LEXINGTON, Ky. — Spring weather brings blooming flowers and time outdoors, but it also brings sneezing, congestion and runny noses that can confuse even the most attentive of patients. According to a health column published by Kentucky Health News, distinguishing between seasonal allergies and the common cold requires attention to specific symptoms.

Dylan Spencer, pharmacist manager at the UK HealthCare Pharmacist Care Clinic, outlined several key differences between the two conditions. One primary distinguishing factor is itchiness. Itchy eyes, nose, ears or throat are much more common with allergies than with a cold. Allergy symptoms tend to linger for days or weeks, especially during peak pollen season, and may improve indoors or on rainy days when pollen counts are lower before flaring up again after outdoor activity.

A cold, by contrast, is caused by a virus. Symptoms often develop more gradually over a day or two and may include congestion, runny nose, sore throat, cough, body aches, mild fever and general fatigue. Most colds improve within seven to 10 days.

Mucus color can serve as a helpful indicator of the underlying cause. Yellow or green mucus suggests the body is fighting an infection—viral or bacterial—and can help identify illness rather than allergies. The presence of fever also points more toward illness than allergies.

Kentucky Health News noted that understanding these differences can help patients choose the right treatment and feel better faster. Residents in Kentucky may be particularly interested in this distinction, as Kentucky ranks among the worst states for seasonal allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.