The Doctor Is In
Your questions about child health answered
by David Tejeda, M.D., chief of pediatrics, Physician Foundation
at California Pacific Medical Center
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.

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