Managing Allergies

Is It a Cold or Seasonal Allergies?

If you tend to get a cold at the same time in the spring or fall every year, it’s possible you actually have a seasonal allergy. Viruses cause colds. Allergies are triggered by exposure to an allergen.

Use this chart to help tell the difference.

 

Symptoms	Cold	Airborne Allergy
Cough	Common	Sometimes
Fatigue, Weakness	Sometimes	Sometimes
Itchy Eyes	Rare or never	Common
Sneezing	Common	Common
Sore Throat	Common	Sometimes
Runny or Stuffy Nose	Common	Common
Fever	Sometimes	Never
Duration	3 to 14 days	Weeks (for example, 6 weeks for ragweed season)
Treatment	Antihistamines Decongestants Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines	Antihistamines Nasal steroids Decongestants
Prevention	Wash your hands often with soap and water Avoid close contact with anyone with a cold	Avoid those things you are allergic to such as pollen, house dust mites, mold, pet dander

Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

 

For more information on seasonal allergies below:

Managing Seasonal Allergies and Preventative Measures