Colds and allergies share some of the same symptoms, so how can you tell which one you or your child is dealing with?
Both colds and allergies can cause runny noses, sneezing and congestion. Coughs and sore throats are usually associated with a cold, but post-nasal drip can also cause these symptoms in people who have hay fever.
The biggest difference between the common cold and seasonal allergies is how long your symptoms last, and how frequently you have them. If it’s a cold, the symptoms will usually last from three days up to two weeks. Allergy symptoms, on the other hand, last for as long as the pollen or other allergen is around. In most cases, this means several weeks.
If your symptoms tend to happen around the same time of year, usually spring through fall, you could be suffering from seasonal allergies. Colds typically happen during the winter months, and symptoms don’t show up until several days after you’ve been exposed to the germs. If you have allergies, your stuffy nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes will start up as soon as you’ve been exposed to pollen.
Colds often cause muscle or body aches, and even a fever, but allergies usually do not. Itchy eyes are a common symptom of seasonal allergies, but are rarely experienced with colds. Nasal discharge is usually clear in allergy sufferers, but people with colds or sinus infections usually have yellow or green mucus or discharge.
It can be especially difficult to tell if a child has a cold or allergies, so watch for frequent nose wiping. Kids tend to use their palms to wipe up on the end of their nose to relieve the itch, so you may even notice a little crease across the bridge of your child’s nose.
If your allergies are getting the best of you, or you think your cold may have turned into a sinus infection, visit a Twin Rivers Urgent Care clinic for fast relief.
Twin Rivers Urgent Care offers convenient, quality healthcare when you need it most. We’re open for walk-in service seven days a week with extended hours, to get you in and out quickly. Our medical team is ready to focus on you – whether it’s a cold or flu, a strain or sprain, or something more complicated.
For a serious condition, stroke or stroke-like symptoms, chest pain or heart attack symptoms, severe bleeding, head trauma with loss of consciousness or other major trauma-go directly to the nearest Emergency Room.
At Twin Rivers, we are focused on taking care of our community. We offer both walk-in and booked visits. Please note that booked appointments function as a pre-registration to save you time. There may be instances in which a short wait time will be required for those that booked. We are dedicated to get you in as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding.