If you’ve got a runny nose, or persistent cough, you might be wondering if it’s a cold or an allergy. They can have similar symptoms, thus making it hard to distinguish.
What are colds?
Colds are an infection of the upper respiratory tract, which includes your nose and throat. It is caused by contagious viruses, most commonly the rhinovirus. Colds can be transmitted through droplets from coughing, sneezing or close contact with someone who’s sick
What is an allergy?
Allergies is your immune system reacting to something that is otherwise harmless to most people. Common indoor allergens include pet dander, dust mites and mold. Meanwhile common outdoor allergens are pollen and insects.
Telling the difference
Allergies happen in response to specific substances and as such is usually seasonal or year-round. For example, if you are allergic to pollen, you may find your symptoms lessen during the winter months when less pollen is in the air.
Colds meanwhile only occur when you are infected by a virus of the respiratory tract and symptoms tend to appear gradually as the virus replicates and slowly infect your respiratory tract.
Check out the table below for a quick comparison:
| Symptom | Cold | Allergy |
| Runny, stuffy nose | Common | Common |
| Body aches | common | rare |
| Gradual onset of symptoms | Common | Rare (usually immediate upon exposure to allergen) |
| Persistent symptoms | Rare (usually no more than 14days) | common |
| Cough | common | uncommon |
| Fever | common | never |
| Fatigue | common | uncommon |
| Itchy, watery eyes | rare | common |
| Sore throat | common | rare |
| Thick yellow mucus | common | rare |
Treating a cold vs allergies
The management for colds or allergies are very different.
Colds should be managed by supporting the immune system as it fights off the virus. Common strategies include:
- Getting plenty of rest
- Drinking warm fluids
- Using pain relievers or nasal decongestants as needed
Allergies, on the other hand, are best managed by:
- Avoiding exposure to known allergens
- Taking antihistamines or other allergy-relief medications for temporary relief
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Sources:
National Institutes of Health. (2022, January). Is it flu, COVID-19, allergies, or a cold? NIH News in Health. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2022/01/it-flu-covid-19-allergies-or-cold
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. (n.d.). Allergy symptoms. https://aafa.org/allergies/allergy-symptoms/
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2023, May 24). Common cold – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/symptoms-causes/syc-20351605
