7 Differences Between Allergies and a Cold

During cold and flu season, it's a safe bet that congestion, sneezing, and a runny nose are signs you're coming down with something. But when trees blossom or lose their leaves, how can you tell if you have a cold or just allergies?

Sometimes, figuring out the difference can be tricky since colds and allergies can make you cough or lead to a sore throat. However, other symptoms like fever and chest discomfort aren't characteristic of allergies. Here's what you need to know about the differences between allergies and colds.

1. Your Mucus Is Clear

Both allergies and colds start with clear mucus. However, the mucus with allergies will remain clear, while the mucus that comes with a cold will not. Typically, cold-related mucus will turn cloudy or have a yellowish color.

2. Your Cough Is Dry

Both allergies and colds can cause a dry cough. However, there's usually one telltale difference: If you happen to be living through the unpleasant scenario of coughing up mucus after having a dry cough, you probably have a cold.

"Even if the mucus is clear, you're more likely in the cold arena," Purvi Parikh, MD, an allergist and immunologist with Allergy & Asthma Network and Allergy & Asthma Associates of Murray Hill in New York City, told Health. "Usually allergies [exclusively] have a dry cough."

3. Your Eyes Are Itchy and Watery

While you might notice some redness or discomfort around your eyes when you're sick with a cold, allergies are known for itchy, watery eyes. Allergies may also cause some swelling around the eyes, added Dr. Parikh.

4. Your Symptoms Linger

Colds may last for around seven days. Allergy symptoms—especially with continuous exposure to allergens—can last for much longer. Compared to the timing of a cold, you may have allergies for a few weeks.

On the other hand, if you're able to move away from the allergen triggering your symptoms, you might feel nearly instantly better. That won't happen if you have a cold.

5. You Notice a Seasonal Pattern

If you're the type of person who knows they get the same cold every March, it might be time to reconsider what the actual culprit is. "If you notice it's seasonal like clockwork, and every spring or fall you get these symptoms, it might be allergy-related," said Dr. Parikh. Colds also happen more often during the winter.

You might also experience symptoms a little bit before allergy season. "In the Northeast, for example, most people are not aware of the fact that the trees begin to pollinate even when there's still snow on the ground. Depending on the weather, people can have allergy symptoms in February," David Rosenstreich, MD, director of the division of allergy and immunology in the Department of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in New York, told Health.

6. You Don't Spike a Fever

Colds may cause a fever, but fever isn't a symptom of allergies. See a healthcare provider if you find that you have symptoms of allergies but are experiencing fever.

7. You Can Get Out of Bed

Aches and pains can be associated with colds. While allergies can certainly make you feel tired and run down, colds (or the flu) are more likely to cause the aches and pains that send you straight to bed, said Dr. Parikh.

Treatment

Since the symptoms of colds and allergies are similar, some of their treatments will be. That means you might be using options like over-the-counter oral decongestants or nasal sprays.

If you've got a cold—or another virus—that's causing body aches or a fever, you might also want to try something to ease the pain and lower your temperature, like acetaminophen or aspirin, added Dr. Metcalfe. If you have asthma, you may also need to use your inhaler to treat coughing or wheezing, which could be triggered by both colds and allergies.

While getting plenty of rest can help you get over a cold, it won't do much for allergies. However, be sure to drink plenty of fluids, no matter your issue. "Dehydration makes allergies and colds worse," Dr. Parikh said. "Fluids help relieve congestion."

Prevention

One of the best ways to prevent colds is to wash your hands correctly, which includes taking 20 seconds to rub soap into wet hands or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Staying at home during a cold and not coughing or sneezing into the air are other preventive methods.

Preventing allergies is not as easy as preventing colds. However, avoiding your allergy triggers when possible can help keep you from experiencing symptoms.

A Quick Review

There are a few differences between allergy and cold symptoms. For example, your mucus may be clear all the time if you have allergies, but it can turn cloudy or yellow over time with a cold. Since many cold and allergy symptoms are the same, though, their treatments may be the same. If you think you have more than just a cold or more than just allergies, always make it a point to see a healthcare provider for medical care and advice.