When your nose won’t stop running and your head feels congested, it’s easy to blame yet another winter cold. But in many cases, lingering winter symptoms are in fact caused by allergies. Knowing the difference can help you choose the right treatment and know when it’s time to see an ENT specialist.
How Allergy Symptoms Differ from a Cold
Both allergies and viral colds affect your upper airway, but they behave differently. Allergy symptoms often include:
- Sneezing fits
- Clear, watery nasal drainage
- Itchy eyes, nose or throat
- Nasal congestion or postnasal drip
- Symptoms that flare in certain places (home, work, or near pets)
Cold symptoms, however, are more likely to include:
- Stuffy or runny nose (often starting clear, then thicker)
- Sore throat and mild body aches
- Low-grade fever or chills
- General tiredness
- Symptoms that develop over a few days, not suddenly
Allergies are your immune system’s reaction to harmless triggers (like dust mites, pet dander, or mold), while viruses cause colds. The difference in cause explains why they behave differently over time.
How Long Do Your Symptoms Last?
Time is one of the most significant indicators:
- Colds typically last 7–10 days. You may feel worse around day 3–5, then slowly improve.
- Allergies can last weeks or months if you’re continually exposed to your trigger. If your symptoms never really go away or keep coming back in the same environments, it’s more likely an allergy.
If you’ve had what feel like cold symptoms for more than two weeks without improvement, it’s worth asking whether allergies might be playing a role.
Triggers and Pattern of Symptoms
Colds don’t depend on your environment. You can catch a cold anywhere you come into contact with a virus.
Allergy symptoms, however, often follow a pattern:
- Worse when you’re indoors in winter, especially in carpeted rooms or when the heat first kicks on
- Flaring around pets, especially in enclosed spaces
- Triggered by dusty areas, basements or bathrooms where mold may be present
If your symptoms improve when you leave home but worsen in certain settings, allergies are a strong possibility.
Does Mucus Color Matter?
Many people believe that yellow or green mucus indicates an infection, while clear mucus indicates allergies. In reality, mucus color alone isn’t a foolproof indicator:
- Both allergies and colds can cause clear mucus.
- As your immune system responds (even in a viral cold), mucus can become thicker and yellow or green for a few days.
- Persistent, thick, colored mucus, along with facial pain, pressure, and fever, may suggest a sinus infection.
Instead of focusing solely on color, pay attention to the overall pattern of symptoms and how you feel.
Fever and Overall Illness
Fever is common with viral infections and uncommon with allergies.
- Colds may cause a low-grade fever, body aches and more fatigue.
- Allergies usually do not cause fever. You might feel tired from poor sleep and congestion, but you don’t feel “sick all over” in the same way.
If you develop a high fever, severe facial pain or symptoms that rapidly worsen, you may have moved from a simple cold to a sinus infection, in which case, you should see a healthcare provider for evaluation.
When to See an ENT for Persistent Symptoms
You don’t have to live with constant congestion or frequent winter colds. An ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist can help when:
- Symptoms last longer than 10–14 days without improvement
- You have more than 3–4 “sinus infections” per year
- You rely on over-the-counter sprays or pills daily, with only partial relief
- You frequently miss work, school or activities because of sinus pressure or headaches
- You suspect indoor allergies but aren’t sure what’s triggering you
During your visit, your ENT provider can review your history, examine your nasal passages and sinuses, and recommend next steps, which can include:
- Allergy testing to identify specific triggers
- Personalized allergy treatment, including medications, nasal sprays, or allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots or drops)
- Evaluation for chronic sinusitis or structural issues like a deviated septum
If winter tends to bring an endless cycle of congestion and colds, you may be dealing with allergies or chronic sinus problems. The right diagnosis by an ENT specialist is the first step toward breathing easier all year long. If you’d like to schedule an appointment, call us today at Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat.