A. Technically, they're lumped under the chronic condition category. Which is both the good and bad news. Whereas the common cold tends to last about one week, allergy symptoms may persevere for months. When it comes to symptoms, allergies often mimic colds. But Wolfe points out that patients shouldn't be fooled by the nickname hay fever.
Fever is an old English term that means illness.
And, in fact, when there is fever, it usually indicates that it's a viral cold rather than an allergy. Others have the opposite problem, he says. It seems like everyone has allergies nowadays. But there are theories. Scientists have noticed that people who are exposed to few infections during childhood are more prone to allergies.