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Allergies are a histamine response to allergens, while colds are a response to viruses. Allergies have quick onset and clear discharge, while colds develop over days and have thick discharge. Allergies can last for weeks to months, while colds last 7-14 days. Antihistamines relieve allergy symptoms, while decongestants can be used for both.
Telling the differences between allergies and colds is often a matter of understanding the symptoms of each. From a purely medical point of view, allergies are a histamine response to things a person is allergic to, such as pollen, mold, or dust mites. Colds, on the other hand, are the body’s response to handling a virus, usually a collection of hundreds of rhinoviruses. There may be similarities between the two, but the differences can help a sufferer understand how best to deal with these separate conditions.
One of the first differences between allergies and colds is the onset of symptoms. Allergies generally occur quickly, with all symptoms, such as a runny nose, itchy eyes, and scratchy throat, occurring within hours of exposure. Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. A person may one day have a mildly stuffy nose and mildly sore throat, but it may take several days for these symptoms to develop into a full-blown cold.
Nasal discharge can also mean one of the differences between the two conditions. Allergic nasal response tends to have a clear or white and fairly thin discharge. In the first days of a cold, the discharge is thicker, sometimes so thick that it is difficult to clear the nose by blowing it. Regardless of the cause, continuous nasal discharge that turns brown, dark yellow, or green can indicate a sinus infection.
How long a person continues to have symptoms can also help determine whether it is an allergy or a cold. Generally, a cold lasts seven to 14 days. Allergies, especially seasonal ones, can last from three weeks to several months. Colds can occur any time of year, but pollen allergies are likely to occur most often in the spring and fall.
Both allergies and a cold can cause feelings of fatigue, headaches, sneezing, coughing and asthma. One of the differences is that colds from some viruses can also cause mild fevers. Allergies, although often called hay fever, rarely cause fever unless the sufferer has a sinus infection.
People may also note that they can distinguish the two from medications that relieve symptoms. Decongestants can be used for both allergies and colds, but antihistamines are designed for allergies. Allergy symptoms are likely to resolve quickly and may not recur until the sufferer is exposed to the allergens again. An antihistamine may provide some relief from cold symptoms, but it won’t eliminate them.
While there are similarities in these two conditions, recognizing the differences between allergies and a cold can help prevent allergies. People prone to seasonal allergies often find that antihistamines can help them almost completely eliminate their symptoms. It’s much harder to prevent a cold, although good hand washing practices certainly help.
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