The Difference Between Allergies and the Common Cold

Florida Pediatric Group can help determine if your child's symptoms are from a common cold or an allergic response. If your child is struggling with allergies in West Melbourne, FL, keep reading about the difference between a cold and allergies, and bring your child in to be tested or treated for allergies.

Childhood Allergies

If your child has allergies, watching them struggle with symptoms can be tough. Symptoms from exposure to allergens include:

• Itchy, watering eyes (not present in colds)
• Sneezing
• Coughing or wheezing
• Thin, clear mucus
• Symptoms lasting longer than 10 days

Please track when and where their symptoms increase to help identify their allergies. We perform allergy testing so you can learn your child's sensitivities and help them avoid allergic reactions. Allergic reactions can be caused by:

• Seasonal allergies like grass and pollen
• Environmental allergies like pet dander, dust, and mold
• Food allergies some common culprits are nuts, shellfish, and dairy

Some allergic reactions, like anaphylaxis, can be life-threatening. If your child experiences difficulty breathing, you need to seek emergency medical attention.

Common Colds

While allergic symptoms are not contagious, common colds are caused by a virus and can spread easily among children. Symptoms of a common cold that can mimic allergies are:

• Runny nose
• Thicker mucus
• Sore throat
• Coughing
• Fever
• Body ache

When your child is diagnosed with a cold, we can recommend over-the-counter medications to ease their symptoms until the cold clears in about a week. If we determine they have allergies, we form a treatment plan including medications, emergency inhalers, or an EpiPen. A home cleaning schedule for dust and linens can also help reduce allergens in the air.

Schedule Now

If your child has allergies, the compassionate team of providers at Florida Pediatric Group is here to help. Contact us for an appointment in West Melbourne, FL, at 321-752-5210.