As the sweltering weather in the UK continues, you may have noticed some symptoms of hay fever.
With the mercury climbing as high as 33C in parts of the country, the pollen count has increased.
Hay fever is usually worse between late March and September, especially when it's warm, humid and windy.
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However, it can be really easy to mistake hay fever and some of the early symptoms of Covid-19, and vice versa.
Allergy symptoms will be milder and can change throughout the day as pollen levels can be higher in the afternoon or evening.
Here's how to know if you have hay fever or coronavirus :
Symptoms of hay fever include:
- sneezing and coughing
- a runny or blocked nose
- itchy, red or watery eyes
- itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- loss of smell
- pain around your temples and forehead
- headache
- earache
- feeling tired
If you have asthma, you might also:
- have a tight feeling in your chest
- be short of breath
- wheeze and cough
Hay fever does not cause a high temperature.
Hay fever will last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after one or two weeks.
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Symptoms of coronavirus
- A high temperature
- A new persistent cough
- If you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual
- Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Aches and pains
- Tiredness
- Diarrhoea
- Some people have reported nausea and a runny nose, but this is rare
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