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.

4. Cold Symptoms Don’t Vary Too Much

Colds are caused by viruses, which replicate until the body’s immune system or medication fights them off. This means symptoms caused by colds are less likely to considerably vary from one day to another or to change their severity throughout the day.

5. Colds Are More Common During Winter

It’s rare for children, and even adults, to suffer from seasonal allergies during the winter. Reactions to outdoor allergens are more common during spring, summer, and fall. Alternatively, colds are very common during colder months. The only way for kids or their parents to have allergies during the winter is to be exposed to indoor allergens.

6. Allergic Reactions Can Worsen

Since allergic reactions are caused by outdoor or indoor allergens, symptoms can worsen when kids are exposed to certain substances. For instance, children who have a dust mite allergy will start to cough, sneeze, and display nasal congestion when they’re in a dusty environment.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, there’s a high chance that you’re pretty familiar with Brie Larson. After all, she’s one of the most famous actresses in the world right now, and it seems as though everyone wants a piece of her. However, it seems as though this success hasn’t come easy to Brie, and she’s now spoken out about the fact that she has refused to compromise in her career – and that she will continue to do so for the rest of her life.

While there’s no doubt about the fact that Brie Larson is considered to be a new actress on the block – especially thanks to her recent role as Captain Marvel – she has actually been in the game for decades. She first made her way into the acting world when she was just 7 years old, and at that age, she didn’t know any better. She was excited to score acting roles, and she took whatever came her way. Yet, now she is older, she realizes that the world isn’t as fair as she first thought.

Larson’s role as Captain Marvel offered a huge shift, not only within the Marvel Cinematic Universe but also within the world of Hollywood as a whole. Women are rarely portrayed as a strong superhero type, and many believe that Brie has since paved the way for countless other strong females. Unfortunately, she had to fight extremely hard to get there, and she recently spoke to Nissan about living in a male-dominated industry. That’s because she often felt as though her career progression was being weighed down by men in power, and she ultimately decided that she needed to fight back. By pushing her talent and showcasing her skills, she has since succeeded in her field without having to compromise her worth.

So, to be like Brie, you need to realize that you matter.