Cold or Allergies? How to Tell the Difference This Spring
4/9/2026
Kenneth Yuk, Aspirus Pharmacy Resident
As temperatures rise and pollen levels increase across the region, many people are reaching for tissues and wondering the same thing: Is this a cold, or is it allergies?
The symptoms often overlap, making it easy to confuse the two.
“It’s common to mix up a cold and seasonal allergies because they present similarly,” said Kenneth Yuk, a pharmacy resident with Aspirus Health. “Runny nose and congestion can happen with either one. Watery or itchy eyes are more likely allergies, while body aches and fever usually point toward a cold.”
One of the clearest differences is fever. Seasonal allergies do not cause one.
“When you have a cold, your body is trying to fight off a virus, and that response can cause a fever,” Yuk said. “With allergies, your body is reacting to things like pollen or dust. You are not fighting an infection, so a fever is not part of that response.”
Once someone suspects allergies, choosing the right over-the-counter medication depends on specific symptoms. Tablets taken daily may help with broader symptoms, while nasal sprays or eye drops may be more appropriate for targeted relief.
Yuk encourages patients to use caution, particularly those with chronic conditions.
“Some allergy medications can cause drowsiness, and decongestants like pseudoephedrine can raise blood pressure or affect heart rhythm,” he said. “Before choosing a medication, it is important to consider your overall health.”
If symptoms last longer than two to three weeks, include a persistent fever, or fail to improve with over-the-counter treatments, patients should follow up with their primary care provider. Pharmacists are also available to answer questions about over-the-counter options and medication safety.
To find an Aspirus primary care provider or pharmacy near you, visit aspirus.org.
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