If you develop a fever alongside allergy symptoms, its worth considering other causes or a possible infection.
The flu, common cold, or COVID-19, could also be at play.
South_agency / E+ / Getty Images
What Causes Fever with Allergies?
South_agency / E+ / Getty Images
Typical allergy symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyesbut not fever.
Fever is the body’s immune response to an infection.
Fever helps the body fightpathogensoff, as many pathogens struggle to survive in the hotter environment.
Allergiesdon’t work the same way.
If you have other symptoms in addition to a fever, call your healthcare provider.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis, or sinus infection, causes inflammation and swelling of your sinuses.
Acute sinusitis can be triggered by a cold or allergies and may lead to a fever.
Sinuses are spaces in your head located around the cheeks, nose, and eyes.
The sinuses secrete mucus that drains out through the nose.
This drainage helps keep the nose clean and prevents infection.
Bacteria can then grow and cause an infection, resulting in sinusitis.
Flu usually comes on suddenly.
Commonly, the flu can cause a fever that lasts for two to four days.
More than 200 different viruses can cause a cold.
The most common virus causing colds is the rhinovirus.
These viruses mostly cause colds in the winter.
However,non-polio enteroviruses, the second most common cause of colds, are most active in summer.
These viruses are known for causing fever.
Not everyone with COVID develops a fever.
When it does occur, it usually appears within two to 14 days after exposure to the coronavirus.
However, despite its name, fever is not one of them.
Your doctor will perform a physical exam and check your medical history.
They may also run other tests like:
For allergies, you may need to see anallergist.
Instead, use acetaminophen or ibuprofen as recommended by a healthcare provider.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Fever.
El-Radhi AS.Pathogenesis of fever.Clin Manual of Fever in Children.
2019 Jan;1(1):53-68. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-92336-9_3
Yale Medicine.Seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis).
Penn Medicine.Sinus infection (sinusitis).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Key facts about influenza (flu).
Penn Medicine.Flu (influenza).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About non-polio enteroviruses.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.COVID symptoms - frequently asked questions.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Food allergies.
David A, Quinlan J.Fever of unknown origin in adults.Am Fam Phys.
2022;105(2):137-143.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Testing & diagnosis.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Hay fever.
Harvard Health Publishing.Fever in adults: When to worry.
Stanford Medicine.Reye syndrome in children.
CHI Saint Joseph Health.What is considered a fever?
- When to call a doctor.
Boston Children’s Hospital.Fever in children.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Anaphylaxis
Fever.
Cold, flu, or allergy?NIH News in Health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
