Colds vs. Allergies

Colds and allergies can be very similar. So how can you tell the difference? Right now I keep sneezing and my mom thinks that it's allergies but what if I'm actually getting sick.  To start, colds occur from viruses while allergies are your immune system's reactions to being exposed to an allergen.

Colds and allergies generally have similar symptoms, but there are some important differences.  For example, if you have aches/pains or a fever then you definitely do not have allergies.  Although it is rare to have aches/pains or a fever during a cold.  If so, then it must be a very bad cold.  To better show which symptoms  are present, here's a table:

Symptom	Cold	Allergy
Cough	Usually	Sometimes
General aches and pains	Sometimes	Never
Fatigue	Sometimes	Sometimes
Itchy eyes	Rarely	Usually
Sneezing	Usually	Usually
Sore throat	Usually	Sometimes
Runny nose	Usually	Usually
Stuffy nose	Usually	Usually
Fever	Rarely	Never

Also, although colds and allergies can be seasonal, colds usually occur during fall and winter while allergies are occur during the spring and summer.

There is no cure for colds, so the only solution is to wait till it passes.  Colds usually last about 3-14 days, but you don't have to suffer through it.  Even if there is no cure, you can still take medicine that suppress the symptoms.  To get over the cold more quickly, it is important to get a lot of rest and drink a lot of water.  A warm humid environment can also help you fight off the cold more quickly and make you more comfortable. To prevent colds, one should wash their hands often and avoid people who are sick.

Like with colds, there is no cure for allergies either, except to take medicine to suppress the symptoms.  To prevent allergies, one should avoid allergens.

Colds and allergies can seem to be closely related due to similar symptoms, and although they are actually quite different, suffering through them is still an uncomfortable experience.