How Can I Tell If My Son Has Allergies or a Common Cold?

Symptoms of allergies and colds can be similar, but here's how to tell the difference:

Occurrence of symptoms:

Both allergies and colds cause symptoms of sneezing, congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, fatigue, and headaches. However, colds often cause symptoms one at a time: first sneezing, then a runny nose, and then congestion. Allergies cause symptoms that occur all at once.

Duration of symptoms:

Cold symptoms generally last from 7 to 10 days, whereas allergy symptoms continue as long as a person is exposed to the allergy-causing agent. allergy symptoms may subside soon after elimination of allergen exposure.

Mucus discharge:

Colds may cause yellowish nasal discharge, suggesting an infectious cause. Allergies generally cause clear, thin, watery mucus discharge.

Sneezing:

Sneezing is a more common symptom of allergies, especially when sneezing occurs two or three times in a row.

Time of year:

Colds are more common during the winter months, whereas allergies are more common in the spring through the fall, when plants are pollinating.

Presence of a fever:

Colds may be accompanied by a fever, but allergies are not usually associated with a fever.