Do you have a cold or allergies?
Camille Noe Pagn
Do you know how to tell the difference between a cold and allergies? Are you sure?
Its easy to get them confused. Just ask Paul Ehrlich, MD, a professor of pediatrics at New York University. Ehrlich had been an allergist for years when he came down with what he thought was a cold. Id had a watery, runny nose for several days when one of my patients took a look at me and said, Oh, you have allergies, too!
Ehrlich says.
Hed never suffered from allergies before, but a checkup with another doctor confirmed that the patient was right. Turns out I was allergic to birch trees, which were in bloom at the time, Ehrlich says.
A cold is an infection caused by a virus. Allergies are your immune systems reaction to a foreign substance, like pollen or pet dander. Because allergies and colds cause similar symptoms, like sniffles and stuffiness, many people get the two mixed up. Knowing which is which can help you get the right treatment, and that will have you feeling better faster.
Its probably allergies if:
Your mucus is clear or watery. And it will stay clear, instead of becoming thick or discolored like it can with a cold, says Michael Benninger, MD, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at the Cleveland Clinic.
Your eyes are itchy or watery. Irritated eyes are a sign of allergies. Its rare to have itchy eyes when you have a cold.
Your symptoms stay the same. Allergies may feel extra intense for the first day or two, but youll have the same symptoms day after day, Benninger says.
Youve had the sniffles for more than a week. A cold usually clears up in 7 to 10 days, but allergies can last several weeks or longer.
Your symptoms only show up in certain situations. Find yourself sneezing every spring or fall? Those are common times for allergies. Colds and the flu, on the other hand, usually show up in the late fall and winter. Another tip-off: Being in a specific place makes you feel
miserable. For example, a house with a cat.
Its probably a cold if:
You have a cough, low fever, headache, or mild body aches. There are more than 200 different cold viruses, and different bugs cause different symptoms. Even so, coughing, fever, and achiness arent problems you usually see with allergies. The exception to the rule: Allergies can sometimes trigger a cough from post-nasal drip or if you have asthma.
Your symptoms change every few days. Cold symptoms usually shift over the course of a week or so. You may start out with a fever and stuffy nose, then have a sore throat for a few days, or get a cough or sinus pain before getting better.
Your mucus becomes yellow, green, or thick. As immune cells fight back against the cold virus, they can make your mucus discolored or thick.
Call your doctor if:
You think you have allergies. Talk to your doctor about allergy treatments. She may recommend you see an allergist to have skin testing. That involves putting allergens on your skin to see if they cause a reaction. When you know what youre allergic to, its easier to avoid it or prepare for a situation where youll be exposed to it.
Important: if youre having trouble breathing, have a skin rash, or have swelling in your mouth, see a doctor right away.
It can be a sign of severe allergic reaction, and you may need immediate medical help.
You have a fever over 101 F. That can be a sign of the flu or another problem like an infection. You may need prescription medication.
Your cold symptoms get worse over time or dont clear up after 10 days. Though drinking lots of fluids and taking over-the-counter medications can make you more comfortable, theres no cure for the cold. It gets better on its own, usually in 10 days.
If yours lingers, or your symptoms become severe -- for example, your sore throat becomes so painful that you cant swallow -- go to the doctor to get checked out. You could have a more serious problem, like strep or pneumonia.
Source: WebMD Feature
