Around 16 million Brits suffer from hay fever in some way, and as allergy season approaches, many people who get routine colds may be wondering whether their symptoms are actually caused by these seasonal allergies.
Dr Rupa Parmar, GP and Medical Director of Midland Health, is sharing the difference between the common cold and allergies, so you don’t confuse a cold for hay fever this allergy season.
Dr Rupa Parmar said, “Colds are infections caused by viruses spread through contaminated airborne droplets, whereas hay fever is an immune system response to coming into contact with or inhaling airborne allergens like pollen. Despite sharing symptoms, a cold and allergies have different treatments, so mistaking an allergy for the common cold can end up making your illness or allergy feel much worse. Luckily, there are a few key ways to differentiate the two.”
Common symptoms
The common cold and seasonal allergies have some symptoms in common. These are mainly sneezing and a runny or stuffy nose. The main difference, however, is that hay fever symptoms appear quickly when you’re exposed to pollen, while cold symptoms develop much more slowly.
Mucus
Colds are caused by an infection, so your nasal mucus will appear thick and greenish-yellow. Mucus produced from allergens will usually appear clearer and thinner.
Length of symptoms
A cold should last around a week to 10 days in adults, whereas allergies can last several weeks, or even months. If your symptoms seem to persist during the summer, it’s likely you have hay fever rather than a simple cold.
Travel
If you have a cold, your symptoms will stay put no matter where you are, but allergies can be worsened or improved based on changes in your environment due to fluctuating pollen counts in different areas.
Fever
A common symptom of a cold that never occurs with allergies is a fever. A fever is when your immune system raises your body temperature to try to fight off the virus. So, if you have a fever or high temperature, it’s much more likely to be a cold than hay fever.
Itchy eyes
Itchy eyes are a common symptom of seasonal allergies, but not a cold. Itchy eyes are caused by an allergic reaction in the eye after contact with airborne pollen. When the body sees pollen as a threat, it releases chemicals which cause inflammation, redness, and itching.
Managing cold symptoms
Cold symptoms can be managed through rest, hydration, and using medications like ibuprofen for any fever and aches. Sore throats can be soothed with salt water gargles or lozenges, and congestion can be managed with saline spray, a humidifier, or decongestants
Managing hay fever symptoms
Antihistamines can help with sneezing, runny noses and itchy eyes, but they need to be used regularly and can take up to a week to work. For congestion, nasal corticosteroid sprays help reduce stuffiness and a runny nose, but shouldn’t be used for longer than a few days.
Non-medicated treatments for symptoms include applying petroleum jelly around your nostrils to trap pollen, showering every night to avoid keeping pollen in the home, and keeping windows and doors closed when pollen counts are the highest. It’s also recommended to check the pollen count every day and plan when you go outdoors based on when pollen counts are the lowest.
