How do you usually tell if it's a cold or allergies?

[Italiangirl]

Hi guys!

I wanted to ask you this question: "How do you tell if it's a cold or just allergies? What are the tell-tale signs that help you know what it is?"

I'll start: at the beginning I find it really hard to distinguish between a cold and allergies because the early symptoms are very similar, but after a few days it gets obvious.

So, I know it's a cold when my sneezes feel heavy and congested, whereas my allergy sneezes are always very loud, strong and wet. Also, I don't get sneezy colds but I do get a lot sneezier with allergies so when I start having endless sneezing fits I know it's hay fever.

Not only that, when I suffer from allergies EVERYTHING tickles (my nose, eyes, throat, palate and ears), instead with a cold I have a scratchy/sore throat for a couple of days and I don't get any itches at all (apart from the occasional tickle in my nose).

And last but not least, the congestion I get with a cold is usually MUCH more intense than the one I get with hay fever. 

Oh and how could I forget? The time of the year helps me too! I only get hay fever in the spring/early summer so if I start sneezing or getting other symptoms in the autumn/winter I know I'm coming down with something.

Unless of course my allergies are triggered by something else (not pollen), e.g. my cat.

Now it's your turn!

 

 

 

Edited March 21, 2022 by Zumil4702

[Niceguy]

My wife asked Alexa for the mold count I'm out area. When Alexa said "0" that's how my wife learned it was COVID. 😷

[kokosneezes]

You're right that it's really difficult to tell, but I think there are a few differences. Like you said, cold sneezes are way more congested. If the person is a frequent sneezer it's probably allergies, if not perhaps a cold. People that have a cold cough, which allergies can cause coughing too but not as much. If the person has itchy eyes or is scratching their face, it's allergies. 

[Trynasneeze]

For me,

Any allergies just seem to be sneezy/leaky nose 

Colds are more of a sore throat and blocked nose experience that doesn't happen really with hayfever

 

[Hankyrick]

17 hours ago, Trynasneeze said:

For me,

Any allergies just seem to be sneezy/leaky nose 

Colds are more of a sore throat and blocked nose experience that doesn't happen really with hayfever

 

I would say that I'm the same as you

[riverevanss]

When I have allergies, I tend to sneezes a lot, and those sneezes are really rapid ones. When I have a cold, I rarely sneeze, it's usually just sore throat, coughing, etc,

[htkid1]

Allergies wake me up Sneezing In The night. Colds wake me up to breathe.

[Nspringthorpe321]

I don't have any allergies. But I know a cold is coming on when one side of my nose gets all bunged up.

[Femsnzspry]

The color of my snot