Can Allergies Cause a Fever? The Answer Might Surprise You
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If you’re wondering: Can allergies cause a fever? You’re not alone—there are lots of myths about allergies, and allergy symptoms causing a high body temperature is one of them. Allergies can cause a cough, lead to swollen lymph nodes, and even make you tired, so it’s natural to assume that allergies may be to blame for your fever, too. But experts explain that if you’re experiencing a host of allergy symptoms combined with a fever, there is likely something else going on.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you know the telltale signs: You’re sniffly and snuffly, and your eyes are itchy and have taken on a red, zombie-like hue. Happens every year.
That’s because when you have an allergy, your immune system reacts to a harmless substance as if your body is being invaded. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAI), there are a number of allergens that can trigger a reaction, ranging from annoying to fatal. This list below goes beyond seasonal allergies, but the most common include pollen, dust, certain foods, insect stings, animal dander, mold, medications, and latex.
But what if your symptoms are accompanied by a fever? Could that be caused by allergies, too? Here’s what doctors want you to know.
Common allergy symptoms
With seasonal allergies (the technical term is seasonal allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever), the substance that the body commonly reacts to is pollen. But indoor mold, the dander from a cat or dog, cigarette smoke, and dust mites can also trigger symptoms, according to the AAAI.
Common symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:
Itching in the nose, roof of the mouth, throat, eyes
Sneezing
Stuffy nose (congestion)
Runny nose
Watery or itchy eyes
Dark circles under the eyes
Fever and allergy symptoms
If you are experiencing allergies, the symptoms above likely only last about as long as you are exposed to the allergen—whatever it might be. If your symptoms are more persistent, extend beyond watery or itchy eyes, and are accompanied by a fever, you may be dealing with another illness:
Sinusitis
Symptoms of sinusitis (a.k.a a sinus infection) include:
Eye pain
Headache
Tooth pain
Coughing
Post-nasal drip
Bad breath
Common cold
Symptoms of the common cold include:
Congestion
Sneezing
Brain fog
Cough
Sore throat
Fatigue
Flu
Symptoms of the flu include:
Cough
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Body aches
Headache
Fatigue
Vomiting and/or diarrhea
Covid-19
Covid symptoms include:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Do allergies cause a fever?
“Seasonal allergies should not cause a fever,” as a high temperature often signals your body is fighting a bacterial or viral infection, says Jessica Hui, M.D., allergy and immunology physician at National Jewish Health in Denver. “Many of us have heard someone sneeze and then say, ‘It’s just my allergies’ when they’re actually sick with the common cold.”
Symptoms of the common cold, flu, or COVID-19 are often confused with seasonal allergies, as there’s a lot of overlap with symptoms. But if there is an associated fever—when your temperature hits 100.4 degrees or more—it’s important to think beyond allergies, because it may be an illness that is contagious and warrants a sick day,” explains Dr. Hui.
Allergies could cause a fever indirectly, though
Seasonal allergies can cause your sinuses and lungs to get inflamed, explains Purvi Parikh, M.D., an allergist and immunologist with the nonprofit Allergy & Asthma Network. And that, she says, “makes you more susceptible to catching viruses and bacteria which lead to infections.”
Allergies also mess with an important and basic part of your immune system, says Craig Jones, M.D., medical director of otolaryngology at Mass. Eye and Ear, Cape Cod. “Part of our ‘innate immunity’ is the mucosal barrier in our nose and airways,” he says, noting that allergies interfere with this barrier.
Another way your allergies could contribute to you developing a fever: You tend to touch your face more when you have symptoms. “Simply by touching a spot, such as a shopping cart, telephone, or computer keyboard contaminated with a virus, and then rubbing the nose or eyes, a person can inoculate themselves with a germ,” Dr. Jones says. “Patients with allergies are much more likely to rub their eyes or nose due to itching, which puts them at additional risk.”
What can cause allergy symptoms and a fever?
It’s possible to develop what’s known as a “secondary infection” from your allergies, says Kara Wada, M.D., an allergist-immunologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “Secondary sinus and/or ear infections can result from severe allergies, which can cause fevers,” she says.
Additionally, allergy season tends to drag on for quite a while, leaving plenty of time for you to pick up another illness. “Allergies last for weeks to months at a time and just because we have allergies does not mean you cannot catch a viral or bacterial infection during that same period of time,” Dr. Wada says.
Catherine Monteleone, M.D., an allergist-immunologist and professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, agrees. “You could certainly get a cold, COVID-19, or some other illness that would cause a fever at the same time as you have allergy symptoms,” she says. “But the symptoms from the infection should go away in a few days, while the allergy symptoms will continue.”
How to tell if your symptoms are due to allergies
If you think you have allergies, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with an allergist/immunologist, the type of doctor who treats these conditions. “My patients commonly tell me that they didn’t realize how miserable their symptoms were until they started medications that allowed them to breathe easier with less congestion or have an improved sense of smell,” says Dr. Hui.
To diagnose a patient, “the first thing we want to gather is the history so we have a clear understanding of how you feel and what your goals are for this visit,” explains Dr. Hui. She asks questions like: What are you experiencing? How long has this been going on? What makes it better or worse? Have you tried anything to treat your symptoms?
Based on the information gathered from talking with you and performing a physical exam, “we can actually provide some treatment options without further testing,” says Dr. Hui. “However, we often do pursue the allergy testing route, as this gives us more specifics.”
The most common allergy test is the skin prick test, where a small amount of allergen—for example, cottonwood tree allergen—is placed on the skin as a prick. After waiting a short time, your doctor looks for swelling and redness, which would indicate an allergy may exist to that allergen. “We often test for multiple allergens during that same visit, such as various trees, grasses, and weeds,” says Dr. Hui. Then, you and your doctor can settle on the best treatment.
How to treat allergy symptoms
There’s an important step when trying to manage the symptoms of seasonal allergies. “Decreasing exposure to the allergens you’re allergic to is an important action that people often don’t think about,” says Dr. Hui. “For example, keeping the windows of your home and car closed when the pollen counts are high or showering after outdoor activities.”
When it comes to medications, there are many that can treat your symptoms. “Intranasal steroid sprays—for example, Flonase or Nasacort—are available over-the-counter or by prescription, and studies have shown great benefit when used consistently; the spray reduces inflammation and thus decreases symptoms like sneezing and congestion,” says Dr. Hui.
Oral antihistamines—for example, Zyrtec or Allegra—are also particularly helpful when someone has hives. Finally, allergen immunotherapy, or allergy shots, often provide long term benefit and are tailored towards the allergens you’re specifically allergic to.
When to see a doctor for your fever
If you develop a fever right now and you’re having symptoms that involve your nose and throat, it’s a good idea to test yourself for COVID-19, Dr. Jones says. And, if that’s negative, you may want to talk to your doctor about getting tested for the flu or strep throat.
Still, keep in mind that a fever can be an indication of a lot of different issues. “If a patient has a fever, it could be due to any number of health problems,” Dr. Jones says. That’s why you’ll want to take your other symptoms into account.
If you have a fever of at least 100.4 but largely feel OK (and test negative for COVID-19), you’re probably fine to treat it with OTC fever-reducing medication. But, if it persists or you have a fever along with symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, vomiting, or severe weakness or fainting, you’ll want to seek medical care, Dr. Parikh says.
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