Summer is winding down, and the seasons are set to change, which could mean for some that their seasonal allergy symptoms are set to return. The season of sniffles is about to be upon us, but how do you know if it’s a cold or allergies? The symptoms of colds and allergies are similar, so many may confuse the two, especially if their allergies develop as adults. However, despite the similarities, both conditions have different causes, and the symptoms experienced can vary in duration and type.
Being able to identify if what you are experiencing is a cold or allergies is essential, so the most appropriate treatment plan can be followed. To know if it’s the common cold, caused by a virus, or allergies, the body’s response to an allergen, you must learn what the signs and symptoms are for both conditions.
The Symptoms of a Cold:
• General body aches
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Coughing
• Stuffy nose
• Runny nose
• Low-grade fever
• Thick, discolored mucus
• Symptoms clear up in 7 to 10 days
The Symptoms of Allergies:
• Runny nose
• Stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Red, itchy eyes
• Hives/skin eruptions
• Watery eyes
• Clear or watery mucus
• Symptoms last several weeks or longer
To help you tell the difference between the two, ask these questions to yourself to help determine if your symptoms are due to an allergy or cold.
1. Do your symptoms include skin eruptions, such as eczema or itchy, watery eyes? Itchy eyes and skin eruptions rarely happen with colds, so these symptoms are more indicative of allergies.
2. When do you experience your symptoms? Do you notice a pattern? If your symptoms tend to happen around the same time every year, or after a particular event (rain, cutting of the grass, etc.), then it’s likely to be allergies.
3. How long have you been experiencing your symptoms? Allergy symptoms may come and go, or persist for weeks on end, while a cold will only last a week or two at most.
4. Do your symptoms come out of nowhere, or did they come on gradually? When you develop a cold, symptoms tend to develop slowly over the course of a few days. Many can feel themselves getting sick, or a cold coming on. While allergies can come on suddenly, without warning, and can disappear quickly once an anti-histamine is taken.
Frequently Asked Questions
To differentiate between a cold and allergies, pay attention to your symptoms and their duration. Cold symptoms typically include body aches, sore throat, coughing, low-grade fever, and thick discolored mucus, usually resolving within 7 to 10 days. Allergy symptoms often include itchy, watery eyes, red eyes, hives, clear or watery mucus, and can last several weeks or longer.
Allergies commonly cause itchy, watery eyes, red eyes, and skin eruptions such as hives or eczema. These symptoms rarely occur with a cold, making them key indicators of allergy-related issues.
Cold symptoms usually clear up within 7 to 10 days, as they are caused by a viral infection. Allergy symptoms, on the other hand, may persist for several weeks or even longer, especially if exposure to allergens continues.
Symptom timing can help identify the cause; allergies often follow a seasonal pattern or occur after exposure to specific triggers like pollen or grass cutting. Colds tend to come on gradually without a clear pattern and occur sporadically.
Allergies can trigger an immediate immune response upon exposure to an allergen, causing symptoms to appear suddenly. In contrast, colds develop gradually as the viral infection spreads, with symptoms worsening over a few days.
Itchy eyes and skin eruptions are rarely associated with colds. These symptoms are more characteristic of allergies and can help you distinguish between the two conditions.
In colds, mucus tends to be thick and discolored due to infection. Allergy-related mucus is usually clear or watery, reflecting an immune response without infection.