Symptom detective: Is it allergies or the common cold?

Get Healthy. Need an easy way to tell whether allergies or a cold has you down? Here’s how to evaluate your symptoms.

Apr 10, 2024 Updated Dec 16, 2025• 2 min read

Partner content by Meg Moore

Symptom detective: Is it allergies or the common cold STOCK PHOTO

As temperatures rise, flowers bloom and viruses continue to circulate, it can be challenging to tell whether it’s the last gasps of cold season or if allergy season springs anew. Both have similar symptoms: sneezing, coughing and a runny nose, and they can signal a cold, allergies or both.

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Symptom detective: Is it allergies or the common cold STOCK PHOTO 2

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