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Allergy Vs. Cold Symptoms

Allergies and cold symptoms are often hard to tell apart, even for the medical profession. Colds are caused by different viruses and will attack the immune system. The viruses that cause colds are contagious. After a couple of weeks, the immune system will fight off the virus. Allergies, on the other hand, are caused by an immune system that is overactive. The body mistakes harmless irradiants for germs and attacks them. Allergies are not contagious.

  1. Nasal Congestion

    • Nasal congestion is a common allergy symptom when the immune system releases chemicals in response to an allergen. This causes the blood vessels in the nose to swell and causes the lining of the nose to become swollen. With an allergy, you will have an itchy nose. This usually starts in the back of the nose and is the body's reaction to the irritant, along with frequent sneezing. The nose is trying to get the allergen out of the nose. A discharge of fluid will come from the nose.
      With a cold, between one and three days of catching the cold virus, you will have a slight burning sensation in the nose and throat area. Nasal congestion is common and sneezing will be loud and deep and not as often as if it was an allergy. The nose will be runny also with a discharge and the mucus is clear at the beginning of the cold.

    Eyes

    • With an allergy, you will have watery eyes and itchy eyes often; whereas with a cold you will rarely have itchy, watery eyes.

    Mucus

    • With allergies, there is a discharge of mucus and this will be clear and constant. A cold will produce mucus and be clear at the beginning of the cold but as the cold continues, the mucus will be yellow to green. A sign that there could be an infection is a tint of green in the mucus instead of being yellow.

    Fever

    • Colds rarely have a fever but will have some body aches and sometimes fatigue. With allergies, there is never a fever or aches, but there is sometimes fatigue.

    Cough and Sore Throat

    • With colds, there is often a cough along with a sore throat. Allergies sometimes can have a cough or sore throat but it is more common with a cold.

    Duration

    • With allergies, the duration can be days to months; whereas with a cold, duration is only between 3 and 14 days.

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