The Fall weather is upon us, and Winter weather is on its way. This is the time of year when many children catch a cold. If your child has allergies, it might be difficult to figure out if their symptoms indicate that they have a cold, or, if they are having an allergic reaction. Here are some tips to help you to tell the difference.
Is that sneeze due to a cold, or is it an allergy symptom? Parents of children who have allergies may have trouble differentiating between the two possible answers. Colds and allergies have some symptoms in common. How can a parent tell one from the other, early in the morning, on a school day?
WebMD has some advice for parents that can help them figure out if their child has a cold or if he or she is experiencing allergies. It helps to know whether or not your child has allergies in the first place. Seasonal allergies will cause kids to appear sick during the season that includes allergens that they cannot tolerate.
Is your child’s nose running? What color is the mucus? If it is clear and thin, then he is probably having an allergic reaction. If the mucus is thick, and yellow or green in color, then your child has a cold. It may be a virus, and is likely contagious. Make a doctor’s appointment, and give your child a “sick day”.
Is your child running a fever? Kids who have a cold could develop a higher temperature than usual and be feverish. If there are no fever symptoms present, then your child’s sneezing, and runny nose, are allergy symptoms.
What about a stuffy nose? Nasal congestion can be caused by allergies, and can also be caused by a cold. If this is the only symptom present, then it is inconclusive. When in doubt, take your child to see a doctor for an evaluation.
Is your child unusually fatigued? This is another inconclusive symptom. Many children, and adults, who have had a cold will remember that it makes some people extremely tired. Allergies can also cause fatigue and exhaustion. It is also possible that your child is tired because he or she went to bed later than usual, or has not adjusted to his early school schedule after a break.
The advice I have put in this blog mostly comes from WebMD. I am not a doctor, and cannot possibly give your child a diagnosis. Parents should use common sense. If you think your child has a cold, keep him or her home from school. This will give your child time to rest, and fight the cold, and will prevent the cold from being shared with his classmates and teacher. Call your child’s doctor for a professional opinion.
Image by Axmai on Flickr