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:
Read more on this subject:
Leave your allergy symptoms in the dust
Written by Tori Matthews, Allergy Tech Specialist Dust Allergy People with dust allergies are familiar with sneezing—but sneezing isn’t the only uncomfortable symptom. Dust allergies
Pet dander: Can my pet sleep in the bed with me?
Of course, you can sleep with your pet at night. You can do whatever you want, in theory. Even Reader’s Digest says, “at least 50
How organizing your home can cause a sore throat and runny nose
In the past year, a lot of us spent a good amount of time indoors due to the pandemic. Many used this time to catch
Allergies vs. Cold Symptoms: What’s the difference?
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
How to know you have a dust allergy
There are seasonal allergies and there are year-round allergies. For example, ragweed pollen is a fall allergy. Dust is a year-round allergy. Whether it’s when
How to Boost the Immune System
After the pandemic of 2020 (virus which shall not be named) ravaged our day-to-day lives, it was apparent that just about everyone wanted to get
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