The Difference Between Allergies, Colds & Flu

As winter approaches most people tend to suffer from colds, flu or allergies, and with the recent shortage of flu vaccines in the country, it is important to know the differences between a flu, allergies, and a cold.

If left unattended both allergies and flu can make your life miserable. Allergies can develop into sinus problems or ear infections and untreated flu’s can lead to bronchitis and/or pneumonia. The difference between allergies, cols and flu’s is simple.

In an allergy, symptoms usually come all of a sudden and include a runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, and watery or itchy eyes. Allergies also cause itching in the ears and throat. Nasal mucus here is clear, watery and thin. Most allergies are seasonal in nature and can last for up to weeks at a time.

Allergies can also be caused by food, medication and pollution. The best way to prevent an allergy is to avoid any allergens that can trigger an allergic reaction.

Before you can get a cold you tend to feel cold symptoms coming on. These symptoms are nearly the same as the symptoms you get when you have an allergy, but here there is no itching of the ears, nose or throat. Colds mostly occur in fall and winter and normally get better after 10-12 days.

When you get a cold, it is often accompanied by a sore throat, cough and a mild fever. Here the nasal mucus is thin and clear, but as the cold gets progressively worse, it changes to a think yellowish green color. The easiest way to avoid a cold is to avoid any contact with anyone suffering from a cold, as colds tend to be contagious.

A flu normally starts off as a cold with symptoms of sneezing, a stuffy nose, a sore throat and a cough. However, these symptoms get progressively worse and can also lead to exhaustion, body aches and pains and headaches. High fever is a common sign of the flu. These symptoms last more than 10 days and usually require medication to clear up.

If at anytime you are unsure about whether you have a cold, allergy or flu, it is good to consult your doctor or health care professional to get the situation under control.

Most treatments vary on the severity of the cold, allergy or flu. The best way to protect yourself from a cold, allergy of flu is to avoid situations with known allergens, and avoid contact with people with colds. Anti-viral shots can be given by a doctor to help relieve or prevent flu symptoms.