It sometimes can be difficult to distinguish between symptoms of a cold and symptoms of nasal allergies.
Here are a few tips:
1. Fever is not a symptom of nasal allergies.
2. Itching of the nose (and frequently of the eyes as well) is usually not present with a cold.
3. If a close family member has been ill with a cold, and you or your child develops nasal symptoms within a few days, the symptoms are probably due to a cold.
4. Symptoms of a cold usually worsen for about 3 to 5 days after their onset, and then gradually improve over the next 5 to 7 days.