which do you have?
The Boston Globe • • health
Key Points:
- Experts report that allergies are currently more prevalent than respiratory infections like flu, COVID-19, and RSV, which remain at low levels as of late March according to state data.
- Allergy symptoms often overlap with those of respiratory infections, but key differences include itching and sneezing for allergies versus fever, severe sore throat, and muscle aches for infections.
- Physicians advise commuters to avoid touching their faces after contact with public transit surfaces and recommend hand hygiene and mask-wearing, especially for immunocompromised individuals.
- Seasonal allergies can develop later in life and typically cause gradual, consistent symptoms with clear mucus, while respiratory infections tend to have abrupt onset and colored mucus.
- Testing for flu and COVID-19 is encouraged if symptoms worsen or allergy treatments fail, with at-home tests widely available; however, no tests exist for the common cold.
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