Is it hay fever or a cold? What parents should look for

Sneezing again? A cold and hay fever can look remarkably similar in children. Here are the clues that can help you work out whether you’re dealing with another bug or seasonal allergies.

Is it hay fever or a cold? What parents should look for

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It starts with a sniff. Then another. By lunchtime, someone has a runny nose and you’re mentally calculating how many sick days you have left.

But if the sun is out, pollen is flying and your child seems completely fine apart from sneezing every 30 seconds, another possibility enters the chat:

Could it be hay fever?

Hay fever and the common cold share enough symptoms to make them surprisingly difficult to tell apart, especially in younger children who can’t always explain that their nose, eyes or throat feel itchy.

The biggest clues are usually itching, fever, how your child feels overall and how long the symptoms stick around.

Here’s what to look for.

Hay fever vs a cold: The quick comparison

Symptom	Hay fever	Cold
Runny nose	Common	Common
Blocked nose	Common	Common
Sneezing	Common, often repeated	Common
Itchy nose	Common	Unusual
Itchy/watery eyes	Common	Unusual
Sore throat	Sometimes irritated/itchy	Common
Cough	Can happen	Common
Fever	No	Can occur
Tiredness	Possible, especially from poor sleep	Common
Body aches	Unusual	Sometimes
Duration	Can last weeks or recur	Usually improves within 1–2 weeks
Seasonal pattern	Common	No predictable seasonal pattern
Contagious	No	Yes

Healthdirect lists an itchy, runny or blocked nose, sneezing and itchy or watery eyes among the most common hay fever symptoms. Colds, meanwhile, commonly cause a runny or blocked nose, sore throat, cough, sneezing and tiredness, with some children also developing a fever.

The biggest clue: Are they itchy?

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If there’s one symptom that pushes the needle towards hay fever, it’s itching.

Children with hay fever commonly experience:

• itchy eyes
• an itchy nose
• an itchy throat
• an itchy roof of the mouth
• watery or red eyes.

Raising Children Network describes itching around the eyes, nose, mouth and throat as a typical sign of hay fever in children.

A cold can absolutely leave eyes looking watery or irritated, especially after a day of rubbing them with the same sleeve used to wipe a nose.

But persistent itchiness is much more characteristic of allergies.

A younger child might not actually say, “My eyes are itchy.”

Instead, you might notice them:

• rubbing their nose repeatedly
• rubbing their eyes
• scrunching up their face
• sniffing constantly
• pushing their nose upwards with their hand.

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Does hay fever cause a fever?

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Despite its extremely unhelpful name, hay fever does not cause a fever.

Hay fever is an allergic reaction, not an infection.

A child with a cold, however, may develop a temperature.

That doesn’t mean every cold comes with a fever. Plenty don’t.

But if your child has a temperature as well as their runny nose and sneezing, an infection becomes more likely than uncomplicated hay fever.

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Look at how your child feels overall

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Sometimes the nose isn’t the most useful clue.

The child attached to it is.

A child with hay fever may be enthusiastically playing Lego, asking for snacks and racing around the backyard while simultaneously sneezing 14 times in a row.

A child with a cold may be more likely to seem generally unwell.

Common cold symptoms can include:

• tiredness
• sore throat
• cough
• fever
• swollen glands.

Of course, allergies can make children tired too.

Blocked noses and persistent symptoms can interfere with sleep, and hay fever can contribute to daytime tiredness and difficulty concentrating.

So energy levels alone won’t give you a diagnosis — but they can be another piece of the puzzle.

How long have the symptoms lasted?

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This is often where the difference becomes clearer.

Most childhood colds improve on their own. Healthdirect says school-aged children will usually recover within about a week, while younger children can take up to two weeks.

Hay fever can behave very differently.

Symptoms may:

• continue for weeks
• disappear and return
• show up at a particular time of year
• flare after outdoor play
• worsen on windy or high-pollen days
• happen around the same trigger repeatedly.

Healthdirect even lists feeling like you have “a cold that won’t go away” as a characteristic experience of hay fever.

So if you’re thinking, This is the longest cold in human history, it might be worth considering allergies.

Does it happen at the same time every year?

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Patterns can tell you a lot.

Seasonal hay fever is commonly caused by pollen from grasses, weeds and trees. Pollen levels vary across Australia depending on the season, weather and location.

You might notice that your child reliably becomes sniffly:

• in spring
• after playing on grass
• on windy days
• after spending lots of time outdoors
• when certain plants are flowering.

That repeatability is a useful clue.

Viruses, by contrast, tend to arrive according to a much less organised schedule involving childcare, school, siblings and whatever germ has decided to tour your household this week.

What colour is their mucus?

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Parents have been trained by generations of tissue inspection to believe mucus colour contains all the answers.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t.

Clear, watery nasal discharge is common with hay fever, but children with a cold can also start with clear mucus.

And mucus changing colour during a cold doesn’t necessarily mean a bacterial infection or that antibiotics are needed.

So rather than making the tissue box your primary diagnostic tool, look at the broader pattern:

itching + repeated sneezing + watery eyes + seasonal triggers points more towards hay fever.

sore throat + cough + fever + generally feeling unwell points more towards a viral infection.

Can hay fever cause a cough?

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Yes.

Although we tend to associate hay fever with noses and eyes, pollen allergy can also cause coughing.

Healthdirect lists cough and wheeze among possible symptoms of pollen allergy.

A blocked or runny nose can also lead to throat clearing.

