{"id":15149,"date":"2025-04-23T18:56:03","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T18:56:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/introlab.net\/?p=15149"},"modified":"2025-04-23T19:57:02","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T19:57:02","slug":"how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"How to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy and avoid incorrect treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A stuffy nose, sneezing, fatigue, and coughing\u2014symptoms that immediately suggest a cold. But what if they\u2019re not caused by a virus, and are actually signs of an allergy? Telling the difference between a cold and an allergy isn\u2019t always easy, as <strong>the two conditions often overlap, especially during transitional seasons<\/strong>. Still, correctly identifying the difference between an allergy and a cold is key to choosing the right treatment. Read on to learn how to recognize the key differences and avoid inappropriate treatment.<!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>What is a cold?<\/h2>\n<p>A cold is <strong>most commonly a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract<\/strong>, caused by various types of viruses, with rhinovirus being the most common. It spreads through airborne droplets &#8211; by <em>sneezing, coughing, or even touching contaminated surfaces<\/em> &#8211; which makes it easy to transmit, especially during colder months.<\/p>\n<p>Cold symptoms develop gradually and may include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Runny or stuffy nose (the discharge is usually thick and yellowish)<\/li>\n<li>Sore throat<\/li>\n<li>Dry or productive cough<\/li>\n<li>Sneezing<\/li>\n<li>Mild fever<\/li>\n<li>Fatigue and general malaise<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In adults,<strong> a cold usually lasts between 7 and 10 days<\/strong>, while in children it may last longer. Symptoms are most intense during the first three days and gradually subside. Most people recover without needing medication beyond symptomatic treatment.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15132\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15132\" style=\"width: 770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15132 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-brandon.jpg\" alt=\"The woman is sneezing\" width=\"770\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-brandon.jpg 770w, https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-brandon-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-brandon-768x349.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15132\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Knowing the difference between a cold and an allergy can be crucial for proper treatment and a faster recovery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>What is an allergy?<\/h2>\n<p>An allergy is an <strong>immune system reaction to otherwise harmless substances in the environment<\/strong>, known as allergens. In people who are prone to allergies, the immune system mistakenly identifies pollen, dust, mites, <a href=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/hair-mix-ep1\/\">pet hair<\/a>, or mold as threats and begins to defend the body by releasing chemicals such as histamine. It\u2019s histamine that causes the symptoms we often confuse with a cold.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike a cold, an allergy:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Is not contagious<\/li>\n<li>Can last for days, weeks, or even months\u2014depending on exposure to the allergen<\/li>\n<li>Often appears seasonally (e.g., spring hay fever), but can also be persistent (e.g., <a href=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/dust-mites-d1-dermatophagoides-pter\/\">dust mite<\/a> or pet allergies)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The most common <a href=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/allergies-symptoms-treatment-and-prevention\/\">allergy symptoms<\/a> include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Watery nasal discharge<\/li>\n<li>Frequent sneezing<\/li>\n<li>Itching in the nose, eyes, and throat<\/li>\n<li>Dry cough (allergic cough)<\/li>\n<li>Nasal congestion<\/li>\n<li>Tearing and red eyes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Unlike colds,<em> allergies almost never cause a fever, muscle aches, or the kind of fatigue typical of viral infections.<\/em> Allergy symptoms may persist as long as the person remains in contact with the allergen, which makes them more prolonged and bothersome.<\/p>\n<h2>Fever and allergies &#8211; Is an elevated body temperature a sign of allergy?<\/h2>\n<p>One of the most common questions is whether an allergy can cause a fever. The answer is \u2013 <strong>no.<\/strong> Allergies do not cause a rise in body temperature because<em> they are not triggered by infection, but by an overreaction of the immune system to allergens.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If a person has allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes, but also a fever, it may indicate:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A secondary infection (e.g., bacterial sinusitis caused by blocked sinuses due to allergies)<\/li>\n<li>A simultaneous viral infection (allergy + cold)<\/li>\n<li>A misjudgment \u2013 it might actually be a cold<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Important to know:<em> The presence of a fever almost always suggests that something more than a simple allergic reaction is happening in the body.<\/em> In such cases, it\u2019s important to consult a doctor to determine whether additional treatment is needed.<\/p>\n<h2>Allergic cough &#8211; How to recognize it?<\/h2>\n<p>Coughing is a common symptom in both colds and allergies, but an allergic cough has certain specific characteristics that set it apart. <em>It occurs as a result of airway irritation caused by the presence of allergens.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Characteristics of an allergic cough:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dry, irritating, and persistent<\/li>\n<li>Often appears during specific times of the year (seasonal allergies)<\/li>\n<li>Worsens with exposure to allergens<\/li>\n<li>Not accompanied by fever or body aches<\/li>\n<li>May worsen at night or early in the morning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>An allergic cough differs from a cold-related cough in that it:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Is not productive (no mucus or phlegm)<\/li>\n<li>Is not caused by infection<\/li>\n<li>Doesn\u2019t go away quickly without removing allergens or using antihistamines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>For individuals with allergic asthma, coughing may also come with shortness of breath, wheezing, or chest tightness.<\/em> These symptoms can signal a more severe allergic reaction, so it\u2019s important to consult a doctor.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15126\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15126\" style=\"width: 770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15126 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-karolina-gra-3.jpg\" alt=\"A woman is lying down, wondering how to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy and avoid the wrong treatment.\" width=\"770\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-karolina-gra-3.jpg 770w, https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-karolina-gra-3-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-karolina-gra-3-768x349.