LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Many people across the state of Arkansas have been dealing with sniffles recently.
This has left people wondering if they could be dealing with symptoms of allergies, or maybe even COVID or some type of respiratory virus.
These are just some of the many questions many Arkansans have been trying to answer as we head into virus season with other allergy aggravators at play.
"[There's] a beautiful, yellow flower on the side of the road... don't stop and smell the roses this time. It will not be good," said Dr. Joshua Kennedy with Arkansas Children's Hospital Allergy and Immunology Clinic.
Sneezing, sniffles, and sinus irritation are all signs that something's in the air and it has been causing a lot of trouble.
"[The] asthma population is starting to come into the emergency department, because of exacerbation of asthma. We call it the September epidemic. They are exposed to ragweed, they are also exposed to dust mites, and then they get a virus," Dr. Kennedy described.
Not only are we headed into virus season, but COVID cases have been spreading throughout the summer. Now, allergies are also becoming an issue as ragweed blooms before fall.
So, if you're coming down with something, but not sure what, here are some symptoms to look out for:
- COVID can come with fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
- A virus like the flu will cause fever, cough, muscle aches, fatigue, congestion, and sore throat.
- Allergies won't have a fever, but you'll be dealing with sinus problems, like sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, and watery, red eyes.
"You might feel a little fatigue and brain fog with allergies, but with COVID you really feel that downtroddeness. You don't feel good at all and you want to make sure you get checked out," said Dr. Kennedy.
If you've found yourself wondering if your seasonal allergies could be making your food allergies worse— it's certainly possible.
Some fruits and nuts have a similar protein composition to grass and trees. This can sound off the alarm for your immune system which could aggravate your allergy symptoms.
"There are actually proteins in peanuts associated with some grass allergens. They don't cause true anaphylaxis, but they will cause mouth itching," said Dr. Kennedy.