Hayfever or Cold? How to Tell the Difference in Australia

Why It Matters

Millions of Australians reach for cold and flu tablets when they actually have hayfever, or take antihistamines when they have a cold. Getting the diagnosis wrong means your treatment will not work well — and you could be spending money on the wrong products. The symptoms overlap enough to confuse anyone, but there are several reliable ways to tell the two apart.

Allergies vs Cold: Symptom Comparison

The table below compares the most common symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hayfever) and the common cold side by side. Use it as a quick reference when you are unsure which one you are dealing with.

How to Tell the Difference Quickly

When symptoms first appear, run through these five quick checks. You do not need all five to point the same way — even two or three matching answers will give you a reliable guide.

• radio_button_uncheckedCheck the calendar. Spring or early summer in your area? Hayfever is far more likely.
• radio_button_uncheckedCheck your eyes. Itchy, red, or watery eyes strongly suggest allergies. Colds rarely affect the eyes.
• radio_button_uncheckedCheck your mucus. Clear and runny for the duration points to allergies. Mucus that starts clear then turns thick, yellow, or green suggests a cold.
• radio_button_uncheckedCheck for body aches or fever. Even a mild temperature or 'run down' feeling favours a cold. Allergies do not cause these.
• radio_button_uncheckedCheck the timing. Symptoms that flare up outdoors, on windy days, or after mowing the lawn, and then improve indoors, are classic for allergies.

Could It Be COVID-19 Instead?

COVID-19 shares several symptoms with both hayfever and a cold, including a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, and a sore throat. A few clues can help you narrow it down. Itchy eyes and a clear, watery nose that flare outdoors point towards hayfever. A fever, persistent cough, fatigue, body aches, or a loss of taste or smell point away from hayfever and towards a viral infection such as a cold or COVID-19.

Hayfever and colds cannot be told apart from COVID-19 on symptoms alone. The only reliable way to confirm or rule out COVID-19 is a rapid antigen test (RAT) or PCR test. RATs are available without a prescription from Australian pharmacies and supermarkets. If you have new or worsening symptoms, take a RAT, stay home until you feel better, and follow the current advice from your state or territory health department.

Treatment for Allergies (Hayfever)

Allergic rhinitis is best treated with a combination approach: an antihistamine tablet for all-over symptom relief plus a corticosteroid nasal spray for nasal congestion and inflammation. Both are available without a prescription in Australia.

Antihistamine tablets

Modern second-generation antihistamines provide 24-hour relief without significant drowsiness. The three main active ingredients available OTC in Australia are cetirizine, loratadine, and fexofenadine. All are effective, but they suit different people.

All three antihistamines work well for most people. If one does not control your symptoms after a week, try switching to a different one — individual responses vary. Pharmacy-own brands containing the same active ingredient are equally effective and often significantly cheaper.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays

Nasal corticosteroid sprays are the most effective single treatment for moderate to severe hayfever. They reduce inflammation, congestion, sneezing, and nasal itch. For best results, start using them a week or two before your usual allergy season begins and use them daily — they work best with consistent use rather than on an as-needed basis.

Eye drops and other options

If itchy or watery eyes are your main complaint, add antihistamine eye drops such as Zaditen (ketotifen) or Livostin (levocabastine), available from pharmacies. For mild nasal congestion, a non-medicated saline spray such as Fess can help wash allergens out of the nose and is safe to use as often as needed, including alongside medicated sprays.

Treatment for Colds

There is no cure for the common cold. Treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms that bother you most while your immune system clears the virus, which typically takes 7 to 10 days.

Pain and fever relief

Paracetamol (such as Panadol) is the go-to choice for sore throat, headache, and mild fever. Take 500mg to 1000mg every four to six hours, up to a maximum of 4000mg per day. Ibuprofen is an alternative if you also have sinus pain or inflammation, but take it with food.

Nasal decongestants

Pseudoephedrine-based products such as Sudafed are the most effective OTC decongestants for cold-related nasal congestion. In Australia, these are kept behind the pharmacy counter — you will need to show ID and sign a register. Products containing oral phenylephrine (found on open shelves) have been shown in recent studies to be no more effective than placebo.

Combination cold and flu products

If you have multiple cold symptoms — congestion, headache, mild fever, and runny nose — a combination product like Codral Cold and Flu or Demazin can be convenient. Be careful not to take additional paracetamol on top, as many combination products already contain it.

Rest and home care

• radio_button_uncheckedDrink plenty of fluids — water, herbal teas, clear broths. There is no strong evidence that specific amounts help, but staying hydrated keeps mucus thinner.
• radio_button_uncheckedRest as much as possible. Your body fights the virus more effectively when you are not pushing through.
• radio_button_uncheckedUse a saline nasal rinse or spray to help clear congestion without medication.
• radio_button_uncheckedHoney (one to two teaspoons) may help soothe a sore throat and cough in adults and children over 12 months. Evidence is modest but it is safe and inexpensive.
• radio_button_uncheckedGargle with warm salt water for sore throat relief.