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15126\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An allergic cough worsens in the presence of allergens and is not accompanied by a fever.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>How to get an accurate diagnosis<\/h2>\n<p><em>If your symptoms last longer than what\u2019s typical for a cold, appear seasonally, or don\u2019t improve after a few days of rest and over-the-counter treatment,<\/em> it may be time to take a closer look\u2014it might not be a cold, but an allergy.<\/p>\n<p>When to see a doctor:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If symptoms <strong>last more than 10 days<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>If they <strong>occur at the same time each year<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>If you have a <strong>persistent dry cough or itching in the eyes or nose<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>If symptoms are <strong>present without a fever<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Diagnostic methods include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Clinical examination<\/strong> \u2013 the doctor will evaluate your symptoms, their duration, and patterns<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/biochemical-tests\/allergies\/\"><strong>Allergy tests<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 skin prick testing or blood tests (IgE antibodies) can identify specific allergens<\/li>\n<li><strong>Throat and <a href=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/nasal-swab-bact\/\">nasal swabs<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 used if a viral or bacterial infection is suspected<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Tip:<\/em> Keeping a symptom diary &#8211; tracking when symptoms occur, how long they last, and what might trigger them &#8211; can help your doctor accurately determine whether you&#8217;re dealing with a cold or an allergy.<\/p>\n<h2>Symptoms that resemble a cold or allergy \u2013 But have different causes<\/h2>\n<p>Not every sneeze, runny nose, or cough is caused by a cold or an allergy. Several other conditions can produce similar symptoms, making it more difficult to determine the exact cause without medical evaluation. Below are some of the most common look-alike conditions:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Asthma<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Can cause a dry cough, wheezing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest<\/li>\n<li>Allergic asthma often worsens when exposed to allergens<\/li>\n<li>Typically not associated with a runny nose, but may occur alongside allergies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Sinusitis<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A sinus infection can develop as a complication of a cold or allergy<\/li>\n<li>Symptoms include facial pressure, thick nasal discharge, and prolonged congestion<\/li>\n<li>Unlike allergies, it often causes a fever<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Postnasal Drip<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Mucus dripping down the back of the throat can lead to coughing and throat irritation<\/li>\n<li>It may be associated with allergies, infections, or occur on its own<\/li>\n<li>A frequent cause of chronic cough<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Noninfectious (Vasomotor) Rhinitis<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Symptoms mimic allergies: sneezing, congestion, and nasal discharge<\/li>\n<li>Common triggers include strong smells, temperature changes, air pollution, or smoke<\/li>\n<li>Allergy tests are usually negative<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>May cause chronic cough, hoarseness, and throat irritation<\/li>\n<li>Symptoms typically worsen at night or after eating<\/li>\n<li>It doesn\u2019t cause sneezing or a runny nose, but can be mistaken for an allergic cough<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Chronic Bronchitis (especially in smokers)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Involves a persistent cough and mucus production<\/li>\n<li>Often confused with a lingering cold<\/li>\n<li>May be a sign of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>COVID-19 and Other Viral Infections<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Can cause symptoms similar to a cold or allergy, including fatigue, runny nose, and cough<\/li>\n<li>COVID-19 frequently also causes loss of smell or taste, fever, and body aches<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Reactions to Chemicals, Fragrances, or Medications<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Airway irritation, runny nose, and itching may resemble an allergic reaction<\/li>\n<li>However, these are not true allergies, but rather irritant responses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15129\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15129\" style=\"width: 770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15129 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-karolin-4.jpg\" alt=\"A woman with a cold\" width=\"770\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-karolin-4.jpg 770w, https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-karolin-4-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-karolin-4-768x349.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15129\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Asthma, sinusitis, or reflux can have symptoms similar to a cold or allergy, but they require different treatment approaches.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Common mistakes in distinguishing between allergies and a cold<\/h2>\n<p>When symptoms are mild or occasional, it\u2019s easy to misinterpret their cause. These are some of the most common mistakes people make:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Treating allergies as if they were a cold<\/strong> \u2013 relying on antibiotics or cold medications instead of using antihistamines.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Overlooking seasonal patterns<\/strong> \u2013 symptoms that appear around the same time each year often indicate allergies.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Overusing nasal sprays<\/strong> \u2013 extended use of decongestants can lead to rebound congestion and worsen symptoms.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ignoring the possibility of coexisting conditions<\/strong> \u2013 it\u2019s entirely possible to have both an allergy and an infection at the same time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Relying solely on symptoms<\/strong> \u2013 without proper testing, it\u2019s difficult to determine whether the issue is a cold, an allergy, or something else entirely.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Identifying the difference between a cold and an allergy helps you choose the right treatment<\/h2>\n<p>At first glance, the difference between a cold and an allergy can seem unclear. Still, there are distinct signs that can help you recognize the cause and take the appropriate steps. A proper diagnosis not only <strong>eases symptoms but also saves time, money, and unnecessary treatment.<\/strong> Whether you&#8217;re dealing with seasonal sneezing or persistent nasal congestion, it&#8217;s important to listen to your body. Knowing how to distinguish between a cold and an allergy is a key step toward faster recovery and a better daily life.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re unsure what\u2019s behind your symptoms,<strong> contact <a href=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/\">IntroLab<\/a> in Belgrade.