Hay Fever or Cold

Common cold or hay fever?

It’s easy to confuse the symptoms of hay fever (a form of allergy) and those of the common cold, as they share many similarities.

	Hay Fever	Cold
Nasal discharge	Very liquid (transparent), may sometimes thicken	Thick (white, yellowish, or greenish)
Nasal congestion	Both nostrils	One or both nostrils
Sneezing	Often (serial)	Occasionally
Itchiness	In the nose or throat	No itchiness
Red, watery, or itchy eyes	Often	No eye symptoms
Cough	Sometimes, especially if the person is asthmatic	Often

What causes hay fever?

The symptoms of the common cold are the result of your body’s attempts to fight off a virus. Colds can be caused by over 200 different viruses. 

With hay fever, the symptoms are the result of an overreaction by the body to miniscule substances (called “allergens”) found in the air we breathe, e.g., ragweed pollen.

Hay fever symptoms may be…

Seasonal: When the allergen that causes allergic rhinitis is only present at a specific time of the year, the symptoms will appear at the same time every year. For example, in the spring for people who are allergic to tree pollen or in the fall for those with a ragweed allergy. 

Perennial: When the allergen is present year-round in the environment, symptoms can occur all year long. Dust mites are one example of an allergen that can cause allergic rhinitis throughout the year.

Skin testing for allergies, to help you identify triggers

If you suffer from hay fever, it is important to minimize your exposure to the allergen that triggers your symptoms. However, to do that, you need to know your enemy. Otherwise your efforts may be in vain. An allergy test will identify which allergens you react to. Then you can better target ways to avoid them and to anticipate the periods when they are likely to be present.

When in doubt, ask your pharmacist

If you’re not sure what’s causing your symptoms, talk to your pharmacist. They can help determine whether you’re suffering from allergic rhinitis or a common cold, and may refer you to a doctor, if necessary. They may also suggest certain medications or other measures to relieve your symptoms.