Can Allergies Cause Fever, Sore Throat or Coughing?

• Can allergies cause fever?
• Can allergies cause sore throat?
• Can allergies cause a cough?
• Can I prevent allergy symptoms?
• How can allergy symptoms be treated by a doctor?

Chronic allergies may cause lots of uncomfortable symptoms, but can allergies cause a fever, sore throat, or coughing? It’s a complicated answer. Let’s take it one by one.

The short answer is allergies don’t cause fever.  But, allergy symptoms can make you more vulnerable to a viral or bacterial infection, which can lead to a fever. So, it’s common to blame a fever on your allergies, even though technically that isn’t the cause.

Allergies are caused when your immune system overreacts to common things in the environment such as tree and grass pollen of common dust mites in your home. The typical allergy symptoms most people experience include:

• Coughing
• Diarrhea or nausea are common if you have food allergies
• Headache or sinus pain
• Itchy eyes
• Post nasal drip
• Runny nose
• Skin rash
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Watery eyes
• Wheezing or asthma

If you have a fever, body aches, and a sore throat, it’s likely caused by a viral infection from a cold or flu.

Sore throat and allergies often go together to compound the misery of people living with allergies. Typically, an environmental allergen causes nasal congestion and sinus drainage down the back of the throat, making it scratchy or painful. This irritation can cause coughing and throat irritation or even trouble speaking. 

Some of the most common allergens that cause a sore throat include:

• Cigarette smoke
• Dust mites
• Mildew or mold spores
• Pet dander, particularly dog and cat fur

Allergies can also cause you to cough. They can make the back of your throat tickle and cause sinus drainage that makes you very uncomfortable. These allergy symptoms can range from mildly uncomfortable to severe. Patients with asthma may experience wheezing or shortness of breath along with a cough. A cough called by allergies is not contagious but it can certainly be annoying. 

Patients with allergies often develop a chronic dry cough that lasts for weeks. You may experience a cough at different times of the year if you have hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis). Hay fever can cause you to sneeze, have itchy skin, watery eyes, and cough. The congestion you experience during seasonal allergies can also cause dark circles under your eyes.

A cough caused by allergies is much different from a cough caused by an infection. Asthma, whether it’s chronic or triggered by allergens, can also cause a cough.

However, if you experience a fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, or other symptoms, it’s time to see your doctor.

If you’re suffering from allergy symptoms you can try to limit your exposure to the allergens whenever possible. Some suggestions include:

• Stay away from cigarette smoke and pets 
• If you have seasonal allergies, you can also keep your windows closed during the peak months when your symptoms flare-up 
• If you do go outside, wear a mask to protect yourself
• Delegate allergy triggers such as mowing the grass
• Keep your home or office as clean as possible if you know dust mites are a problem
• If you have food allergies, avoid those foods
• Use over-the-counter allergy medications to help control your symptoms
• Use air conditioning in the car or home
• Use a dehumidifier to keep the indoor air dry in your house
• Select a high-efficiency filter for your HVAC unit and follow recommended maintenance to care for these units
• Clean your home with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter

There are all kinds of over-the-counter medications that you can try. They could potentially help for a time. Nonprescription medications could include:

• Antihistamines or decongestants
• Nasal sprays
• Saline or nasal irrigation

However, you can’t always avoid or limit your exposure to the things that cause your allergies, such as pollen, pet dander, or mold. Over-the-counter medications may not alleviate your symptoms. Fortunately, your doctor can help with medications to alleviate your symptoms.

Allergists, like Dr. Kevin Farnam, MD, are medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of allergies and asthma. These specially trained clinicians can treat your stubborn allergy symptoms by first, diagnosing, and then prescribing medications that can help. 

Many mild allergy cases can be treated without seeing a doctor. When allergies interfere with your day-to-day activities, you can take back control of your life by seeing an allergist. 

An allergist can treat all kinds of allergy problems including: 

• Allergic rhinitis or hay fever is a reaction that occurs primarily from environmental allergens
• Anaphylaxis is rare and a potentially fatal allergic reaction caused by triggers such as food, a medication, or an insect sting
• Asthma is an allergy symptom that causes muscle spasms in a person’s breathing airway that blocks air to the lungs
• Atopic or contact dermatitis are allergies that cause hives or dermatitis on the skin

Visiting an allergist could include:

• A complete history and physical exam
• Allergy testing to see what is causing your symptoms
• Education to help prevent allergies by avoiding them
• Medication to treat symptoms
• Allergy shots to alleviate symptoms

You should see an allergist if your allergies are causing chronic sinus infections, difficulty breathing, or the discomfort of sneezing, wheezing, or other symptoms that disrupt your life.