How to Tell Allergies From a Cold

Runny noses, watery eyes and coughing can be symptoms of both a cold and allergies. A cold can be treated with no medication or a decongestant, while allergies may require an antihistamine. Knowing the difference between the two problems will help you get relief more quickly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Check the color of the runny nose. Both allergies and colds can begin with a runny nose. The difference is that a runny nose in connection to an allergy will remain clear. If the runny nose is due to a cold, the discharge will be yellow or green in color.
2. Look at the length of time the symptoms have been present. A cold typically runs its course in 10 to 14 days, unless it progresses into a worse medical condition. Symptoms caused by allergies will typically last through the entire season that the allergy occurs.
3. Take your temperature. Allergies are rarely accompanied by a fever. If a fever is present, regardless of the degree, it is usually an indication of a cold.
4. Find out if anyone else is sick. A cold generally moves from person to person. Another sickness in the family or among friends can indicate that the symptoms are a cold. Allergies are not contagious and do not pass from person to person.
5. Know your family history. Family members tend to share similar medical conditions. If you have a strong family history of allergies, you can expect that you have allergies and not just a cold.
6. Get an allergy test. While most allergies are seasonal, some can continue year-round. If you think that you have allergies but want to be sure, have a doctor test you for allergies. This allows you to know what allergies you have and what causes the allergies.