How to tell the difference between Covid-19 and hay fever UK News

Britons are being warned of change in symptoms of people diagnosed with Covid-19 as a result of the Delta variant, first identified in India.

The new strain, previously identified as the Indian variant, has become the predominant variant in the UK.

Since the start of the pandemic, people have been told to watch out for a dry, persistent cough, high temperature, and loss of taste or smell.

But scientists are now reporting that headaches and throats are more common symptoms, along with a runny nose.

Part of the change could be due to the fact that the new variant is currently spreading among young people, reports The Sun.

Millions of Britons have reported symptoms in the ZOE Covid Symptom Study since March 2020.

Professor Tim Spector, head of the study, told the Telegraph: “Since the beginning of May, we have been looking at the main symptoms and they are not the same.

“The first is the headache followed by a sore throat, runny nose and fever.

“Not all of those are the classic old symptoms, number five is cough, so it’s rarer and we don’t even see the loss of smell entering the top 10 anymore.

“This variant seems to work slightly differently.”

But with the peak hay fever season in full swing, it’s not easy to tell the difference.

When does hay fever season start?

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen and usually occurs when it comes in contact with the mouth, nose, eyes, and throat. The hay fever season usually begins from late March to late September, with various pollens causing allergies at different times throughout the summer.

Tree pollen occurs first, usually from late March to mid-May. Grass pollen then typically lasts from mid-May to July, with weed pollen covering from late June to September.

However, the Met Office explains that depending on where you live in the UK, the hay fever season will start at different times.

“For example, there is a later start and a shorter season in the north of the UK, where there is generally less pollen,” the Met Office said.

Urban areas tend to have lower counts than the countryside, and places inland have higher counts than around the coast.

Grass pollen also has two peaks, the first usually starting in the first two weeks of June, and then the second, a lower peak, occurring in the first two weeks of July, after which things slowly come to a halt.

These peaks can be masked by the degree of humidity, drought, heat or cold, and the timing of the peaks also depends on weather conditions in the spring and early summer.

Pollen also depends on the “hardiness of different species and their ability to handle a mixture of different types in an area,” the Met Office added.

What are the symptoms of hay fever?

According to the NHS, symptoms of hay fever include:

• sneezing and coughing
• a runny or stuffy nose
• itchy, red, or watery eyes
• itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
• loss of sense of smell
• pain around the temples and forehead
• headache
• earache
• Feeling tired

If you have asthma, you can also:

• have a feeling of tightness in the chest
• to be out of breath
• wheezing and coughing

How can I treat my hay fever symptoms?

While there is no cure or prevention for hay fever, there are things you can do to ease your symptoms when pollen counts are high.

The NHS suggests the following:

• put petroleum jelly around your nostrils to trap pollen
• wear wraparound sunglasses to prevent pollen from entering your eyes
• taking a shower and changing clothes after being outside to remove pollen
• stay indoors as much as possible
• keep windows and doors closed as much as possible
• vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
• buy a pollen filter for your car air vents and a vacuum cleaner with HEPA filter

You can also talk to your pharmacist if you are suffering from the symptoms of hay fever. They can give advice and suggest the best treatments to relieve your symptoms, such as antihistamine drops, tablets, or nasal sprays.

Your GP may also prescribe steroid therapy for you, and then your GP may refer you for immunotherapy.

There are also things you can avoid doing to avoid making hay fever symptoms worse, including:

• do not cut the grass or walk on the grass
• don’t spend too much time outside
• do not keep fresh flowers in the house
• not smoking or being surrounded by smoke – this makes your symptoms worse
• do not dry clothes outside – they can get pollen
• do not allow pets into the house if possible – they can carry pollen inside

How to tell the difference between Covid and hay fever

One in five Britons suffers from hay fever, and experts warn that during the ongoing pandemic, some people might confuse the usual signs of hay fever with the coronavirus.

While coughing is common in both cases, there is one difference you should be aware of.

If you have hay fever, your cough will be …