The coronavirus pandemic has many people questioning the symptoms they’re experiencing, even if they’re pretty sure that those symptoms are from something mild, like seasonal allergies. Understanding the differences between all of these sets of symptoms is really important and can help you to get your senior the treatment she needs if she’s not feeling well.
Hay Fever and Allergy Symptoms
If your elderly family member is a frequent hay fever sufferer, she may be very familiar with those symptoms. They typically involve a cough, sneezing, runny eyes or nose, and sometimes itchy eyes. It’s highly unlikely that your senior will experience any fever at all and she can usually treat hay fever and allergies with over-the-counter medication.
Symptoms of a Cold
A cold has symptoms that can sometimes vary a bit. There’s usually a cough, along with either a clogged or a runny nose, and some sneezing. Your senior might have a low-grade fever that probably won’t stick around for long. She may experience other symptoms, too, like a sore throat, but again she is likely to be able to treat the symptoms and let the cold run its course.
Flu Symptoms
Flu symptoms are typically more severe. There’s usually a cough, and maybe some sneezing and difficulty breathing through the nose. Your senior is much more likely to have a fever with the flu, along with body aches, and chills. There are medications your senior’s doctor might prescribe for the flu during a telehealth session, but during the coronavirus pandemic, your senior might be told to just wait it out, hydrate, and get plenty of rest.
COVID-19 Symptoms
The symptoms of COVID-19 appear on the surface to be similar to the flu, but there are some other considerations, as well. The mild symptoms are cough, fever, and aches and pains. There may be others, too, like a sore throat or stuffed nose. Severe symptoms can include shortness of breath, turning blue from lack of oxygen, and extreme weakness or fatigue.
It’s really important that you keep an eye on any symptoms your senior is experiencing. Talk to her doctor and determine what your senior needs to do if she does become ill right now. It may also be a good idea to have elder care providers working with your senior now to help disinfect surfaces, assist with hand washing, and take care of other tasks. That’s especially important if you’re not able to be with your senior right now.