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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Health
Madeleine Aggeler

Pollen is everywhere. But do I have allergies or a cold?

A boy wearing glasses holding a tissue to his nose
The allergies or cold question is relevant for more of the year as climate crisis has made allergy season longer and more intense. Photograph: Carol Yepes/Getty Images

Ah, spring. A time of thawing and rebirth, of blooms bursting forth from frost. Days become longer, warmer and – oh no, what’s this? A tickle in your throat. Pressure building in your sinuses. A runny nose. A sneeze. Another sneeze. Was there ever a time before sneezing?

But is it allergies or a cold? Beautiful as springtime may be, the emerging greenery can also expel waves of allergens. So how can you tell if your runny nose is the result of unruly pollen or a virus? Are you infectious or is your immune system overreacting to an outside stimulus?

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