How to Tell Allergies From a Cold

While the common cold is much more debilitating than allergies and costs millions of hours of productivity every year, the two afflictions share some of the same symptoms and can be mistaken for one another. Both are based on disturbances of the immune system, however a cold is a health hazard and is also infectious. Regardless, both have the ability to make you quite miserable.

• Colds can last as long as 14 days, while allergies can last as long as the allergy-causing agents are still in the air, which could be months.


• Allergies can happen any time of the year, although some are associated with high pollen counts. Many allergies happen during the spring and fall.


• The common cold's primary symptom is the onset of a fever. This doesn't accompany an allergy attack.


• Colds are often heralded by the onset of a sore throat, which can persist and get worse as the illness manifests. Sore throats are less common among allergy attacks and don't tend to get worse as time goes on.


• Body aches are another hallmark of a cold. They do not accompany allergies.


• Itchy and irritated eyes come with allergies, but rarely with colds. Itchy, irritated eyes may also be one of the first symptoms of allergies.


• Coughing and runny noses are common to both colds and allergy attacks, but are more intense with colds.


• Allergy symptoms will abate when allergens are removed from the environment, such as in a ventilated and air conditioned workplace. Sympotoms from colds, on the other hand, persist until the immune system overcomes the infection.