While many of us look forward to the warmer temperatures of spring, being outside during these months can lead to sniffling, sneezing, itchy eyes, and other symptoms of seasonal allergies. It can put a damper on your plans, but there are ways to manage your symptoms and find relief. Here, we explore the causes of seasonal allergies and speak to local allergy professionals who offer advice on prevention and management.
Is It a Cold or Allergies?
Although symptoms may be similiar, there are a few key symptoms that will occur with colds that don’t occur with allergies. Here’s how to spot the difference:
 Symptoms |  Cold |  Allergies |
|---|---|---|
 Fever | Sometimes | Never |
 Body aches/pain | Sometimes | Never |
 Headache | Often | Sometimes |
 Cough | Often | Sometimes |
 Fatigue | Often | Sometimes |
 Itchy, watery eyes | Rarely | Often |
 Runny/stuffy nose | Often | Often |
 Sore throat | Often | Sometimes |
 Duration | Less than 2 weeks | Varies |
Allergies vs. Colds
While spring allergies may begin to flare up as the weather gets warmer, you may still be in an area where contagious colds or other illnesses are spreading. Often, allergy symptoms may look similar to cold symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and congestion, which can leave you wondering if you simply have allergies or something more serious. There are a few key symptoms that will occur with a cold or the flu that don’t occur with allergies, including a sore throat, persistent cough, and the presence of a fever. Additionally, your allergies may cause itchy or watery eyes, which likely won’t be present with a more serious illness.
Allergy symptoms present similarly for children and may also include ear infections due to fluid accumulation. Children’s allergies should be addressed quickly to avoid future complications of long-term congestion such as improper teeth and facial bone growth and asthma. Dr. Todd Levin, a board-certified allergist at Chattanooga Allergy Clinic, suggests implementing treatments as quickly as possible, saying, “Children with untreated allergies are at higher risk for asthma, so early treatment is crucial.” While determining whether your child has allergies or is sick can be tricky, Dr. Lindsay Gammenthaler, a pediatrician at Spring Creek Pediatrics, shares that parents should be on the lookout for a fever, significant fatigue, and a change in their child’s eating habits, as these signs likely point to an illness rather than allergies.
Prevention Tips
While there is no cure for seasonal allergies, there are a variety of preventive strategies and treatment options that can improve symptoms. According to Dr. Gammenthaler, minimizing exposure is key. “Decreasing allergy symptoms starts with minimizing exposure,” she says. “Regular vacuuming and dusting each week and cleaning bed sheets – as well as those beloved kids’ stuffies – can be very helpful. It may also be time to change the air filters in the home.” You may want to stay indoors on dry, windy days and in the mornings when pollen counts are highest, keep windows and doors closed, shower before bed, hydrate well to thin mucus, and wear a face mask when doing outside chores. Pollen forecasts are available online to see when high pollen counts are predicted.
Treatment Options
If symptoms persist and even begin to interfere with daily life, you may need additional treatments. “If minimizing exposures does not work, consider nasal saline rinses or even over-the-counter antihistamines like cetirizine or loratadine,” says Dr. Gammenthaler. Dr. Levin agrees, saying, “Over-the-counter antihistamines help reduce mucus production, while nasal steroid sprays like Flonase relieve inflammation and congestion. Saline nasal rinses can clear allergens from nasal passages and decrease sinus infections.” For itchy or watery eyes, eye drops with antihistamines can help provide relief. These options are often the first line of defense against allergies as they are readily available at local drugstores and grocery stores. It’s recommended to begin using allergy medicines before you have symptoms, as their long-term effectiveness builds up slowly.
For some, washing bedding more frequently and using an antihistamine may be enough to help symptoms. However, some people may experience significant and often disruptive allergy symptoms, prompting further treatment. For these individuals, Dr. Atchley recommends allergy testing. “Anyone experiencing allergy symptoms such as frequent sneezing, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, or coughing, especially during specific seasons like spring, may benefit greatly from allergy testing,” he says. “Allergy testing can help pinpoint the exact substances (allergens) triggering your symptoms, making it easier to manage them effectively. We can use the results to recommend changes in your environment to cut down on the allergens you are exposed to, more effectively target what times of year to use medications, and determine if allergy desensitization injections (allergy shots) would be beneficial or not.”
Allergy shots contain a small amount of allergens, alerting the immune system but not causing a full reaction. As the body gets used to the allergen with repeated exposure, it learns not to react, and symptoms improve. The shots are typically administered one to three times a week for four to six months. This period is referred to as the “buildup” phase, in which the allergen doses are gradually increased with each shot. After the buildup phase, patients typically return once a month for three to five years to maintain their progress and continue getting relief. Most patients see noticeable relief in their symptoms between the first and second year of treatment.
While seasonal allergies can wreak havoc on plans and leave you wanting to stay indoors, there are a variety of preventive strategies and treatment options to help you get back outside. If your allergy symptoms don’t improve or begin to worsen, speak to your doctor about the best treatment options for you.
Taylor Atchley, MD
Allergist & Immunologist,
The Allergy and Asthma Group of Galen
Lindsay Gammenthaler, MD
Pediatrician,
Spring Creek Pediatrics
Todd Levin, MD
Allergist & Immunologist,
Chattanooga Allergy Clinic
Meet the Author
Kristen Dee, BS, MA, Summa Cum Laude
Kristen Dee is a graduate of Winthrop University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in integrated marketing communications, with the distinction of Magna Cum Laude and IMC Student of the Year. Following Winthrop, Kristen earned a Master of Arts in Communication from Wake Forest University. Prior to joining CMC Publications as editor, Kristen successfully fulfilled roles involving internal corporate communications. Today, Kristen leads ideation, conceptualization, and development of numerous health, wellness, and lifestyle articles published in print and online for HealthScope, CityScope, and Choose Chattanooga magazines – premier publications serving S.E. Tennessee and North Georgia.
