Can Allergies Cause a Cold? Yes and No, Says an Allergist

IIf you’ve been dealing with a runny nose, itching, and congestion for a few weeks, you might be wondering if the pollen or ragweed blooming outside is making you sick or if you’re actually sick. It can be hard to tell the difference between a cold and allergies, especially when so many symptoms overlap and the colder months often mean more germs floating around. But… can allergies ever be a bad thing? change into have a cold?

The answer is kind of complicated. Allergies and colds are completely different beasts with different causes, but they can exist in your body at the same time and cause similar symptoms, says Christopher Brooks, MD, an allergist and immunologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. Here’s the full breakdown, including how to treat and manage both conditions so you can start feeling better, fast.

Can allergy symptoms cause a cold?

You may have heard a few myths about allergies, and this is one of them. Allergies don’t turn into colds. But you can definitely get both at the same time. And unmanaged allergies can actually make you more susceptible to getting sick.

Here’s why: When your allergies are acting up, the tissues in your nose, sinuses, and airways become inflamed and slightly weakened, Dr. Brooks says. As a result, “the tissue that lines our nose, sinuses, and airways is less protective, making it easier for invading viruses to enter cells and cause a cold.”

And inflammation and congestion from colds or allergies can also lead to sinusitis, when your sinuses swell and block the flow of mucus, according to the National Library of Medicine. That can cause symptoms such as bad breath, pain or pressure around your eyes, coughing, fatigue, headaches and fever.

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Certain allergy medications can also make you more susceptible to getting sick. For example, oral steroids for very severe allergies can weaken your immune system and increase your risk of infection, according to the Mayo Clinic. Certain injectable medications given for severe allergies (such as omalizumab) can also slightly increase your risk of infection, Dr. Brooks adds.

What about standard over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medications, or the medications your doctor prescribes for mild to moderate allergies? “We have not found that antihistamine allergy tablets, steroid nasal sprays, or antihistamine nasal sprays lead to more colds,” Dr. Brooks says.

In short, allergies can’t “turn into” a cold, but they can make you more likely to get one.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at the differences between cold and allergy symptoms and how to treat both.

Allergy Symptoms vs Cold Symptoms

There is certainly some overlap here, but the list of symptoms for allergies and colds is not precisely same, Dr. Brooks points out. Seasonal allergies can cause the following, according to Yale Medicine:

• Accumulation
• Sneezing
• Itchy eyes, nose and throat
• Runny nose and eyes
• Postnasal drip (drainage in the throat)
• Fatigue
• Coughing

And what about a cold? Symptoms can include the following, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine:

• Stuffy, runny nose (that produces mucus)
• Sore throat, itchy or tickly throat
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Mild fever
• Mild cough
• Headache and muscle pain
• Fatigue
• shivers

3 Ways to Tell the Difference Between Allergies and Colds

Most importantly, see if you have the urge to rub your nose and eyes. “Allergy symptoms often come with itching, and cold symptoms don’t,” Dr. Brooks says. (You can also get red eyes from allergies.) And a fever, while not always present with a cold, certainly doesn’t come with allergies.

Also pay attention to the timeline of your symptoms. Colds usually start two to three days after a virus enters your body and then linger for several days to several weeks, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. On the other hand, symptoms of seasonal allergies can linger for weeks or months, usually in the spring or fall, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (ACAAI). And if you’re allergic to something in your indoor environment that’s not being addressed (like mold or dust mites), you could have symptoms indefinitely, Dr. Brooks says.

Causes of Allergies vs. Colds

Allergies and colds happen for a variety of reasons. Allergies occur when your immune system mistakes an irritant in your environment for a foreign invader. “This triggers certain cells in our nose, sinuses and airways to become inflamed, causing symptoms we associate with allergies,” says Dr. Brooks. According to the Mayo Clinic and the ACAAI, allergies are often triggered by exposure to substances such as pollen, grass, ragweed, pet dander, dust mites or mold.

Colds, on the other hand, are caused by viruses that infect the tissues in your nose, sinuses, and airways, causing inflammation. “The symptoms that people get from colds are part of the body’s defense. For example, when a patient gets a runny nose from a cold, the body is trying to flush out the virus,” Dr. Books explains. According to the Mayo Clinic, you can get a cold from the following:

• Inhaling small droplets in the air that are spread when a sick person coughs or sneezes
• Hand-to-hand contact with a sick person
• Touching surfaces or sharing objects that are contaminated with a virus, such as doorknobs, remote controls, telephones, cups, plates, cutlery or towels
• Touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after contact with a virus

How to Treat Allergies and Colds

While there is no official cure for either condition, there are plenty of things you can do to help manage allergies and colds so you can feel your best.

According to Yale Medicine, here are some common treatments for allergies:

• Reduce your exposure to allergens if possible
• OTC or prescription antihistamines
• Decongestants to help relieve congestion
• OTC cough medicines
• Prescription of antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays
• Immunotherapy for severe cases, which helps your body build up a tolerance to certain allergens. This can be done in the form of injections or tablets dissolved under the tongue, under the supervision of a doctor.

And as for colds? It’s all about giving your body the support it needs to fight off the virus while keeping yourself as comfortable as possible. According to the Mayo Clinic, you can:

• Drink plenty of fluids, including warm drinks such as tea, which can help clear mucus and sore throats.
• Make sure you get enough rest
• Run a humidifier to reduce congestion
• Try saline nose drops to relieve congestion
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever or decongestant (which won’t make you better faster, but can help with fever and pain)

When should you see a doctor?

The severity of your allergy or cold symptoms often determines whether you should see your doctor. While most colds can be treated at home, for example, Dr. Brooks says you should call your doctor if:

• You have a fever
• You have trouble breathing
• Your symptoms have not improved after 10 days
• Your symptoms improved and then got worse again
• You have an underlying condition that makes you more susceptible to complications, such as asthma or COPD, or if you have a weakened immune system

If lifestyle changes or home remedies for allergies don’t help, it’s worth bringing in your doctor, Dr. Brooks says. They can confirm allergy tests to help you figure out exactly what you’re allergic to (and what to avoid) and can recommend prescription treatment options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a sore throat from allergies last?

Strep throat and postnasal drip can lead to a sore throat and cough. This can happen when you are exposed to your allergen, but it usually goes away a few hours after exposure, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Can Allergies Feel Like the Flu?

Yes, sometimes. Like the flu, allergies can trigger headaches and make you feel congested and lethargic. But allergies don’t cause common flu symptoms like fever or body aches, Dr. Brooks says.

Does an allergy mean my immune system is weak?

No! It’s the opposite. “Allergy symptoms stem from an overactive immune system. That’s why allergies are most common in children, adolescents and young adults, because that’s when our immune systems are strongest,” Dr. Brooks explains.

However, if you don’t have your allergies under control, you are more susceptible to colds. This is because the inflammation of your nose and airways caused by your allergies makes it harder for those tissues to fight off germs.