TORONTO -- As temperatures gradually rise and spring begins, another seasonal visitor looms on the horizon 鈥� allergies.
While Canada continues to implement measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the virus variants, Dr. Jason K. Lee of the Toronto Allergy and Asthma Clinic says it鈥檚 paramount to get allergy symptoms under control to know the difference between whether you鈥檝e contracted coronavirus or just have allergies.
鈥淚n general, usually people with allergies have a long history with seasonality, if you鈥檝e had this before you鈥檒l have this reoccurring,鈥� Lee said on CTV鈥檚 Your Morning Monday. 鈥淭here鈥檚 more nasal symptoms, runny nose, congestion, chains of sneezing [associated with allergies]鈥ith COVID-19, as it鈥檚 an infection, fever and what we call constitutional symptoms of chills, muscle aches -- those are more likely to point to COVID-19.鈥�
Lee said that coughing and shortness of breath is also more associated with coronavirus infections but there are a 鈥渇ew caveats here or there,鈥� depending on what type of asthma and allergies people have.
One of the most important things doctors have learned a year into the pandemic is that allergy sufferers are 鈥渕ore likely鈥� to be more potent spreaders of COVID-19, Lee said.
鈥淚f you have allergies and you get COVID-19 it鈥檚 more likely that you鈥檙e going to aerosolize it by sneezing 鈥� so it鈥檚 very important to control your symptoms鈥� Lee explained, noting that if you leave allergies untreated it can pre-dispose you to getting infections in general.
Lee also noted that because there is overlap in some cases of allergies and COVID-19 symptoms, the surest way to know the difference is to get tested 鈥� which will help avoid increasing the risk of infecting other people. The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to advise people to stay home and avoid others if they feel sick.
Lee also said that doctors had found that some people were 鈥渉esitant鈥� to take their asthma or allergy medication but urged people to maintain their usual course of prescriptions, citing data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control that says having asthma may put people at risk for more severe outcomes with COVID-19.
For children who suffer from allergies, it鈥檚 even more critical to get a handle on their symptoms, Lee said, as a runny nose is enough for schools to demand a COVID-19 test.
鈥淢anage your symptoms as much as possible - if you鈥檙e on the right medications you should be able to control them by and large,鈥� Lee said, adding that if the child鈥檚 symptoms persist 鈥渋t鈥檚 best to get a specialist appointment.鈥�
Global warming may also present an extended challenge for allergy sufferers, Lee said.
鈥淪easonal pollen counts are getting higher as the growing seasons tend to get longer, the seasons are starting a little bit earlier and lasting a little bit longer,鈥� Lee explained, adding that the tree and grass seasons tend to overlap.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e unlucky and you have both tree and grass allergies you might get a bit of a double whammy effect.鈥�
