6 Significant Factors That Separate Colds From Allergies

Allergies can easily be mistaken for colds because both have similar symptoms, especially in kids. From runny nose and sneezing to coughing and a sore throat, it’s hard for parents to always correctly distinguish one from the other.

Here are the key differences between both conditions so that parents can make the right diagnosis should their children start displaying symptoms.

1. Low-Grade Fever

Although colds and allergies have several overlapping symptoms, a low-grade fever is rarely among them. Mild fevers, as well as headaches, sore throats, and hoarseness, are more common with colds, meaning parents shouldn’t get alarmed that their children are having an allergic reaction in case they develop a low-grade fever or any of the other symptoms.

2. Allergies Have a Pattern

Depending on the type of allergen, allergies will develop in a particular pattern. For example, allergic reactions caused by pollen, grasses, trees, weeds, and other outdoor allergens tend to occur at the same time each year in a specific geographic location. Indoor allergens like mold, pet dander, and dust, on the other hand, will cause the body to react throughout the year.

3. Allergies Can Linger

Usually, a cold lasts between ten to fourteen days. Seasonal allergies, however, can linger for weeks, if not, months, depending on the prevalence of the allergen. Kids below the age of six can go through six to eight colds per year while older children average about two per year.