Flu vs. Allergies

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- It's already been a tough flu season with the H1N1 virus showing up this year. Allergies have also caused plenty of problems, but how can you tell the difference between the two?

Tammie Kierstead suffers from allergies and she's one of many Oklahomans battling one of the top allergy capitals in the country.

"It depends on where things bloom and how wet the season was, how high we rank; we're usually in the top 10 and that has to do with the fact that we're in a bowl between two mountain ranges," OU Medicine Family Physician Dr. Rachel Franklin said.

But Kierstead knows her symptoms are much more severe and Dr. Franklin agrees.

"What I say is if you don't have a fever, you don't have significant body aches and you don't have a cough, you don't have the flu," Dr. Franklin said.

The symptoms for allergies aren't as serious as the flu and involve nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, while fevers and coughs are less common.

"You can feel very ill when you have allergies," said Dr. Franklin. "It's not to be sneezed at, so to speak, but allergies won't potentially kill you because the flu can potentially kill people who have chronic illnesses."

With the growing concern over the H1N1 flu virus doctors say there is no need to panic but gets lots of rest, just like Kierstead who is fighting the flu.

"You don't want to move, even turning from one side to the other side hurt," said Kierstead. "I mean, your ears ring, your teeth hurt and every part of your body just aches; definitely a big difference than the allergies."