Seasonal Allergies and Colds: How to tell the Difference

Your child came home from school with a runny nose and a cough. Do you immediately head for the cold medicine? Could the symptoms indicate something else?

When your child comes down with the sniffles, you may think it’s just a cold, but your child could be suffering from seasonal allergies. Common colds are caused by a virus, whereas seasonal allergies are reactions to environmental substances, such as pollen, smoke, dust or pet dander. Colds and seasonal allergies present very similar symptoms, including watery eyes, runny nose and fatigue.

Which Is Which?

Allergies are caused by an immune system response and often occur in patterns. Symptoms may include a runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes, sneezing or wheezing. If you notice your child struggling with these symptoms at the same time every year — especially as the seasons change — that’s a good indication that his or her symptoms may be caused by seasonal allergies. While allergies rarely affect children under age one, they normally peak after age five with increased symptoms.

Common colds are often contracted from other people. If your child has come in contact with another sick child at daycare or school, chances are he caught a cold from a classmate. Symptoms often are the same as those of allergies but also may include fever, aches and pains. While allergy symptoms begin immediately, cold symptoms may take a few days to fully develop.

“For parents, observing their child’s health can be extremely important,” said Amy Shriver, MD, Clinical Instructor of Pediatrics at The Children’s Hospital and Instructor of Pediatrics at University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. “Over time, parents can become more familiar with patterns of symptoms, which can make a diagnosis much easier to confirm.” For more information on childhood colds and allergies, please visit www.thechildrenshospital.org and search for “colds and allergies.”

Fast Facts

• On average, healthy kids contract six colds a year.
• An estimated 2 million school days per year are missed by children due to allergies.
• Common summer allergy triggers in Colorado include pollen from grasses, trees and weeds, dust mites, mold spores and pet dander.

Sources: www.webmd.com and www.coloradoallergy.com