LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — As allergy season gets underway in Las Vegas, one doctor says it’s important to know the difference between seasonal allergy symptoms, and COVID-19 symptoms.
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“Now it’s going to be hard to distinguish, because there is some overlap between the symptoms,” says Dr. Jeffrey Ng, primary care physician.
Dr. Ng says your stuffy nose and watery eyes is likely caused by the allergy season, which is just getting started.
“Fever is still the hallmark for the coronavirus,” says Dr. Ng.
With allergies, a fever isn't likely.
However, you will likely experience sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes.
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If you're still not sure what you have, Dr. Ng says to call your doctor's office first.
He says they can often determine over the phone if further steps need to be taken.
“They want to screen you out and then make a decision whether an in-person visit would be a good thing, or a tele-visit,” says Dr. Ng. “At that point you aren’t contaminating the office, or anyone.”
Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Doug Brust says if you do have allergies, to know your triggers.
"You go out, you breathe something and suddenly you're wheezing, that isn't like you're developing COVID-19 in two seconds,” says Dr. Brust. “So, if it's just pollen causing this, and you're not having a viral syndrome, then it's probably just allergies."
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