Is it Allergies or the Common Cold?

How to Tell the Difference

ByABC News via logo
April 21, 2011, 5:43 PM

April 27, 2011— -- You sneeze, your eyes water, you feel itchy and congested. So is it a springtime allergy – or a common cold?How can you tell the difference?

In general, allergies tend to start more with watery and irritated eyes, a little bit of an itching sensation or a clogging in the ear, some nasal congestion, or maybe even a sore or scratchy throat.

Colds tend to come on a little bit more severely. There will be more of a sore throat, more of a fatigue, more of a thicker and irritating mucus and more of an earache.