Is It a Cold or Allergies? How to Tell the Difference! Family Health

It's the season for all sorts of sniffles. But how do you know if it's a common cold (caused by a virus) or allergies (your body's immune response triggered by exposure to an allergen)? With a cold, you usually see: 

• cough 
• sneezing
• sore throat
• runny nose 
• stuffy nose

You sometimes have general aches, but rarely have itchy eyes. With allergies, you may find: 

• itchy eyes
• sneezing
• runny nose 
• stuffy nose

You will rarely have aches, and won't have a fever. Talk to your doctor if you think you or your family have seasonal allergies because there are many treatment options.

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