How to Stay Healthy During Allergy Season

How do I know if I have allergies, a cold, or a sinus infection?

It can be tough to tell sometimes. Unlike allergies, a cold or respiratory infection often brings on a fever, so that’s a key indicator. If your nasal congestion clears up within one to two weeks, chances are you had a cold rather than allergies. Seasonal allergy symptoms tend to last three weeks or more, depending on the types of pollen you’re allergic to. Lastly, differentiating between allergies, cold, and sinus infection is one of those times when you actually can consider mucus color. A thin, clear discharge generally points to allergies, while an opaque, yellow/green, or thick discharge usually indicates a cold. There’s a common misconception that yellow or green mucus signals a bacterial infection, but that’s not a reliable indicator. Other allergy symptoms include throat irritation, occasional wheezing, skin rash, fatigue, and frequent sneezing.