Colds and allergies often difficult to distinguish

Colds and allergies often have similar symptoms and may be easily misdiagnosed and thus mistreated. A cold will last about a week and are often associated with high temperatures or body aches and pains whereas allergies tend to last longer. Other cold symptoms include a sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, wheezing and watery and itchy eyes. Colds are usually caused by a virus which is quite contagious. Treatment involves rest, fluids and healthy food as well as oral decongestants and nasal salines to relieve symptoms. Allergens such as pollen, dust mites, animal dander, molds, fungi and cockroaches are frequently the trigger for allergies, causing irritation and inflammation of the nasal cavity. Other allergy symptoms include a runny, stuffy nose, sneezing, wheezing, water eyes and itchy eyes. Allergies are not contagious and an immunologist can determine what allergen is causing the response. As for colds, there are no cures for allergies but over-the-counter medications and allergy shots may treat the symptoms.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by About

Related Disease Topics:

• Cold
• Allergy

Related Symptom Topics:

• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Watery eyes
• Itchy eyes
• Body ache
• Body pain
• High temperature

Article Source Details

About: Colds and allergies often difficult to distinguish

Date: 17 December 2004

Source: About

URL: http://allergies.about.com/cs/basics/a/blaaaai100803.htm

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Medication
• Medication and sore throat
• Medication and runny nose
• Medication and sneezing
• Medication and wheezing
• Medication and watery eyes
• Medication and itchy eyes
• Medication and body ache
• Medication and body pain
• Medication and high temperature
• Medication and cold
• Medication and allergy
• Misdiagnosis (type of Medical misadventure)
• Misdiagnosis and sore throat
• Misdiagnosis and runny nose
• Misdiagnosis and sneezing
• Misdiagnosis and wheezing
• Misdiagnosis and watery eyes
• Misdiagnosis and itchy eyes
• Misdiagnosis and body ache
• Misdiagnosis and body pain
• Misdiagnosis and high temperature
• Misdiagnosis and cold
• Misdiagnosis and allergy
• Diagnosis
• Diagnosis and sore throat
• Diagnosis and runny nose
• Diagnosis and sneezing
• Diagnosis and wheezing
• Diagnosis and watery eyes
• Diagnosis and itchy eyes
• Diagnosis and body ache
• Diagnosis and body pain
• Diagnosis and high temperature
• Diagnosis and cold
• Diagnosis and allergy

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