Cold or allergy: Which is it?

Q: I seem to get a cold every spring and fall. I'm wondering if these "colds" are really seasonal allergies. How can I tell?

Peggy / North Dakota

If you tend to get "colds" that develop suddenly and occur at the same time every year, it's possible that you're actually suffering from seasonal allergies. Although colds and seasonal allergies may share some of the same symptoms, they are very different diseases.

Signs and symptoms of a "common cold" — which is caused by a virus — usually include cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing. You may also feel tired and, occasionally, experience body aches and pains. Rarely, you may have a mild fever. A common cold is easily spread from person to person and usually lasts from three to 14 days.

Seasonal allergies — which are an immune system response triggered by exposure to an allergen — have symptoms that are similar, but not identical, to the common cold. The most common signs and symptoms of seasonal allergies are itchy eyes and a runny or stuffy nose. Signs and symptoms may sometimes include fatigue, cough and sore throat, but never fever or general body aches and pains. Seasonal allergies cannot be passed from person to person and usually last for several weeks. The only way to truly know if you have allergies is to be tested for them in your doctor's office.

Treatment of a common cold may include rest, pain relievers and over-the-counter cold remedies, such as decongestants. Treatment of seasonal allergies may include over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays and decongestants, and avoidance of exposure to allergens where possible.

Source: Adapted from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases