You have a runny nose, sore throat, chest congestion, and a headache.

So, have you caught a cold or is it an allergy attack?

Unfortunately, it is often difficult to differentiate and say for sure. But here is some information that can help you understand and identify the difference between a common cold and an allergy episode. Read on and find out for yourself.

Common cold vs allergy

Colds are known to be caused by hundreds of different viruses. When one of these viruses enters your body, your immune system tries to fight back. Some of the effects of this immune response are irritation of the lower respiratory tract, the most common symptoms being congestion and cough.

Symptoms of the common cold usually begin two to three days after infection and often include a runny nose, excessive sneezing, itchy throat, cough, and headache. A mild fever and body aches may also accompany it. Cold symptoms can last from two to 14 days and are usually seen in winter, although they can be contracted in any season.

The mucus released is usually pale yellow. The viral strains that cause colds are contagious and can be easily contracted by touching the nasal secretions of an infected person or by inhaling airborne infectious particles.

After a couple of weeks at the most, your immune system fights off the viral invasion and you no longer have symptoms. High fever, significantly swollen glands, a severe headache with facial sinus pain, and a cough that produces mucus, however, may indicate a serious complication that requires a doctor’s attention.

Allergies, on the other hand, are caused by an overactive immune system. When your body mistakes harmless substances, like mold or pollen, for germs, it fights off the foreign elements by releasing chemicals called histamines, just like it does when fighting off a cold. This can cause swelling in the nasal passages, runny nose, coughing, and sneezing.

You may be able to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy by noting a few factors like:

Colds are contagious, while allergies generally are not.

Colds are accompanied by body aches and in some cases even fever, which is rarely the case with allergies.

The mucus released during colds is yellowish in color, while allergic nasal secretions are clear or colorless.

Cold symptoms appear after a few days of contracting the viral infection, while allergy symptoms usually appear almost immediately after exposure to allergens.

Cold symptoms in most cases disappear within a week or two, while allergic symptoms can persist for a long time until the source of the allergy (allergens) is not removed from the immediate environment.

Prevention and Treatment

Since the causes of cold and allergy symptoms are quite different, preventing them would also require different strategies.

The best way to prevent allergy symptoms would be to avoid contact with the substances you are allergic to, called allergens. So if you’re allergic to pollen, for example, avoid going outside on days when the pollen count is high. Some common allergens are dust, mites, cockroaches, a specific food (fish, eggs, or soy products), mold, animal waste, pollen, etc.

The ideal strategy for preventing cold symptoms would be to try to prevent the cold-causing virus from entering your system. Frequent hand washing, staying away from infected people, covering your mouth and nose (with a tissue or your sleeve, instead of your hands) when sneezing or coughing are some preventive measures. Taking over-the-counter nonsteroidal antihistamines and decongestants may reduce aches and pains. However, the best way would be to drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of rest, and take steam inhalation or gargle with warm salt water. Drinking hot soups (the famous chicken cold soup) to soothe a stuffy nose and hot ginger-cinnamon tea to soothe a sore throat can also help.

Staying attuned to your illness or symptoms not only makes treatment less intimidating, it also increases your chances of success. A better informed patient is always better equipped to approach the disease and discuss symptoms and treatment options with the doctor, reducing the risk of unwanted complications.

Although nasal allergy and cold symptoms are rarely severe, they can sometimes lead to other problems, such as sinus or middle ear infections. So if you think you may have allergies, or if your cold symptoms seem severe, it’s best to see your doctor.

Take care of yourself!