Is It a Cold or Allergies?

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This post is sponsored by The Iowa Clinic.

cold allergies symptomsIf it seems like your kid has a constant case of the sniffles, the truth isn’t far off. From the time they’re babies until after you send them off to school, children can get eight to 12 colds — a year. Each case can last up to two weeks, which means you’re wiping noses throughout most of the calendar.

Throw allergies into the mix and it can feel like your kiddo is a walking, talking illness. But there’s hope. Your tissue budget will eventually go down. Teens only get a handful of colds and can outgrow many allergies that plagued them throughout childhood.

Until then, keep a box of tissues handy and learn the subtle yet distinct differences between colds and different types of allergies so you’re always ready with the right remedy.

cold allergies symptomsCold Symptoms

It’s called the common cold but there are actually more than 200 different cold viruses. That’s why children, and even adults, never build up an immunity. The congestion, sneezing, coughing, and runny nose typically develop one at a time over the span of a few days. If your child runs a fever or complains of aches and pains along with these symptoms, the cold virus is probably involved.

“The classic things — runny nose, congestion, and sore throat — play a fairly predominant role. That’s primarily from the drainage, from the nose draining down the back of the throat. Low-grade fevers between 99° and 101°F are not uncommon with most colds,” says Ryan Tomlinson, MD, a pediatrician at The Iowa Clinic in Ankeny.

These symptoms typically run their course in seven to 10 days. Babies and toddlers are more likely to catch a cold outside of cold and flu season. Cold viruses are rampant from September through April, leaving only a small window in the summer when there’s relief.

Allergy Symptoms

When things warm up, allergy season begins. Allergic rhinitis is common in kids and, depending on the allergen, can cause problems in the spring, fall or summer. The same congestion, sneezing, coughing, and nasal drip crop up, which is why allergies are so often confused with colds.

But with allergies, these symptoms start shortly after exposure to an allergen and can last for weeks. If your child has itchy, watery eyes and clear mucus, those are additional signs that you’re probably dealing with seasonal allergies. The condition is much more prevalent in the teenage years — teens are three times as likely to have it. Babies can’t get seasonal allergies at all but little ones as young as two years old can.

Skin and food allergies are also common in children and can hit them at any time of year. Luckily, the symptoms are very different from cold or seasonal allergies.

  • Eczema, hives, rashes, and swelling are clear signs of a skin allergy and can occur after your child touches, eats or breathes in an allergen.
  • Food allergies are less common but more dangerous. In addition to skin symptoms, your child may have swelling, breathing troubles, dizziness, lightheadedness, and digestive issues.

Allergies run in the family. If you or your spouse has an allergy, your child has a 25 percent chance of having one. If both of you have allergies, the risk more than doubles. You don’t pass on the same allergy though — just the likelihood of developing one. And if your child has one allergy, they’re more likely to develop another.

cold allergies symptomsCold and allergy symptoms are similar but treatments differ.

A lot of cold and allergy symptoms overlap. Despite the similarities, you should treat the symptoms differently because they develop for different reasons. Once you identify which illness you’re dealing with, attack the symptoms with the right remedies.

How to Treat a Cold

A cold can be over and done with as soon as you realize it’s affecting your child. If it lasts more than a few days, you can treat their cold with:

  • Acetaminophen – The Infant’s, Children’s and Jr. versions of Tylenol are better at relieving cold symptoms than ibuprofen or naproxen. Refer to this chart to get the correct dosage for your kid.
  • Humidifier – Keep the air in your child’s bedroom moist at night. This helps keep their nose and airways moist and more productive at clearing out mucus.
  • Honey – While there are many over-the-counter cold and cough medicines, honey is a natural cough suppressant. A teaspoon is enough to do the trick.
  • Nasal suctioning – Keeping the airways clear helps your child breathe, which is especially important with babies. Do it for your little ones before bed and feedings.

“Beyond that, there are not a lot of other things that help with a cough or mucus unless there’s an underlying condition like asthma. There really isn’t cough or cold medication. Generally speaking, we don’t recommend cough or cold medications to children under the age of six,” says Dr. Tomlinson

How to Relieve Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergy symptoms stick around as long as your child is exposed to the allergen. That can be an entire season in some cases. When avoidance isn’t an option, consider:

  • Antihistamines – The non-drowsy versions have fewer side effects and work quickly to get rid of symptoms. Like cold medicine, antihistamines are only an option for children older than six.
  • Nasal spray – Saline nasal sprays can help dry and clear out the nasal passages.

For both colds and seasonal allergies, rest, relaxation, and hydration always help. The symptoms can disrupt your child’s sleep, so anything you can do to ease them will help their body recover.

When the at-home remedies aren’t enough or your child hasn’t shaken off the symptoms after a couple of weeks, consult your pediatrician.

“Most of the medications will say not recommended under age 12 unless recommended by a doctor,” says Dr. Tomlinson. “The best thing I could say is if you’re gonna use something on younger kids, you can call in and just tell us the product. We can try and look up the ingredients and we can make sure it’s safe.”

Colds can quickly turn into other illnesses and severe allergies may need long-term solutions. And many of the products you may want to grab off the pharmacy shelf advise you to contact your doctor. Your pediatrician can help you choose the right remedy, give a safe dose, or find a solution to whichever issue is causing your kiddo’s sniffles.

About Dr. Ryan Tomlinson

med-ped physicianRyan Tomlinson, MD, is a pediatrician at The Iowa Clinic in Ankeny

Dr. Tomlinson received his medical degree from the University of Iowa and completed his Combined Medicine-Pediatrics Residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He also completed a year as the Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Chief Resident at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Tomlinson enjoys spending time with his family, cooking/trying new foods, camping, outdoor activities, gardening and traveling to new places around the world.

 

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For more healthy living articles by The Iowa Clinic, check out:

Is This Urgent, Or Can It Wait?

Snoring and Sleep Apnea

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