Winter can be a one-two punch for people with sensitive immune systems. Extended time spent indoors can lead to increased exposure to indoor allergens like dust mites, while illnesses like the cold, flu and pneumonia also become more common this time of year. It can be difficult for parents to determine whether their child’s allergies are flaring up or if they’re actually sick.
We spoke with Dr. Robert Wood, director of Pediatric Allergy & Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, about key differences between allergy and illness symptoms.
Allergies
- Itchy throat
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Itchy ears
- Dry cough
- Symptoms persist for several weeks
Illness
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Wet cough
- Muscle pains
- Symptoms persist for several days
Both
- Tiredness
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose
- Sneezing
Wood also notes that allergies are more common in older children. Very young children who are not yet preschool-aged may not have been exposed to common allergens yet, so an infant or young toddler exhibiting these symptoms is more likely to be sick.
The effectiveness of allergy medicine can be one way to tell.
“Most of the allergy medicines we use are available over the counter, so it’s not wrong at all for a parent to use antihistamines,” Wood adds. “It’s never a bad idea for a parent to try over-the-counter allergy medicine first and see if that makes a difference [in their child’s health] or not.”
