Is It a Stubborn Cold or Spring Allergies? How to Tell the Difference

Allergies and the common cold can both leave you congested, sneezy, and miserable. And when spring is in full swing, it gets hard to tell which one you’re dealing with. Although they may seem the same, they’re fundamentally different conditions. 

A cold is caused by a virus that infects your upper respiratory tract. Allergies, on the other hand, are your immune system overreacting to something harmless in the environment, like pollen, dust, or mold. 

If you get colds often or have a history of allergies, distinguishing between the two can be difficult. However, as trained allergists, we can assess your symptoms, their timing, and your history to determine what you’re dealing with. 

At Advanced Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Center PA in San Antonio and Schertz, Texas, our team specializes in identifying what’s triggering your symptoms and can help manage them appropriately.

Here, we’ll walk through the differences between colds and spring allergies and how to tell them apart.

Overlapping symptoms and how to spot the differences

Both a cold and allergies can cause a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, a scratchy or sore throat, coughing, and general tiredness. However, if your eyes are itchy and watery, your nose is itchy, or the roof of your mouth feels irritated, that’s a strong indicator you’re dealing with allergies. Colds don’t typically cause that kind of itching. 

On the flip side, if you’re running a fever, dealing with body aches, or noticing thick yellow or green mucus, you’re likely dealing with a cold or a sinus infection. Allergies almost never cause a fever, and the nasal discharge they produce tends to stay clear and thin.

Timing is another useful indicator. Most colds last 7-10 days. Allergies, on the other hand, can cause ongoing symptoms as long as you’re around your trigger. If your symptoms linger for three weeks or keep popping up at the same time every year, there’s a good chance it’s not a cold.

The importance of getting the right diagnosis

The treatment approaches for each condition are quite different, and using the wrong one could cause your symptoms to last longer than they should. For a cold, you need rest, fluids, and time. Decongestants and pain relievers can help you feel more comfortable while your body fights off the virus, but there’s no cure for the common cold. It just has to run its course.

But if you have allergies, you can manage them much more effectively once you know your triggers. Antihistamines, nasal corticosteroid sprays, and avoiding known triggers can make a significant difference. 

For people with more severe or persistent allergies, immunotherapy can retrain the immune system over time so it stops overreacting to those triggers. 

There’s also the issue of complications. A cold that lasts longer than two weeks could be a sign of a secondary bacterial infection like sinusitis, which might need antibiotics. Unmanaged allergies can lead to chronic sinus problems, ear infections, or worsening asthma. 

In both cases, ignoring the problem or treating it incorrectly can lead to complications.

When to see a specialist

If your symptoms have been ongoing for more than 10 days without improvement, that’s a sign you should see someone. The same goes if you find yourself dealing with the same symptoms every spring like clockwork, or if over-the-counter medications aren’t providing you with much relief. 

At Advanced Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Center PA, our allergist is here to help you figure it out. We have the expertise to determine whether your symptoms are being caused by allergies, a viral infection, or something else. 

Don’t spend another spring wondering what’s wrong. Schedule an appointment with us today.