Why does my throat hurt? How summer allergies are affecting Oklahomans, see symptoms

It may be almost summer, but that won’t stop whatever is in the air from bringing on allergy symptoms.

But when a questionable symptom comes on — whether it’s a sore throat, cough, runny nose or watery eyes — it’s important to know the difference between allergies and a viral or bacterial infection.

Here’s what you need to know.

What causes summer allergies?

The most common cause of summer allergies is grass pollen, which grows in most geographical locations, according to Zyrtec’s summer allergies guides.

The grass species that most often cause allergies are Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, Kentucky bluegrass, orchard grass, sweet vernal grass and Timothy grass.

Other causes of summer allergies include tree pollen, mold, ragweed, mugwort and nettle.

Summer allergy symptoms

Here are some of the most common allergy symptoms:

• Red, watery or itchy eyes

Are allergies causing my sore throat?

Allergies could be the culprit behind your sore throat. An allergy-induced sore throat will usually feel scratchy or a tickling sensation, caused by postnasal drip.

A sore throat can also be a sign of something else, like an upper respiratory infection or strep throat.

How to tell allergies from an upper respiratory infection

While they often cause many of the same symptoms, there is a way to tell the difference between allergies and an upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold, flu or COVID-19.

One main difference is allergies usually don’t include a fever. Here are some other symptom differences to know, according to Zyrtec:

How to tell allergies from strep throat

The bacterial infection known as strep throat can, like allergies, make your throat feel sore and scratchy and come on suddenly.

However, strep throat is often accompanied by fever and these tell-tale signs, according to the Mayo Clinic:

• Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus

• Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate)

• Swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck

What infections are more common in the summer?

Here are some of the most common infections seen during the summer, according to New Jersey’s Infectious Disease Care:

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why does my throat hurt? Is it summer allergies or other illness?