No, allergies themselves do not cause a fever. While allergies can trigger a wide range of symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, and congestion, fever is not one of them. A fever is typically a sign of an infection, such as a bacterial or viral illness.
Understanding the Difference
It's important to distinguish between allergy symptoms and the symptoms of an infection. Allergies are caused by an immune system response to harmless substances like pollen or pet dander, while a fever indicates that your body is fighting off an infection.
- Allergy Symptoms: Runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion, cough (often dry).
- Fever Symptoms: Elevated body temperature (typically above 100.4°F or 38°C), chills, sweating, muscle aches, fatigue.
Why the Confusion?
Sometimes, a person might experience both allergy symptoms and a fever simultaneously. This doesn't mean the allergy caused the fever. Instead, it indicates a co-occurrence of an allergy and an infection. A viral infection, for example, can produce symptoms mimicking those of allergies, such as a runny nose and congestion, while also causing a fever.
Several sources confirm that allergies do not cause fever:
- Mayo Clinic: Describes hay fever (allergic rhinitis) symptoms, explicitly stating it does not cause a fever. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hay-fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20373039
- Cleveland Clinic: Directly states that allergies do not cause fevers, differentiating them from infections like colds, the flu, and COVID-19, which can. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-allergies-cause-fever
- ACAAI Patient: Clarifies that hay fever, a common allergy, does not cause a fever. https://acaai.org/allergies/symptoms/fever/
- MyNectar: Confirms that while allergies cause various symptoms, fever is not one of them. https://www.mynectar.com/learn/can-allergies-cause-fever
If you're experiencing both allergy symptoms and a fever, it's crucial to consult a doctor to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
