Sore throat runny nose and watery eyes

You’re sneezing and sniffling, with a stuffy nose and an itchy throat. With these kinds of symptoms, you probably have a cold. Then again, allergies can cause similar symptoms. So which one is it -- a cold or allergies?

Table of Contents Show

Cold vs. Allergies: What Are Your Symptoms?
What's the Season?
How Long Have Your Symptoms Lasted?
What causes rhinitis?
Who is at risk for rhinitis?
What are the symptoms of rhinitis?
How is rhinitis diagnosed?
How is rhinitis treated?
Can I prevent rhinitis?
Key points about rhinitis
Are runny nose and watery eyes signs of COVID?
Why does my throat hurt and my eyes are watery?
What does it mean when your nose is runny and your eyes are watery?

Before you open your medicine cabinet and start to search for relief, you need to know which type of medicine you need. Colds and allergies need different types of treatment.

When you're not sure what the problem is, try these three simple tests. They'll help you figure out whether you've got an allergy problem or just a typical cold.

Cold vs. Allergies: What Are Your Symptoms?

A runny nose and sneezing won't tell you whether you have a cold or allergies, because they can be signs of either condition. But some symptoms are unique to either colds or allergies.

To help you decide, check your symptoms against this list:

ColdAllergiesAches and painsSometimesNoItchy, watery eyesRarelyYesRunny noseYesYesFeverSometimesNoSneezingYesYesSore or scratchy throatSometimesSometimesStuffy noseYesYesFatigueSometimesSometimesCoughSometimesSometimes

What's the Season?

If you're sneezing and sniffling in April and your car is coated with yellow-green pollen, you may be able to point to an obvious cause: seasonal allergies or hay fever. This is especially true if you get the same symptoms at about the same time every year.

Colds can hit at any time of year -- even during spring and summer -- although they're most common when the weather gets chilly.

How fast your symptoms occur can also determine what's ailing you. Allergies often start almost immediately after you're exposed to your trigger. For example, if you've got pollen allergies, as soon as that pollen makes its way up your nostrils, you may have symptoms.

Cold germs typically take 1 to 3 days to make you sick. If your nose is starting to twitch and you realize you were sitting next to a sneezer at the movie theater 2 nights ago, a cold may be the cause.

How Long Have Your Symptoms Lasted?

Colds generally linger for 3 days to about a week, but symptoms can last up to 2 weeks in some people. Starting to feel better after a couple of days is a sign you're probably on the mend from a cold.

If you're getting worse, your cold may become a bacterial infection. If symptoms last more than 1 to 2 weeks or get worse after about 5 days, you should see a doctor.

Allergy symptoms will last for as long as you're exposed to your trigger. So if you're allergic to cat dander, once you say goodbye to your grandmother and their prized Persian cat to return home, your sniffles should subside. If your trigger is pollen and you spend most of the spring months outdoors, you could be facing symptoms for the whole season.

Show Sources

SOURCES:

Mandell, G. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 7th ed, Churchill Livingstone, 2009.

Kliegman, R. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 18th ed, Saunders Elsevier, 2007.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: "Tips to Remember: Rhinitis."

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: "Flu/Cold or Allergies?"

Merck Manual: "Seasonal Allergies."

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: "Flu Information: Is It a Cold or the Flu?"

Family Doctor: "Colds and the Flu," "Antihistamines: Understanding Your OTC Options," "Decongestants: OTC Relief for Congestion," "Pain Relievers: Understanding Your OTC Options."

Rhinitis is when a reaction occurs that causes a stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, and itching. Most types of rhinitis are caused by an inflammation and lead to symptoms in the eyes, ears, or throat. There are several types of rhinitis. The most common types of rhinitis are:

Acute rhinitis, which is often caused by a viral illness
Allergic rhinitis (can be seasonal or year round)
Nonallergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is caused when allergens in the air trigger the release of histamine in the nose and sinuses. Histamine causes itching, swelling, and fluid to build up in the fragile linings of the nasal passages, sinuses, and eyelids.

What causes rhinitis?

