Last Updated on December 8, 2020
Is it a cold or allergies? This is one tricky question (sometimes even for doctors.) But no worries, we have got it all figured out!
So, you suddenly have a runny nose, watery eyes, a feeling of sickness, and probably a headache too, all while you’re sneezing non-stop, and you cannot help but wonder if your allergy is kicking in again or is it just a cold! I guess all allergy sufferers know exactly how this can be both frustrating and confusing.
It’s truly and painfully easy to mistake signs and symptoms of cold and flu for those of allergies since they can be very much alike, especially when mild. And the confusion gets even worse during both allergy season and cold and flu season.
That’s why we offer you these seven signs that will help you distinguish signs of a cold from allergy symptoms.
7. You have clear mucus
Some of you might find this a bit gross, but it’s an important piece of information that will help you tell the difference between cold and allergies. According to David Rosenstreich, MD, at first, both colds and allergies will cause a liquid, clear mucus. However, you can spot the difference as the symptoms advance; if it’s a cold, you’ll begin to notice that your mucus is becoming thicker and yellowish, but if it’s allergies, your mucus will remain watery and clear.
6. You have a dry cough
Throat symptoms can be even extra tricky when you’re trying to figure out how to tell the difference between allergies and a cold. Fortunately, you can tell them apart because of one major difference: You’ll know you have a cold if you’re coughing up mucus (even if the mucus is clear), but if you’re experiencing a dry cough, then you can blame your allergies. Note that allergies, especially seasonal allergies, might also cause mild throat irritation, but it’s usually not too painful. On the other hand, a cold often comes with a sore throat, which almost never shows up with an allergy.
5. You have itchy and watery eyes
When you’re suffering from a cold, you may notice some discomfort or redness around your eyes. However, if it’s allergies, then you’ll likely get different symptoms such as watering and itching. Moreover, while a cold can make your throat and nose feel itchy too, it usually does not affect the eyes. In many cases, allergies would cause a little swelling around the eyes.
