Allergies are everywhere. Millions of people, adults and kids alike, deal with seasonal allergies or food allergies or allergies to pets. If you’re one of those people, you know the misery of a runny nose, itchy eyes, and endless sneezing.
But can allergies give you a fever? The short answer is no. Allergies themselves don’t cause fevers.
This article will take a look at the link between allergies and fever, how to tell the difference between allergy symptoms and fever symptoms, and what you can do to manage your allergy symptoms.
Understanding allergies and the immune response
To understand whether allergies can cause a fever, it’s important to understand what allergies are and how they affect your body.
What are allergies?
An allergy is essentially your immune system getting confused and overreacting to harmless substances, which are called allergens. Common allergens include pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and certain foods.
When you’re exposed to an allergen, your body releases histamines, which are chemicals that cause a whole range of symptoms.
Common allergy symptoms
Typical allergy symptoms include sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes, congestion, and skin rashes. It’s easy to see how some of these symptoms might be mistaken for a fever.
Allergies vs. Fever: What’s the Difference?
It’s easy to confuse allergies and infections, because some of the symptoms are similar. But it’s important to understand the difference.
What is a fever?
A fever is defined as a body temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. If you think you have a fever, it’s important to check it with a thermometer to know for sure.
Fevers are usually a sign that you have an infection, caused by either a virus or bacteria.
How are allergy symptoms different from fever symptoms?
One of the key differences is that allergies don’t usually cause a fever. An allergic reaction won’t directly raise your body temperature.
Allergies also tend to cause symptoms like itchy eyes, itchy nose, and an itchy throat. Those symptoms are less common when you have a fever.
On the other hand, a fever often comes with body aches and chills, which you usually don’t get with allergies.
When allergies might seem like a fever
Allergy symptoms like fatigue, headache, and just generally feeling bad can be similar to the symptoms you get with a fever. That’s why it’s important to check your temperature to know for sure whether you have a fever or whether it’s just allergies acting up.
Can Allergies Cause Fever-Like Symptoms?
While allergies don’t give you a fever, they can cause symptoms that feel like a fever. For example, allergies can make you feel tired or run down, or they can cause a headache. You might even feel flushed or warm.
Allergies can also indirectly lead to a fever. Uncontrolled allergies can cause inflammation and congestion in your sinuses, which can lead to a sinus infection (sinusitis). And sinus infections can cause a fever.
That’s why managing your allergies is important: it can help you prevent secondary infections that do cause a fever.
Allergies vs. colds vs. COVID-19
Allergy symptoms can be similar to those of a cold or even COVID-19, so it can be tricky to tell what’s causing your misery.
Allergies vs. colds
If you have a history of seasonal allergies, that’s a good clue. Allergy symptoms also tend to stick around longer than cold symptoms. Allergies don’t usually cause a wet cough, but itchy eyes, ears, nose, and throat are common allergy symptoms. A sore throat or body aches are more likely to be symptoms of a cold.
One key difference between colds and allergies is that colds can sometimes cause a low-grade fever (around 100°F), but allergies don’t cause fevers.
Allergies vs. COVID-19
COVID-19 symptoms can overlap with both allergies and colds. COVID-19 can cause fever, cough, fatigue, and sore throat, just like a cold. That’s why it’s important to consider additional symptoms and risk factors.
If you’ve lost your sense of taste or smell, that’s more likely to be COVID-19 than allergies or a cold. Also, think about whether you’ve been exposed to anyone with COVID-19 recently.
The only way to know for sure if you have COVID-19 is to get tested.
Treating allergy symptoms and preventing flares
While allergies don’t cause fever, they can definitely make you miserable with a stuffy nose, watery eyes, and relentless sneezing. Here’s what you can do to relieve the symptoms and prevent future allergy attacks:
Short-term relief
- Over-the-counter antihistamines. Medicines like Benadryl, Claritin, Allegra, and Zyrtec can often relieve allergy symptoms.
- Nasal sprays. Sprays like Flonase and Nasacort can help reduce congestion and inflammation in your nasal passages.
- Rest and hydration. These are always good ideas to help your body get back on track.
Long-term allergy management
- Reduce allergen exposure. Use air purifiers, hypoallergenic bedding, and wash your pets regularly to reduce the amount of allergens in your environment.
- Allergy immunotherapy. Allergy shots or drops can help your body build up a tolerance to allergens over time.
- Consult an allergist. An allergist can help you create a personalized allergy treatment plan and monitor your progress over time.
In Conclusion
To reiterate: allergies themselves won’t give you a fever. However, because some allergy symptoms can feel a lot like fever symptoms, it’s easy to get the two mixed up.
That’s why it’s important to take your temperature to find out whether you’re dealing with a fever or not. If you have a fever, you can probably rule out allergies as the sole cause.
Whether it’s allergies or a fever, you should see a doctor if your symptoms are severe or don’t go away. If you think you might have allergies, consider talking with an allergist about long-term management strategies.