The most common causes of rhinitis are:

Pollen given off by trees, grass, and weeds
Dust mites
Mold
Cockroach waste
Animal dander
Fumes and odors
Extreme temperature or changes in temperature
Hormonal changes
Certain medicines and overuse of topical nose sprays
Changes in the environment
Irritants such as strong odors and tobacco smoke
Certain foods or spices

Who is at risk for rhinitis?

People with asthma are at a higher risk for rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is a common problem that may be linked to asthma. But this link is not fully understood. Experts think that since rhinitis makes it hard to breathe through the nose, it's harder for the nose to work normally. Breathing through the mouth does not warm, filter, or humidify the air before it enters the lungs. This can make asthma symptoms worse.

Asthma and allergies are also caused by many of the same chemical triggers in the body.

Controlling allergic rhinitis may help control asthma in some people.

What are the symptoms of rhinitis?

Symptoms of rhinitis include:

Sneezing
Stuffy nose
Runny nose
Itchy nose, throat, eyes, and ears
Nosebleeds
Clear drainage from the nose
Ear infections that keep coming back
Snoring
Breathing through the mouth

How is rhinitis diagnosed?

Most often, the diagnosis is made by your healthcare provider based on a full health history and physical exam. In addition to the above signs, the healthcare provider may find:

Dark circles under the eyes (more common in children)
Creases under the eyes
Swollen tissues inside the nose
Mouth breathing

How is rhinitis treated?

Staying away from the allergens that are causing the problem is the best treatment. Sometimes it can be hard to stay away from triggers (including allergens), such as pollens. The symptoms of rhinitis sometimes look like other conditions or health problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Treatments for rhinitis may include:

Antihistamines
Nose sprays
Decongestants
Medicines for asthma symptoms
Allergy shots
Surgery for some health problems

Can I prevent rhinitis?

Preventive measures depend on what triggers your rhinitis. These can include:

Staying away from areas where there is heavy dust, mites, or molds
Not being around pets
Staying away from what you know you are allergic to, or what triggers your rhinitis
Controls in your environment, such as air conditioning during pollen season
Staying away from people who are smoking
Staying away from strong odors and irritants when possible
Using nose sprays only for the prescribed length of time

Key points about rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is a reaction that happens in the eyes, nose, and throat when allergens in the air trigger histamine to be released in the body.
Some of the most common causes of allergic rhinitis are pollen, dust mites, mold, cockroach waste, animal dander
Nonallergic rhinitis is inflammation in the nose, eyes, and throat from nonallergic sources such as fumes and odors, hormonal changes, and smoke.
Symptoms of rhinitis include sneezing, stuffy and runny nose, nosebleeds, and itchy throat, eyes, and ears.
Treatment may include medicines, allergy shots, and surgery for some health problems.
Preventive measures for rhinitis include staying away from what you are allergic to and avoiding your triggers.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:

Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.
Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you.
At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you.
Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are.
Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
Know how you can contact your provider if you have questions.

Medical Reviewer: Deborah Pedersen MD

Medical Reviewer: Marianne Fraser MSN RN

Medical Reviewer: Daphne Pierce-Smith RN MSN

Are runny nose and watery eyes signs of COVID?

Some of the most common COVID symptoms are consistent with allergies or a cold and can include a sore throat or runny nose. A likely sign of COVID is the addition of one or more symptoms, including body aches, fatigue, nausea, stomach problems or diarrhea, or loss of taste or smell.

Why does my throat hurt and my eyes are watery?

Upper Respiratory Infection Viral or bacterial infections that affect your nose and throat can also cause watery eyes. These infections usually clear up on their own. If you have an infection, you might experience a sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, or a fever.

Does COVID

Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever and/or chills, headache, muscle pain or body aches, feeling tired or weak, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, vomiting and diarrhea, and change in or loss of taste or smell. Learn more about the flu and older adults.

What does it mean when your nose is runny and your eyes are watery?

If the runny nose is a persistent, watery discharge, particularly if accompanied by sneezing and itchy or watery eyes, your symptoms may be allergy-related. An over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine may help.