How Do You Know if it’s Allergies, the Cold or the Flu?

As kids and parents settle into their back-to-school routines, fall weather brings allergy, cold and flu season. It can be difficult to tell the difference between the three which often result in people seeking antibiotics, fueling the threat of antibiotic resistance.

Louis Guida, MD, pediatric and pulmonology expert at CHS’s Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center and St. Charles Hospital, explains the difference between allergies, a cold and the flu and why it’s important understand antibiotic resistance.

 “Allergies, the cold and flu will share the following symptoms: sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, cough and fatigue. For allergies, that’s usually where symptoms end,” said Dr. Guida. “It’s important to note, a typically unique symptom to allergies is itchy or watery eyes. Anyone with a cold may also experience minor headaches, mild body aches, and possibly a low fever. In addition to these symptoms, most people with the flu will exhibit a high fever (100-102, sometimes higher especially in young children) for a few days, have a headache, general body aches and sometimes the chills.”

According to the CDC, antibiotics are a type of drug that can kill or stop the growth of bacteria. However, cold and flu are caused by viruses, not bacteria, and allergies are your body’s immune system reacting to an outside trigger such as pollen.

Dr. Guida confirms antibiotics are not meant to treat allergies, the cold or flu. “Antibiotic use contributes to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria but sometimes a few bacteria survive, building an immunity to the antibiotic. In this case, the bacteria keeps growing, multiplying and spreading to other people or animals. When it spreads to others, the original antibiotic won’t be able to kill the bacteria.”

Unfortunately, some patients are still being prescribed antibiotics to treat allergy, cold and flu symptoms. According to Dr. Guida, “There’s no one answer as to why this is happening. In some cases, a clinical provider may feel pressure from patients to walk out with a treatment plan that includes a prescription. Or perhaps at the time of the visit the doctor suspects the illness is of bacterial etiology, like bacterial sore throats.”

The next time you or someone in your family is faced with allergy, cold or flu symptoms, Dr. Guida offers the following, “For allergies, avoiding allergens like pollen, house dust, mold and pet dander will help. For colds, make sure to wash your hands often and avoid close contact with people who have a cold. For the flu, be sure to get the flu vaccine each year, wash your hands and avoid close contact with anyone who has the flu.

As for treatment, over-the-counter medications are available to help combat allergy, cold and flu symptoms. If you have allergies look for antihistamines, nasal steroids or decongestants. If you have a cold or the flu it’s important to drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest and look for aspirin, decongestants, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.”

If prolonged symptoms occur, consider making an appointment with your primary care doctor to discuss your options.

For more information and/or to connect with a CHS doctor call 1-855-CHS-4500 or visit www.chsli.org.