Do you have hayfever or a cold?

Hayfever and a cold can feel the same and have similar symptoms, but they are in fact very different. Find out what sets them apart.

How are hayfever and cold similar?

When you feel unwell and overwhelmed by unpleasant symptoms, it can be hard to distinguish between hayfever (seasonal allergic rhinitis) and a common cold. This is because they share some common symptoms.

Both hayfever and cold affect your nose, throat and lungs and can lead to symptoms such as:1

Runny or stuffy nose

Coughing

Sneezing

Congestion

Headache

Tiredness

What sets hayfever and cold apart?

While hayfever and a common cold share a lot in common in terms of their main symptoms, they are different in nature. It’s important to know what you are dealing with so you can find the right treatment for your condition.

Hayfever vs. cold symptoms

There are a few key symptoms that can help you set the two apart. Allergies, including hayfever, can cause itchy and watery eyes, swelling around the eyes and clear discharge from your nose. On the other hand, the symptoms of a common cold develop slowly over time and can be often linked with cough, sore throat and fever (quite rare).1,2

Hayfever and a common cold are different in their symptoms, causes, duration and treatment1,2

Hayfever

Common cold

Symptoms

Makes eyes itchy, watery and irritable

Does not cause fever

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Does not affect the eyes

May cause fever but quite rare

Causes

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An allergen, such as pollen, dust, mould or animal dander

A virus

Duration

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For as long as you are exposed to the allergen

10 days or less

Treatment

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Antihistamines, INCS, prescription medications, decongestants, saline sprays and immunotherapy

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Rest, fluids and over-the counter medicines

Different causes of hayfever vs. cold

Hayfever is caused by an allergy which triggers an immune response and a cascade of inflammatory symptoms. If you have an allergy, your immune system may overreact to triggers, such as pollens, dust mites, moulds or animal dander, and cause unpleasant symptoms.3

A common cold, on the other hand, is caused by a virus. When you get a cold, your body responds by producing antibodies against the virus that caused it. There is still an immune response, but it is triggered by a different factor.1

How long does a cold and hayfever last?

One of the main differences between hayfever and a cold is how long your symptoms persist. A cold usually lasts 10 days or less, and most people recover on their own without medical care or with over-the-counter medicines.1

On the contrary, hayfever symptoms can last as long as you’re exposed to the trigger, or allergen. This could be the entire pollen season or throughout the year. The symptoms of hayfever can also be disruptive to daily activities, and you may need medications and/or avoidance strategies to help alleviate your condition.1,2

Treatment options

To treat a cold, it is recommended that you get good rest, drink plenty of water and use over-the-counter medicines for symptoms, such as fever, headache and sore throat.1

To treat hayfever, there are several medication options, including:1,4

  • Antihistamine tablets, syrups, intranasal sprays and eye drops
  • Intranasal corticosteroid (INCS) nasal sprays
  • Prescription medications
  • Decongestant sprays and tablets (not recommended for long-term use)
  • Natural products, such as salt water nasal sprays
  • Allergen immunotherapy

Everybody responds to an allergen differently and to a different degree, so a treatment plan that works for someone else may not work for you. It is important to speak to your doctor or pharmacist and come up with an individualised treatment plan if you suffer from hayfever

Find out more about hayfever treatment options
References
  1. News in Health (NIH). Cold, flu, or allergy? Know the difference for best treatment. Available at: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2014/10/cold-flu-or-allergy Accessed: August 2024.
  2. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). Allergic Rhinitis Clinical Update. Available at: https://allergy.org.au/hp/papers/allergic-rhinitis-clinical-update Accessed: August 2024.
  3. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Rhinitis (Nasal Allergies). Available at: https://aafa.org/allergies/allergy-symptoms/rhinitis-nasal-allergy-hayfever/ Accessed: August 2024.
  4. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever) Available at: https://allergy.org.au/patients/allergic-rhinitis-hay-fever-and-sinusitis/allergic-rhinitis-or-hay-fever Accessed: August 2024.