Your nose is running, you feel tired, and you’re checking your temperature every hour wondering if you caught coronavirus. We have all been there, even your doctors. And here is a secret, sometimes even we have a tough time in the first day or two telling whether the patient has a cold virus or allergies. 

Here are a few key differences between infections and allergies:

• Fever- is a sign of infection (>100.4 F) and definitely not allergies

• Swollen lymph nodes- in the neck, are common with respiratory infections, and rarely with allergies
• Nasal secretions- Sometimes pus during an infection can be green or yellowish. Allergies cause clear and watery mucus
• Itching- of the eyes and nose are usually allergies. Rarely does this occur with infections
• Throat symptoms-are usually described as burning or itching with allergies. Severe pain or difficulty swallowing usually signals infection

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/infographic-overlap-symptoms.html