Is it Nasal Allergies or a Cold?

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Nasal allergies and colds share many of the same symptoms, so it can be difficult to tell them apart.

But colds are caused by viruses, and nasal allergy symptoms are caused by a response to allergens, so how you go about treating them is very different.

Colds can last up to 2 weeks or so, and are contagious—they can be spread from one person to another. Nasal allergy symptoms usually last longer, and cannot be spread.

This chart, from the National Institutes of Health, shows some key differences between nasal allergies and colds. Your health care provider can help you determine whether your symptoms are being caused by nasal allergies or a cold, and recommend the best way to treat them.