{"id":23669,"date":"2026-03-26T08:00:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T14:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=23669"},"modified":"2026-03-26T12:47:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T18:47:08","slug":"is-it-a-springtime-allergy-or-cold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/is-it-a-springtime-allergy-or-cold\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it a springtime cold, allergies or something else?"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"A
Do you have the sniffles? How to tell the difference between allergies and a spring cold. Photo: Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You feel rotten. You think you have a fever. You’ve got a headache and maybe a cough. It\u2019s that time of year when it’s hard to tell if you have a spring cold, the flu, allergies or something else.<\/p>\n

To help you sort out the differences between allergies and a spring cold, we consulted with Dr. Ian Tullberg<\/a>, an urgent care and family practice physician with UCHealth.<\/p>\n

Do I have a cold?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cColds will give you a runny nose, sometimes a sore throat, a cough and even eye drainage. You can get a fever, but usually not body aches. You probably can go about your day and feel crummy but still function,\u201d Tullberg said.<\/p>\n

Colds lurk all year round, though they are more prevalent in winter.<\/p>\n

Most colds can be treated with over-the-counter medications, \u201cbut if you have symptoms for more than two weeks, you maybe should seek some relief. There are symptomatic remedies we can offer,\u201d Tullberg said. \u201cThere is nothing you can take to make the illness go away any faster; however, some studies show that the use of zinc can help slightly shorten cold symptoms<\/a>.\u201d Patients should know that there is a toxicity associated with zinc, however.<\/p>\n

What about vitamins?<\/p>\n

\u201cVitamin C has been shown not to do a thing. So it\u2019s a waste of money,\u201d he added.

How to tell the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia<\/a>.<\/div>\n

If a cold leads to getting bronchitis<\/a> (aka, a chest cold) or pneumonia<\/a>, it\u2019s because the cold has lowered your immune system and made you susceptible to those ailments. The virus itself does not turn into pneumonia, he explained.<\/p>\n

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus<\/a>, is a common respiratory virus whose symptoms can mimic those of a cold, including coughing, sneezing, runny nose, fever, wheezing and decreased appetite. Most people recover within a week or two, but it can be very serious in infants and older adults because it also can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia.<\/p>\n

Do I have seasonal allergies?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It can be challenging to tell allergies from the common cold<\/a>, Tullberg said.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsually, the inside of the nose is more dusky pink rather than the red of a cold,\u201d he said. Then there\u2019s the watery drainage and itchy eyes, and \u201cmany patients say it does not feel like it\u2019s an illness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perhaps surprisingly, \u201cYou will never get a fever with allergies. Like teething, it\u2019s an old wives\u2019 tale,\u201d he said. If you get a fever, it’s likely that the allergies have made you susceptible to some sort of infection.<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean allergies should be dismissed as a minor affliction.<\/p>\n

They can be accompanied by \u201ca significant sinus infection<\/a>, or your nose is blocked and you feel lots of pressure on your face. You can feel absolutely awful. Most people who have severe allergies know they suffer from them and recognize the signs.\u201d<\/p>\n

With any of these afflictions, a patient should seek help<\/a> when \u201csomething feels different or odd. We\u2019ve all been sick before, but if this one is different, maybe you should get professional help.<\/p>\n

\u201cDifficulty in breathing is the underlying commonality. If we get to the point where it\u2019s compromising your breathing or your fever is 105, then yes, you need to be seen. Less than that, you don\u2019t need to be seen, but you can be seen, and we can help with your symptoms,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

And urgent care<\/a> is probably the best place to go with these illnesses.<\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t get\u00a0in to see your primary care physician quickly, urgent care, either in person or\u00a0virtually<\/a>, can meet<\/span>\u00a0that need.<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean the emergency room.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not go to the ER for any of these things,\u201d Tullberg said. \u201cThese are urgent care issues \u2013 if you need to go to the ER, we will send you there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do I have the flu?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Flu season<\/a> isn\u2019t quite over, so that\u2019s another possibility.<\/p>\n

How do you know it\u2019s the flu? Because it\u2019s mainly a respiratory illness, it\u2019s often accompanied by a cough, chills, fever (100.4 or greater), significant body aches, and possibly nausea and vomiting.<\/p>\n

Tullberg has another test: \u201cI typically ask my patients, \u2018Do you feel like you were just hit by a truck?\u2019 If they say yes, then it leads more in that direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

In most cases, there is no specific treatment, and the illness has to just run its course, he said. For patients ages 5 to 65, that means over-the-counter pain relievers and such. But if a patient is younger or older than that, they are considered high risk and probably should see a physician. Younger than age 2 is considered very high risk. People with specific health conditions also may be considered high risk.<\/p>\n

A lot has been written about a product called Tamiflu<\/a>. It can help, but it comes with lots of caveats, Tullberg said.<\/p>\n

\"A
Dr. Ian Tullberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cYou need to start it within 48 hours (of onset) to be most effective. Many providers don\u2019t like Tamiflu because it only shortens the overall duration of the flu by about half a day. But you may be less contagious if you are around others who are at high risk.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can prevent hospitalization for more serious side effects, such as pneumonia, which is the leading cause of death from the flu. And although Tamiflu has its upside, it also can cause nausea and vomiting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most providers will give you the option, but you should know the risks, he said.<\/p>\n

In most cases, if you get the flu, the best bet is to just ride out the illness.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe worst is usually the first few days of feeling awful, then a few days of not feeling well, then a few more of recovery \u2013 usually about a week-long total.<\/p>\n

But seek help if your fever is in the 105 range or you have difficulty breathing, he said.<\/p>\n

Do I have a sore throat?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When most people get an exceptionally sore throat<\/a>, they say they have \u201cstrep throat,\u201d but it\u2019s more likely they have viral pharyngitis<\/a>, Tullbeg said. And it can happen in the spring as well as winter.

Still need help deciding if it’s a sore throat or strep throat?<\/a> Check out this article. <\/div>\n

\u201cWe see people coming in and saying they\u2019ve had strep throat before, and they think they have it again. But most of the time they are incorrect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strep throat usually affects children ages 3 to 15. Anyone older likely has viral pharyngitis, and particularly if they\u2019re older than 40, he added.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of either can include fever, pus in the back of the throat, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. Strep typically is not associated with a cough, but viral pharyngitis can include a cough.<\/p>\n

As for treatment, strep calls for an antibiotic if the patient tests positive, he said. As for viral pharyngitis, \u201cthe vast majority of patients think they want an antibiotic, but because it\u2019s viral, antibiotics won\u2019t work. There are some other treatments we can offer that help relieve some symptoms, though,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Do these throat issues require medical attention?<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably you should see a physician if you have a fever with a very sore throat,\u201d Tullberg said. \u201cWe can help you feel better, even if it\u2019s not the treatment you think you need.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You feel rotten. You think you have a fever. You’ve got a headache and maybe a cough. It\u2019s that time of year when it’s hard to tell if you have a spring cold, the flu, allergies or something else. 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