Patients may find it difficult to distinguish between a cold and a seasonal allergy, or hay fever, because some of the symptoms are the same. Both colds and allergies usually cause nasal congestion and discharge, as well as sneezing and sometimes fatigue; however, the characteristics of those symptoms differ between the two diagnoses, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Colds are caused by a virus, while seasonal allergies are caused by exposure to pollen or other substances, so the diseases are treated differently even though they may seem similar in some ways.
Step 1
Check the calendar. If your symptoms started a day or two ago and slowly became worse, you probably have a cold, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Seasonal allergy symptoms begin suddenly and often at the same time each year.
Step 2
Take your temperature with a thermometer. Allergies never cause fevers, but sometimes colds cause them, according to AAFP. Therefore, a high temperature--usually over 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit for most people when taken by mouth--will rule out allergies.
Step 3
Examine your nasal discharge. Allergies and colds cause sneezing and runny, stuffy noses, but the fluid coming from the nose looks different. If you have allergies, the discharge will be thin, watery and clear, according to AAFP. Nasal discharge from a cold is thicker and may be green or yellow. Sneezing will also be more explosive with allergies compared to the sneezing from a cold.
Step 4
Check for itching. If you have a cold, you may have watery eyes, but they rarely itch, according to the Mayo Clinic. Itching of the nose, eyes, skin, throat and mouth is common in patients with allergies.
Step 5
Check for achiness. You might feel fatigued with either a cold or allergies, but allergies never cause the generalized aches and pains that cold sufferers sometimes experience, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 6
Consider your other symptoms, such as coughing and sore throat. A cold usually causes both symptoms, while allergies only cause them in some cases, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 7
Keep track of the duration of your symptoms. Allergy symptoms may last for weeks, while colds usually resolve within a week.
Tips and Warnings
- Treat the symptoms of a cold with rest and over-the-counter decongestants and pain relievers. Treat a seasonal allergy with over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines, nasal sprays and decongestants, and avoid exposure to the cause of the allergic reaction, according to the Mayo Clinic.
- Seek medical attention for a child who has a high fever--above 103 degrees Fahrenheit--or one that lasts longer than 3 days, fast or labored breathing, wheezing, blue skin, pain in the ear, seizures, irritability, excessive drowsiness, flu-like symptoms that return with a fever or symptoms that last 10 days or longer, according to AAFP. An adult with a high fever--above 102 degrees Fahrenheit with body aches and fatigue; symptoms that last for more than 10 days or get worse instead of better; trouble breathing; pressure or pain in the chest; dizziness; vomiting; confusion; severe sinus pain; or swollen glands in the jaw or neck should seek medical attention.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Cold or Allergy: Which Is It?
- FamilyDoctor.org; Hay Fever
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