Runny nose. Congestion. Coughing. Sneezing.
These are some of the most common reasons children visit the pediatrician—and unfortunately, a cold and allergies can look remarkably similar. So how can you tell what your child is dealing with?
The clues are in the pattern
A cold is caused by a virus and usually comes on fairly quickly. Your child may have a runny or stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, sneezing, and sometimes a fever. Symptoms typically improve within 7–10 days, although a cough can hang around longer.
Allergies, on the other hand, tend to be more predictable. Symptoms may last for weeks or even months and often come and go depending on exposure. Look for:
- Frequent sneezing
- Clear, watery nasal drainage
- Itchy nose, eyes, or throat
- Watery or red eyes
- Symptoms that occur repeatedly during certain seasons or around pets, dust, or other triggers
- No fever
One of the biggest clues? Itchiness. A child who constantly rubs their nose or eyes is more likely to have allergies than a typical viral cold.
What about a cough?
Coughs can happen with both colds and allergies, but the pattern can be different.
With a cold, coughing often occurs along with congestion, drainage, or other symptoms of infection. With allergies, coughing may be caused by nasal drainage dripping down the throat and may be worse at night or after exposure to a trigger. Cough may also be a symptom of reactive airway disease or asthma, which can be triggered by both viral infections and allergy exposure.
When it may be something else
Not every persistent runny nose or cough is simply a cold or allergies. Talk with your pediatrician if symptoms:
- Last much longer than expected
- Keep returning without a clear pattern
- Are interfering with sleep, school, or activities
- Are accompanied by wheezing or difficulty breathing
- Include persistent fever
- Cause significant facial pain or swelling
- Seem to be getting progressively worse
Sometimes the answer is a simple cold. Sometimes it’s allergies. And sometimes a child has both!
The bottom line
Don’t worry if your child seems to have a runny nose every few weeks. Children commonly have frequent viral infections, particularly when they are in daycare or school.
But if symptoms are persistent, recurrent, itchy, seasonal, or interfering with your child’s daily life, it may be time to consider allergies—or another cause.
When you’re not sure, that’s exactly what your provider is there to help figure out.
