If you're sneezing and congested, how do you know whether it's allergies or just a spring cold? "In general, colds tend to begin with one or two symptoms then gradually get worse. Allergy symptoms come on suddenly, usually after exposure to allergens, and may last much longer than a cold," says Kevin Wilson, MD, an allergist at University of Utah Health. While the two share many similarities, they have distinct differences.
This infographic compares symptoms for each.