The difference is that coughing is extremely common with viral colds too, so a cough by itself won’t tell you much.

Pay attention to what comes with it.

A cough alongside itchy eyes and repeated seasonal sneezing tells a different story from a cough alongside a fever, sore throat and child who wants to spend the day on the couch.

Can kids suddenly develop hay fever?

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Yes.

A child who sailed happily through last spring isn’t necessarily guaranteed the same experience this year.

Hay fever develops when the immune system reacts to environmental allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mould or animal dander.

Raising Children Network notes that teenagers are more likely to experience hay fever than younger children, although children can develop it earlier. A family history of allergies can also increase the likelihood.

If symptoms keep returning or you’re not sure what your child is reacting to, your GP can help assess whether allergy testing is appropriate.

What if the symptoms happen all year?

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Hay fever isn’t necessarily seasonal.

The medical term for hay fever is allergic rhinitis, and there are two broad patterns.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis is commonly associated with pollen and tends to flare at certain times of year.

Perennial allergic rhinitis can occur throughout the year and may be triggered by things such as:

• dust mites
• mould
• animal dander.

So a child who seems to have a “permanent cold” may be worth discussing with your GP, particularly if itchy eyes, nasal itching, mouth breathing or persistent congestion are part of the picture.

Could it still be both?

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Unfortunately, yes.

Having hay fever does not provide any special immunity against the spectacular number of viruses circulating through schools and childcare.

Your child can have allergies and catch a cold.

That can make symptoms more confusing, particularly if their usual clear runny nose is suddenly joined by a sore throat, fever or noticeable tiredness.

Rather than trying to fit every symptom into one neat box, pay attention to anything that looks different from your child’s usual allergy pattern.

Is hay fever contagious?

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No.

Hay fever is an allergic reaction and cannot spread between children.

Colds are viral infections and are contagious.

Cold viruses spread through respiratory droplets and contact with infected people or contaminated hands and surfaces.

That distinction matters when you’re deciding whether your child might be bringing something infectious into childcare, school or a playdate.

If you’re unsure whether symptoms are caused by allergies or an infection, it’s reasonable to take a cautious approach and seek medical advice if needed.

What can help if it is hay fever?

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Treatment depends on your child’s age, symptoms and triggers.

For mild symptoms, reducing exposure to known allergens can help.

During pollen season, that might include:

• checking pollen forecasts
• keeping windows closed on particularly high-pollen or windy days
• changing clothes after outdoor play
• showering or washing hair after significant pollen exposure
• avoiding lawn mowing or freshly cut grass when it triggers symptoms.

Raising Children Network also suggests saline nasal rinses for symptom relief and notes that medicines such as certain nasal sprays and antihistamines may be used for hay fever.

Speak with your pharmacist or GP about which treatments are appropriate for your child.

Children shouldn’t simply be given an adult hay fever medicine at a smaller guessed dose.

When should I see a GP?

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If you think your child has hay fever for the first time, it’s worth discussing it with your GP — particularly if symptoms are persistent or interfering with everyday life.

Healthdirect recommends medical advice when hay fever symptoms are persistent, moderate or severe, including when they affect sleep, school, sport or other normal activities.

You should also seek medical advice if:

• you’re unsure whether the symptoms are allergies or an illness
• symptoms are getting worse
• your child is wheezing
• hay fever appears to be affecting their asthma
• symptoms regularly disrupt sleep
• treatment isn’t helping.

For a suspected cold, Healthdirect recommends seeing a doctor if your child isn’t improving after 48 hours or is becoming more unwell, isn’t drinking properly, or has a cough that continues for several weeks.

If your child has difficulty breathing, call Triple Zero (000).

The easiest way to remember the difference

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If you’re standing over your child with a tissue wondering which side of the hay-fever-or-cold equation you’re on, look for four things:

Itchy

Itchy eyes, nose and throat point towards hay fever.

Fever

Hay fever doesn’t cause one. A viral illness can.

Pattern

Symptoms that return around pollen, grass or the same season suggest allergies.

Duration

A cold should improve. Hay fever can hang around or repeatedly return while the trigger is present.

No single clue is perfect.

But taken together, they can help you decide whether you’re dealing with another virus — or whether spring itself might be responsible.

FAQs

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How can you tell hay fever from a cold in a child?

Itchy or watery eyes, an itchy nose and symptoms that recur around pollen or at a particular time of year are more suggestive of hay fever. A sore throat, fever, tiredness and generally feeling unwell are more consistent with a cold.

Does hay fever cause fever in kids?

No. Hay fever does not cause a fever. It is an allergic reaction rather than an infection.

How long does hay fever last in children?

Symptoms can continue for as long as a child is exposed to their trigger. Seasonal hay fever may therefore persist or recur for weeks during pollen season, whereas most childhood colds improve within one to two weeks.

Are itchy eyes a sign of a cold or hay fever?

Itchy, watery or red eyes are characteristic symptoms of hay fever and are less typical of a common cold.

Can my child go to school with hay fever?

Hay fever itself is not contagious. Whether your child feels well enough for school depends on the severity of their symptoms and your school’s policies. If you’re uncertain whether their symptoms are allergies or an infectious illness, seek medical advice.

Can hay fever trigger asthma symptoms?

Yes. Pollen allergy can contribute to wheezing and other asthma symptoms, and hay fever can make asthma more difficult to control. Children with asthma and pollen allergy should follow their asthma management plan and seek medical advice if symptoms change or worsen.