Allergies can be seasonal or sporadic. But what’s important is that you need to know exactly what symptoms you are feeling before going to an allergy doctor. It’s very easy to mistake allergies for a common cold or the viral flu. Here are the main differences between allergies and other colds.

Causes Of Allergies And Flu

Getting to the root first is very important. This is why it’s very important to know the causes of allergies and flu. Their causes are not the same at all, although they might look the same.

For allergies, the main cause is small microbes or microorganisms, called allergens. They are small everyday bacteria that are found in nature and they go into your bloodstream and cause allergic reactions in the body. Your immune system is not strong enough to fight off these foreign bodies so it unleashes its natural defense mechanism against allergens. These allergens can be dust, pollen, pet hair, insects, mites, and even some foods, like wheat and nuts.

As far as flu and cold are concerned, their causes are also quite different from allergies. Flu and viral colds are not caused by foreign bodies or allergens. These are like small bumps in the road of your health and sometimes, changes in weather, bad food poisoning, or cold winds can cause colds and viral flu. If a viral infection is spreading and a lot of people are getting affected by it, then you might also catch it, one way or another.

The Symptoms Are Very Different

Here are the symptoms of allergies, flu, and the common cold.

Allergies include the symptoms of feeling a high-grade fever, but that’s not all. You will also experience a lot of other things which are not exactly what you feel when you have a cold or common cold. You will have a congested nose, and a sore throat, your skin will be red and your eyes will be swollen, itchy, and red. Your skin will also form these weird and textured patches which can be quite red and itchy. You can also experience an upset stomach and swelling around the cheeks and mouth. You will need proper antihistamines to get rid of the swelling and other symptoms, otherwise, it will not subside.

The symptoms of flu and common viral flu include having a high-grade fever along with some fatigue and lethargy. You will not have any weird things going around your body as you would when you are suffering from an allergy. You will only have a fever and it will go d9wn if you take your medicine on time and you take proper rest. Sometimes, you might not even need medicine to make the fever or lethargy go away. It goes away after a day or two with proper rest

The Span Of Allergies And Flu

For allergies, the span of its effects depends on how regularly you are taking your allergy medication, along with how much you are avoiding the triggers or allergens. Your healing from allergies will ultimately depend on how well you tackle these symptoms and triggers. If you are maintaining proper hygiene and you are wearing a mask to keep the allergens at bay, then you are at no risk of a severe allergic reaction.

As for flu and common colds, the span of a normal fever where you feel extremely tired and lethargic is about 3 days, after which the fever starts to go down and you will feel your body feeling energetic again. The span of flu and colds does not depend on how much you avoid the causes. It goes away naturally after some time. For viral flu, it is a 2-week window and you feel instantly better after the time is up by taking proper care and medication, you will feel more energetic.

Conclusion

There you have it! Allergies, cold, and flu may seem very similar but they are worlds apart if you pay close attention to the symptoms. It’s better to analyze your symptoms carefully and then go for a treatment plan. If you can’t figure out the difference, visit a general physician or allergy specialist Manassas for diagnosis and treatment.