<\/strong><em> Fast and accurate allergy testing can give you clarity and help you begin the right treatment<\/em> &#8211; without guesswork or delays.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A stuffy nose, sneezing, fatigue, and coughing\u2014symptoms that immediately suggest a cold. But what if they\u2019re not caused by a virus, and are actually signs of an allergy? Telling the difference between a cold and an allergy isn\u2019t always easy, as the two conditions often overlap, especially during transitional seasons. Still, correctly identifying the difference [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[159],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy and avoid incorrect treatment | IntroLab Belgrade<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Not sure if it&#039;s a virus or an allergic reaction? Keep reading to learn how to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy and avoid incorrect treatment | IntroLab Belgrade\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Not sure if it&#039;s a virus or an allergic reaction? Keep reading to learn how to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Introlab Laboratorija Beograd\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-04-23T18:56:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-23T19:57:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7596886-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"801\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"introlab admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"introlab admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"introlab admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f4d4e2f66aef2e2bd8c5fa34f4404a75\"},\"headline\":\"How to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy and avoid incorrect treatment\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-23T18:56:03+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-23T19:57:02+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1513,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7596886-1.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\\\/\",\"name\":\"How to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy and avoid incorrect treatment | IntroLab Belgrade\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7596886-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-23T18:56:03+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-23T19:57:02+00:00\",\"description\":\"Not sure if it's a virus or an allergic reaction? Keep reading to learn how to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7596886-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7596886-1.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":801,\"caption\":\"a man sneezing\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy and avoid incorrect treatment\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Introlab Laboratorija Beograd\",\"description\":\"Dijagnosti\u010dke Analize Krvi\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Introlab Laboratorija Beograd\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/introlablogo-ai.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/introlablogo-ai.svg\",\"caption\":\"Introlab Laboratorija Beograd\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f4d4e2f66aef2e2bd8c5fa34f4404a75\",\"name\":\"introlab admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/35f074e779e78711c0945427d83940cde1ba146ab9fb782c93a29aae4cc10c0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/35f074e779e78711c0945427d83940cde1ba146ab9fb782c93a29aae4cc10c0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/35f074e779e78711c0945427d83940cde1ba146ab9fb782c93a29aae4cc10c0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"introlab admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\\\/en\\\/author\\\/introlab-admin\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy and avoid incorrect treatment | IntroLab Belgrade","description":"Not sure if it's a virus or an allergic reaction? Keep reading to learn how to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy and avoid incorrect treatment | IntroLab Belgrade","og_description":"Not sure if it's a virus or an allergic reaction? Keep reading to learn how to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy.","og_url":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/","og_site_name":"Introlab Laboratorija Beograd","article_published_time":"2025-04-23T18:56:03+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-04-23T19:57:02+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":801,"url":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7596886-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"introlab admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"introlab admin","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/"},"author":{"name":"introlab admin","@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/f4d4e2f66aef2e2bd8c5fa34f4404a75"},"headline":"How to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy and avoid incorrect treatment","datePublished":"2025-04-23T18:56:03+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-23T19:57:02+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/"},"wordCount":1513,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7596886-1.jpg","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/","url":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/","name":"How to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy and avoid incorrect treatment | IntroLab Belgrade","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7596886-1.jpg","datePublished":"2025-04-23T18:56:03+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-23T19:57:02+00:00","description":"Not sure if it's a virus or an allergic reaction? Keep reading to learn how to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7596886-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7596886-1.jpg","width":1200,"height":801,"caption":"a man sneezing"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-cold-and-an-allergy-and-avoid-incorrect-treatment\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy and avoid incorrect treatment"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/","name":"Introlab Laboratorija Beograd","description":"Dijagnosti\u010dke Analize Krvi","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/#organization","name":"Introlab Laboratorija Beograd","url":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/introlablogo-ai.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/introlablogo-ai.svg","caption":"Introlab Laboratorija Beograd"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/f4d4e2f66aef2e2bd8c5fa34f4404a75","name":"introlab admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/35f074e779e78711c0945427d83940cde1ba146ab9fb782c93a29aae4cc10c0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/35f074e779e78711c0945427d83940cde1ba146ab9fb782c93a29aae4cc10c0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/35f074e779e78711c0945427d83940cde1ba146ab9fb782c93a29aae4cc10c0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"introlab admin"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com"],"url":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/author\/introlab-admin\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7596886-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15149"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15151,"href":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15149\/revisions\/15151"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-introlab.dev-digitaldot.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}