Cold vs. Allergies: Which Do I Have?

Here are the telltale signs of each

Colds and allergies share some of the same symptoms, such as congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and coughing. However, the two are not caused by the same thing.

Cold symptoms develop from a viral infection, whereas allergies are the body’s immune system reacting to allergens, such as pollen, ragweed, or pet dander.

This article discusses the similarities and differences between colds and allergies, how to tell the two apart, and what you can do for symptom relief.

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Though colds and allergies may present similarly from a symptom standpoint, the two are not one and the same. There are ways to tell the difference so that you can seek proper treatment when symptoms strike.

A cold is a temporary illness that develops when a virus enters the body and causes an immune response. Often referred to as the common cold, the viral infection causes inflammation in the membranous lining of various areas, including the throat, nose, and sometimes the chest.

Allergies, on the other hand, are not driven by a virus. When people are allergic to something, their immune system will react when that substance enters the body. These substances are referred to as allergens. For example, if a person is allergic to pet dander, they will begin to experience symptoms around a specific type of animal. The immune system's release of histamines drives these symptoms. When the immune system releases histamines, inflammation occurs in the body as a way to combat an allergen.

Allergies and the common cold share some common symptoms that make it hard to tell them apart. However, there are other signs that could indicate one or the other. Some of the symptoms of each include:

Runny nose

Sore throat

Scratchy throat

Yellow, green, or clear mucus

Coughing, wheezing, and/or breathlessness

Sneezing

Malaise

Full feeling in the sinuses

Hoarseness

Post-nasal drip

Fever (in children)

Hoarseness

Runny nose

Sneezing

Pain or tenderness around the forehead, eyes, or cheeks

Coughing

Wheezing

Breathlessness

Skin rash or itchiness

Swelling in the eyes, lips, mouth or throat

Post-nasal drip

Sore throat

Clear mucus

Both colds and allergies can be mild. However, some symptoms may indicate you need to seek out a healthcare provider. These symptoms include:

Colds don't last nearly as long as allergies do. A person with a cold can typically expect to feel better in five to seven days. The symptoms are more likely to last longer in children, up to 14 days.

Allergies, however, will continue to cause symptoms for as long as the allergen is present. For example, if you have a cat allergy, symptoms will develop anytime you’re around a cat.

Because of how many different allergens there are, it’s hard to determine an exact time frame for when people can expect relief.

The common cold is highly contagious and can spread easily through contact with viral secretions and droplets in the air. These are considered direct and indirect transmissions, respectively.

On the other hand, allergies cannot pass from person to person. When someone experiences allergies, their body reacts to the allergen because of how their immune system perceives it. You cannot give someone allergies, nor can you catch allergies from another person.

Though allergies cannot be caught, people’s bodies can change over time. In turn, an adult who never had allergies can develop them later in life.

Because a virus causes colds, you can technically catch one at any point throughout the year. That said, a typical cold season is marked by more cases of colds than throughout the rest of the year.

Typically, in the United States, cold season starts at the beginning of fall in September and lasts until April of the following year.

Allergy season varies depending on the allergen that affects you. Some examples include:

In warmer or tropical climates, allergy season can last longer because there is more time for grass, trees, and other allergens to thrive.

In some cases, a person may experience allergies year-round. It depends on the allergen to which they are exposed. Allergens that attribute to year-round allergies are often referred to as perennial hay fever and include:

The best way to tell the difference between a cold or allergies is to pay attention to specific factors, such as:

An allergic salute is the act of wiping and rubbing the nose upward with the fingers, palms, or back of the hand to deal with a runny nose. This is often unintentional or habitual because people aren’t always aware of how often they do it.

This gesture is a telltale sign of allergies and doesn't occur as commonly with a cold. It is called a salute because when a person makes the movement, they raise their hand as if to salute while wiping their nose.

Because of how often this occurs in someone with allergies, creases on the bridge of the nose can develop. These creases, along with the gesture, can indicate that someone has allergies as opposed to the common cold.

Performing the allergic salute while you have a cold can lead to nasal creases, though it’s not as common. This is because colds do not typically last long enough for the motion to become habitual enough to leave a crease in the nose.

When diagnosing a cold versus allergies, healthcare providers will go through similar processes. For example, both conditions will require:

After collecting information through these diagnostic processes, healthcare providers will determine what further testing is necessary based on their data.

Diagnosing allergies is more complex than the common cold. If a healthcare provider has conducted a physical exam and symptom collection and suspects allergies as a result, they will conduct more tests, including:

There are several allergy types. People could be allergic to environmental allergens, such as pollen or ragweed. That said, medications, food, and other chemicals can also set off an allergic reaction. The symptoms that develop in environmental allergies are the ones that most closely resemble those that develop in the common cold.

Because a virus causes the common cold, there is no cure or medical treatment available. It typically runs its course, and the immune system fights it off. Many people will practice the wait-and-see method if they suspect a cold and simply wait for the symptoms to go away.

In the event that someone does seek out care, healthcare providers will diagnose a cold through a physical exam and symptom collection only.

There are no lab tests designed specifically for the common cold. However, some lab tests, such as blood tests, may be performed if your healthcare provider suspects that something else may be causing symptoms.

Treating the common cold often involves waiting it out and getting plenty of rest and fluids. No medications are available to fight the common cold.

Typically, people only require over-the-counter (OTC) remedies, such as cough syrups or decongestants, to cope with symptoms until their body fights off the virus.

People may turn to home remedies for the common cold, such as:

There are many treatments available for allergies. Treatments include:

There is no one-size-fits-all therapy for allergies. You and a healthcare provider will have to work together to determine the best treatment for your specific allergy.

Allergies and the common cold can be mild enough to preclude having to see a healthcare provider. However, this isn’t always the case.

Seek medical advice for your symptoms if:

Colds and allergies may present so similarly that it can be hard to tell the two apart when dealing with symptoms. That said, telltale signs indicate you could be suffering from one or the other. For example, if you have a cold, you likely won't experience symptoms such as itchy skin or eyes, but you will have those symptoms if you have allergies.

Allergies also last much longer than colds, sometimes for months, due to allergy seasons. Colds typically clear up with rest, fluids, and at-home remedies within a week or two.

If you are experiencing symptoms of allergies or a cold and are unsure what to do, visit a healthcare provider. They can help you reach a diagnosis so that you can take the necessary next steps to lessen symptoms.

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By Angelica BottaroAngelica Bottaro is a professional freelance writer with over 5 years of experience. She has been educated in both psychology and journalism, and her dual education has given her the research and writing skills needed to deliver sound and engaging content in the health space.