Nowadays, when you or someone you know is sick, there’s a level of concern about what it is, whether that’s allergies, the common cold, the flu, a sinus infection, or COVID-19. There are distinct differences between each one that you should know so you can stay ahead of what’s ailing you. For this blog, we’re focusing on allergies vs cold symptoms (since we covered the others in a previous blog).
The differences between allergies and the common cold are subtle but can be spotted pretty quickly. The issue with either of these is that if ignored, they can turn into a dangerous sinus infection.
But let’s start with allergy symptoms and go from there.
Allergy Symptoms
If you live here in Georgia, you know it’s always allergy season. In the wintertime, it’s not necessarily something outside like ragweed pollen, but its indoor allergens. Indoor allergens include pet dander, dust, or mold, all of which are prominent in the wintertime, mostly due to people spending more time indoors.
Allergy symptoms include:
- Runny/congested nose
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing (asthma)
- Itchy throat
- Headache
As you probably already know, unless you have asthma, allergy symptoms are easy to manage and more than likely won’t prevent you from completing daily activities.
Cold Symptoms
Symptoms between allergies and the common cold are quite similar, but here are a few things specific to colds that will let you know the issue:
- Body aches
- Low-grade fever
- Muscle pain
- Cough with phlegm
- Post-nasal drip
- Fatigue
- Sinus pressure
- Swollen lymph nodes
Other symptoms for colds include what’s in the allergy symptoms section. Although there are a lot of symptoms within the cold category, they’re mostly mild.
Frequently Asked Questions:
There are plenty of allergy specialists out in the world. Here at the Ear, Nose & Throat Institute, our allergy specialists perform same-day allergy tests to find out what you’re allergic to and also offer at-home allergy therapy.
It’s not necessarily the allergen that’s harming your body, but your body’s response to a foreign invader that causes those pesky symptoms. For example, a dog has dog dander that might trigger an allergic response. What’s happening is your body goes into defense mode, leading to those allergy symptoms.
Rarely do allergies cause a fever, since a fever is typically 100.4 degrees.
Because the common cold is a virus, it’s not directly related to the weather, although its potency is more effective in colder temperatures.
Same-day allergy treatment
Here at the Ear, Nose & Throat Institute we offer same-day allergy testing that gives results back within a few minutes!
We also offer at-home allergy therapy. For many with allergies, going to a clinic multiple times a week can be a pain. That’s why you can do it right from the comfort of your own home.
Watch the videos below to learn more:
To schedule a same-day appointment, call or click the button below:
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Citations
- Pagan, C. (2017, February 26) Do You Have a Cold or Allergies? [Medical Website] Retrieved on December 18th, 2020 from https://www.webmd.com/allergies/sinus-nose-tool/allergies-or-cold?page=1
- Nall, R., MSN, CRNA (2018, April 16) Can allergies cause a fever? [Medical Article] Retrieved on December 18th, 2020 from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321502#:~:text=Here’s%20our%20process.,do%20not%20cause%20a%20fever.
- Tosh, P., MD (2020, February 5) Cold or allergy: Which is it? [Medical Article] Retrieved on December 18th, 2020 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/common-cold/faq-20057857