It’s normal to come down with a cold when the weather changes. If you suffer from allergies though, it can be difficult to know whether your nose is stuffy because of the pollen in the air or the bacteria in your bloodstream. Thankfully, there’s a simple way to tell. Allergies cannot cause a fever. Here’s why.
The Difference Between Allergies & Colds:
When you have a bacterial or viral infection, your body will trigger an immune response. Chemicals called pyrogens, which are produced by white blood cells, cause the temperature in the body to rise. This is a normal inflammatory response that helps to kill off heat-sensitive bacteria.
Allergens, on the other hand, set off no such reaction. During an allergic reaction, your body releases histamines, which make you sneeze and cough. Histamines are only released during allergic reactions, which is why you shouldn’t take anti-histamine medication for the common cold or flu.
Can Allergies Cause Fevers Indirectly?
Allergies can take quite a toll on your immune system. If your white blood cells are busy fighting off pollen, you might find yourself feeling weak. It’s not uncommon to come down with a cold or sinus infection in the midst of allergy season. Sinuses filled with mucus are breeding grounds for bacteria. In this case, allergies can cause a fever, but only indirectly.
If you do come down with a cold during allergy season, you need to make sure that you’re taking extra precautions to stay hydrated and relax so your body can recover. It can be exhausting for your body to fight on two fronts at the same time.
Are You Sure Those Are Allergies?
Even if you don’t have a fever, you should make sure to take good care of yourself. Untreated allergies can cause serious sinus infections and even asthma down the line. If you try to self-medicate, or worse, ignore your symptoms, you could end up doing more harm than good.
Watch out for bad breath, yellow or green mucus, and any chills or hot flashes. It may just be a simple case of the sniffles now, but if you don’t speak with your physician about the proper treatment plans, your allergies will cause more than a fever down the line. Final Thoughts:
So, the answer, in short, is yes: allergies can cause fever. However, they don’t cause fever in the way you might expect. If you’ve been struggling with allergies this year, don’t brush them off. Make a call to your local Buffalo ENT to discuss your symptoms and possible treatment options. The longer your symptoms go untreated, the worse they could become. So, take care of them today.
