Achoo! Is It A Cold Or Allergy?

You find yourself sneezing and blowing your nose. A cold is coming on - or is it an allergy? How can you tell?

It's important to know the difference if you want to treat the symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), doctors who are experts at diagnosing and treating allergies and asthma.

The thing you need to know about colds is they are contagious and are caused by one of more than 200 viruses. On the other hand, you can't catch allergies. They are triggered by allergens, prompting your immune system to overreact. There are many possible allergens, from pollen to pet dander.

And while spring sneezing might be due to a cold, chances are just as good that an allergy is to blame. In the spring there are high levels of tree and grass pollens and mold spores that can cause misery for the 60 million Americans who suffer from allergic rhinitis, often called hay fever.

Telling them apart

So how can you tell whether it's a spring cold or spring allergies? Here are some general guidelines:

• Colds evolve, usually starting with a stuffy nose, throat irritation and low-grade fever. Next comes the sneezing and a runny nose, with thickening mucus that often turns yellow or green. Common allergy symptoms include itchy eyes and nose, as well as sneezing, but the mucus is typically clear.
• Colds usually run their course after a week or two. "Allergy symptoms, on the other hand, hang on or even increase as long as you are exposed to the allergen that is triggering your symptoms," said allergist Dr. Myron Zitt, past president of ACAAI. "For spring allergies that may mean six weeks or more."
• If you're achy and feverish, you most likely have a cold.
• Itchy eyes strongly suggest allergies, although eye discomfort can occur with a cold, too.
• Although a sore throat and cough can occur with allergies, those symptoms more likely suggest you have a cold. Coughing, however, can be a sign of asthma, especially in children. A persistent cough should be evaluated by an allergist as other diseases can have this symptom, too.

 Either a cold or a virus can turn into a sinus infection. With your sinus passages enflamed, they may be vulnerable to dirt and dust that can make whatever you have worse. If you suspect your ailment has evolved into a sinus infection, you need to see a doctor.