A common cold has similar symptoms to seasonal allergies. However, a reaction to a cold is caused by a virus while a reaction to an allergen is the result of the immune system responding to a substance it has deemed a threat. Learn more about head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat symptoms.
Five ways to tell your seasonal allergies from a cold:12
Colds can produce a fever; allergies cannot.
Colds typically don’t cause itchy, watery eyes. Allergies typically do.
Cold symptoms aren’t likely to last more than two weeks, but many people with seasonal allergies will experience symptoms for six weeks at a time.
Sore throats can accompany colds but rarely occur with allergies.
Colds can occur during any season, while seasonal allergy symptoms will likely appear at the same time each year.