask as needed, especially in public if you are immunocompromised or at a greater risk for becoming sick. Keep taking care of each other and we will all be OK.