Written by Neela K. Sethi, M.D.

As the cold season begins to slow down, spring is here! Along with beautiful, warm weather in many areas, also comes fresh pollen that can cause symptoms that feel like a cold, but are actually allergic in nature. Allergic symptoms are treated differently than cold symptoms, so how can you tell the difference??

1) Itchy Eyes- This is a symptom that is much more likely associated with allergies versus a cold. There are plenty of over the counter allergy drops that can help these symptoms.
2) Dry, irritating cough- A dry cough can be associated with allergies, especially when the cough seems to last forever. Though cough medicines work for this symptom, only anti-allergy medicines (i.e Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec) treat the underlying cause.
3) Scratchy, not sore throat- May people with allergies report an itchy throat versus a sore throat. Remember, you need anti-allergy meds to treat this symptom. (i.e Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec)
4) Red, watery eyes that burn- Again, these eye finding tend to mean more allergy versus cold.
5) Chronic, clear runny nose- A never-ending clear, runny nose can be allergic in nature. When you have a cold, you tend to have a sore throat for a few days, followed by a runny nose for a few days. The longer the runny nose lasts, the more suspicious it is for allergies.
6) Feeling “out of it” and tired- Paired with some of the above symptoms, allergic patients report feeling “dazed” and tired for long periods of times. However, if you feel a lack of energy, you may need to speak to your doctor, as this could also be a sign of other diagnoses.
7) Red, itchy, dry skin rash- Many allergic patients have some of the above symptoms, and also get a red, itchy rash on their body. This may be a rash called eczema, (see article Eczema for more details on diagnosis and treatment) and can be associated with allergies.
Asthma- Patients with asthma, either in the past or present, can have an increased chance of having allergies. Talk to your doctor if you feel that you have some of the above symptoms and a history of asthma.

Allergies are treated differently than cold symptoms. While with the common cold we use decongestants and cough suppressants, allergy symptoms are treated with anti-histamines such as Benadryl, Claritin, and Zyrtec. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms to get the correct treatment for you and your child.