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HOUSTON - It's allergy season, so if it seems like everyone and their mom are getting sick, you know why.  During the Spring time in Houston, certain plants bloom, and with many people moving to the city, it's almost unavoidable to get sick. MORE: The difference between COVID-19 symptoms and seasonal allergiesBut before you freak out, allergy experts, like CVS MinuteClinic practitioner Erin Vierus, are stressing the importance of recognizing the signs, treating them adequately, and doing what you can to prevent them. "We've had a particularly bad sick season with so many different viruses circulating right now," Vierus explained.

"So one of the main things I always talk to my patients about is, ‘do you have a fever?’ Right off the bat, if you feel like you're getting those chills and body aches right away, typically, that's not allergies." Allergy season is underway and is expected to last for several months. Here are some tips for avoiding allergy triggers indoors."Allergies usually come quickly or a little bit more gradually, but it's usually more of an itchy kind of watery experience versus like a painful sore throat and painful sinus pressure," she added. Compared to most cities, Houston's allergy season is pretty severe, Vierus noted. "In Houston, we have plants that bloom year-round," she said.

"So this year, particularly right now we have our ragweed, oak, Mulberry, those kinds of things." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Houstonians bracing for severe allergy season, experts weigh in on how to distinguish from COVID-19 symptomsFor many of the newer Houston residents, and therefore, not used to the plant and its effects, a lot of this may come as a surprise. However, Vierus explains we can keep track of what is blooming through