The Doctor Is In

Your questions about child health answered

Q: How do I know the difference between a cold and allergies?

A: This certainly can be tricky as colds and allergies cause similar symptoms. For example, itchy, watery eyes and nose are signs found in both. However, these symptoms are more common with allergies. There are some key signifiers which set the two conditions apart.

Something that differentiates a cold from allergies is a fever. A fever indicates there is an infection such as a cold, while allergies do not cause fever. Colds will generally last about one to two weeks with symptoms typically peaking towards the end of the first week and then gradually improving. Coughs can last longer and may take two to three weeks or more to fully resolve.

Allergies, on the other hand, do not have a specific recovery time. If there is a family history of allergies or a history of eczema or asthma in your child, then your child is more likely to develop allergies. Allergies should also be suspected if symptoms occur at the same time each year or if they last longer than expected. Check with your child’s doctor if his or her symptoms are lasting longer than two to three weeks, especially if they don’t seem to be improving.