'Tis the season

At a glance, the symptoms of a cold and allergy appear similar. You'll have a runny nose, nasal congestion, coughing, sneezing, post-nasal drip, conjunctivitis and a sore throat. But there are distinct differences, particularly when it comes to cause and treatment plan.

So how do you know if you've caught a cold or if it's just your allergies acting up?

Duration of symptoms: Cold symptoms typically last between seven and 10 days, while allergy symptoms can last much longer – several weeks in fact if the allergen remains in the air.

Learn to tell the difference: Symptoms of a cold typically develop over a few days, starting with a phase of sneezing and lots of clear nasal secretions. This is usually followed by a thick nasal secretion phase and blocked nose, which is often accompanied by tiredness, sore throat, fatigue and fever. Nasal allergies tend to follow a similar pattern in different individuals - for example you will start sneezing. Symptoms will change depending on what allergen you've been exposed to - for example being outdoors, time of year, pet exposure and so on.

Ask yourself these questions: Did your symptoms appear suddenly? Cold symptoms usually appear gradually over a few days, while allergy symptoms occur suddenly. How long have you had symptoms? Cold symptoms generally last a week or two, while an allergy will last for as long as you're exposed to allergen. Are your symptoms predictable for the time of year that they appear? If symptoms appear like clockwork at the same time every year, you have an allergy.



Treatment plans

According to Associate Professor Jonathan Peter, head of the Allergology and Clinical Immunology division at UCT's Department of Medicine and the Allergy Clinic at the UCT Lung Institute, untreated allergies can predispose an individual to increased colds.

Your treatment plan for a cold will differ vastly from an allergy. Although there isn't a cure for the common cold, Peter suggests taking nasal decongestants for a few days to unblock the nose and flu tablets, which usually contain a mix of simple pain medicine for a headache and some caffeine to keep you going.

If your symptoms worsen or linger past two weeks, see your doctor.

“When it comes to allergies, there are a number of approaches, you need to try and identify the triggering allergen(s),” he explains. “Avoiding the offending allergen(s) can help reduce will keep your symptoms under control. Intranasal steroids can help prevent further symptoms on allergen exposure. Antihistamines – nasal or tablets – also help.”



What is a seasonal allergy?

Seasonal allergies are caused by the pollens of grass, trees and some weed species, all of which are wind-pollinated. Springtime is the prime allergy season for sufferers, though increasingly people are experiencing allergic symptoms throughout the year.



What are the symptoms of seasonal allergies?

Winter allergies cause similar symptoms to spring and summer allergies i.e. an itchy nose and eyes, sneezing and watery eyes, and are generally triggered by the use of heaters or fireplaces. The mould spores and insect parts that are often trapped in these objects are released into the air and find their way into the nose, setting off a reaction.

The problem with winter allergy symptoms is that they can easily be misdiagnosed as a common cold or flu.

If symptoms persist for longer than 10 days, it is more likely an allergy than a cold or flu. If not treated and medicated correctly, allergies can linger for weeks or even months.



Which medicines work best?

Antihistamines are the most commonly used and effective anti-allergy drugs. Many of the newer products also have mild anti-inflammatory effects.

Patients may respond differently to the different antihistamines. If one antihistamine does not work for you, your doctor may well substitute it with another one from the same or different class. Ask your pharmacist for a non-sedating, over-the-counter anthihistamine such as those that contain the antihistamine cetirizine.

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