How Do You Know If It’s Allergies or a Cold?
Both allergies and a cold can develop during any time of the year. But there is a way that you can tell if you’re dealing with one or the other. First, if you have a cold, you should know that it takes a virus to create the symptoms of a cold – and that common antibiotic won’t cure a cold and it won’t keep you from giving the virus to other people, either.
But here are some ways that you can tell if what you have is an allergy or a cold. The length of time that you’ll deal with a cold will vary from three or four days to two weeks, while the allergy will stick around as long as you’re around whatever it is that’s triggering the allergy.
When you get symptoms can also be a clue. The cold season is usually around when the temperatures drop outside. October through February are usually the peak months for getting a cold, while allergies aren’t limited by seasons.
You may notice that your symptoms get worse during certain times of the year – like during spring when there’s all the pollen in the air. Exposure to the cold virus causes a cold to begin within a few days of exposure, but exposure to an allergen can cause a reaction to happen right away.
When you have a cold, there’s more often than not a cough present. However, there can be a cough present with certain allergies, too. If you have a cold, your body might feel achy – but an allergy won’t make your body feel achy.
Both a cold and an allergy can trigger fatigue and make you feel more tired than usual. Though some people associate having a fever with a cold, most colds aren’t associated with a fever.
Though you may have a slight rise in body temperature, it’s not considered a fever unless it’s over 100 degrees. Someone who is suffering from an allergy doesn’t develop a fever. With an allergy, your eyes might water and feel itchy, but with a cold, you won’t have that symptom.
But a cold and an allergy can both cause you to have a sore throat. A cold gives you a sore throat because of the virus, while an allergy gives you a sore throat because of post-nasal drip. You can have a runny nose with either a cold or allergies, but the difference in the two is that with a cold, the discharge won’t be clear, and with an allergy, it will be.
5 Question and Answers about It’s Allergies or a Cold
Is it allergies or a cold quiz?
Colds and Allergies Quiz: Are Your Symptoms From a Cold or …www.webmd.com › allergies › rm-quiz-colds-allergies
…https://www.webmd.com/allergies/rm-quiz-colds-allergies
If your coughing and sneezing are accompanied by an itchy, runny nose and itchy, watery eyes, chances are good that you have allergies. A cold typically doesn’t cause that itchy feeling.Colds and Allergies Quiz: Are Your Symptoms From a Cold or …www.webmd.com › allergies › rm-quiz-colds-allergies…www.webmd.com › allergies › rm-quiz-colds-allergiesSearch for: Is it allergies or a cold quiz?
How do you get rid of an allergy cold?
Do I Have Allergies or a Cold? – Healthline…www.healthline.com › health › allergies › allergies-or-cold
….https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/allergies-or-cold
If you can’t avoid your triggers, you can take medications to relieve your symptoms.Antihistamines. Antihistamines work by blocking the release of histamine. … Decongestants. Decongestants work by shrinking swollen nasal membranes to relieve sinus congestion. … Nasal corticosteroids. … Eye drops. … Allergy shots. … Other treatments. Sep 6, 2018Do I Have Allergies or a Cold? – Healthline…www.healthline.com › health › allergies › allergies-or-cold…www.healthline.com › health › allergies › allergies-or-coldSearch for: How do you get rid of an allergy cold?
Is it hayfever or a cold?
How to tell the difference between hay fever and the common coldmedicalxpress.com › news › 2018-10-difference-hay-feve…
…https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-10-difference-hay-fever-common-cold.html
One of the key differences is the colour of the nasal discharge (your snot): it’s more likely to be yellowish/green in colour in colds; while in hay fever, it’s clear. … If you have cold-like symptoms and a sore throat or have had one in the last few days, your condition is more likely to be the common cold. Oct 29, 2018How to tell the difference between hay fever and the common coldmedicalxpress.com › news › 2018-10-difference-hay-feve…medicalxpress.com › news › 2018-10-difference-hay-feve…Search for: Is it hayfever or a cold?
How do I know if Im sick or have allergies?
Cold or allergies? How to tell the difference – Medical News Today…www.medicalnewstoday.com › articles
…https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315756
Itchy and watery eyes are often telltale signs that the symptoms are due to an allergy. A fever can occur with a severe cold, especially in children, but is not an allergy symptom. A sore throat can occur with allergies but is more common with a cold. Feb 12, 2017Cold or allergies? How to tell the difference – Medical News Today…www.medicalnewstoday.com › articles…www.medicalnewstoday.com › articlesSearch for: How do I know if I’m sick or have allergies?
Can allergies feel like a cold?
Can allergies cause a fever or flu-like symptoms?…www.medicalnewstoday.com › articles
…https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321502
Allergies can cause symptoms that are very similar to a cold or flu, such as a runny nose, sore throat, or sneezing. However, allergies do not cause a fever. Because each allergy has a different underlying cause, it is essential that a person receives the right diagnosis, so that they can get the best treatment. Apr 16, 2018Can allergies cause a fever or flu-like symptoms?…www.medicalnewstoday.com › articles…www.medicalnewstoday.com › articlesSearch for: Can allergies feel like a cold?