What If It Is Both? Allergies and a Cold at the Same Time

Yes, you can absolutely have both at once — and it is not uncommon. People with allergic rhinitis tend to have more inflamed nasal passages, which may make them slightly more susceptible to catching colds. When both conditions overlap, symptoms tend to be worse and last longer than either would alone.

If you suspect you have both, you may need to treat each condition separately. Continue your antihistamine and nasal spray for the allergy component, and add paracetamol or a decongestant for the cold symptoms. Avoid older 'first-generation' antihistamines like promethazine (Phenergan) for this purpose, as they cause significant drowsiness and can thicken mucus, making cold symptoms worse.

Antihistamine or Cold and Flu Tablets: Which to Reach For

These two product types are designed for different problems, which is why picking the wrong one leaves you feeling no better. The table below shows what each is actually built to relieve, so you can match the product to your symptoms.

Australian Hayfever Seasons by Region

Unlike many Northern Hemisphere countries where hayfever has one clear season, Australia's varied climate means pollen seasons differ significantly by region. Grass pollen is the most common hayfever trigger in Australia, but tree and weed pollens also play a role depending on where you live.

Prevention Tips

Reducing allergy exposure

• radio_button_uncheckedCheck daily pollen forecasts on the AusPollen website or via weather apps.
• radio_button_uncheckedKeep windows closed on high pollen days, especially in the morning when counts peak.
• radio_button_uncheckedShower and change clothes after spending time outdoors during pollen season.
• radio_button_uncheckedWear wrap-around sunglasses outside to protect your eyes.
• radio_button_uncheckedDry laundry indoors or in a dryer during peak pollen season — sheets hung outside collect pollen.
• radio_button_uncheckedStart your corticosteroid nasal spray one to two weeks before your local pollen season begins for best results.

Reducing cold risk

• radio_button_uncheckedWash hands frequently with soap and water, especially after public transport or shared spaces.
• radio_button_uncheckedAvoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• radio_button_uncheckedStay home when you are unwell to avoid spreading the virus to others.
• radio_button_uncheckedClean commonly touched surfaces like door handles, phones, and keyboards.
• radio_button_uncheckedMaintain good general health — regular sleep, balanced diet, and moderate exercise all support immune function.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you tell if it is hayfever or a cold?

The most reliable indicators are itch and duration. Allergies cause itchy eyes, nose, or throat and last for weeks or months. Colds cause body aches and sometimes fever, and clear up within 7 to 10 days. If your symptoms disappear when you go indoors or on a rainy day, that strongly suggests allergies.

What are the symptoms of hayfever?

The main symptoms of hayfever (allergic rhinitis) are itchy, watery eyes; a clear, runny nose; repeated bursts of sneezing; nasal congestion; and an itchy nose, throat, or roof of the mouth. Some people also get a tickly cough from post-nasal drip, puffy eyelids, and dark shadows under the eyes. Hayfever never causes a fever. Symptoms typically flare outdoors on high-pollen or windy days and ease indoors.

What is the '3-day rule' for allergies?

The so-called '3-day rule' is an informal guide based on how long symptoms last. A cold usually peaks within about three days and then steadily improves, clearing within 7 to 10 days. Allergy symptoms, by contrast, persist for as long as you are exposed to the trigger and do not follow that short, predictable curve. So if your sneezing and congestion are still going strong well past the few-day mark — and especially if they come and go with pollen exposure — allergies are the more likely cause.

Can hayfever cause a cough?

Yes. Hayfever can cause a dry, tickly cough, usually from post-nasal drip — mucus running down the back of the throat and irritating it. This is more common at night or first thing in the morning. An allergy cough tends to be dry and persistent rather than chesty, and it often comes alongside the classic itchy eyes and clear runny nose. A cough with thick coloured phlegm, a fever, or body aches points towards a cold or other infection instead.

Is hayfever contagious?

No. Hayfever is not contagious — you cannot catch it from or pass it to another person. It is an immune reaction to airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites, or mould, not an infection. A cold, on the other hand, is caused by a virus and spreads through droplets and contact, so it can be passed to others.

What colour is hayfever mucus compared to a cold?

Hayfever mucus is typically clear and watery, and it stays that way for as long as you are exposed to the allergen. Cold mucus often starts clear but turns thicker and yellow or green after a few days as your immune system fights the virus. Coloured mucus does not automatically mean you need antibiotics, but a clear, runny nose that persists for weeks is a strong sign of allergies rather than a cold.

Can you have hayfever and a cold at the same time?

Yes, you can have both at once, and it is fairly common. When they overlap, symptoms tend to be worse and last longer than either would alone. A useful clue is that your allergy medication may relieve your itchy eyes and sneezing but do nothing for a sore throat, body aches, or coloured mucus — which suggests a cold is riding on top of your hayfever. You may need to treat each condition separately.

When should I see a GP about my symptoms?

See your GP if your symptoms last more than 10 days without improving, you develop a fever above 38 degrees C, or you have severe facial pain with thick green discharge (a possible sinus infection). Also see your GP if OTC allergy treatments are not controlling your symptoms after two weeks, if hayfever is affecting your sleep, work, or a child's concentration at school, or if you have any breathing difficulty, wheeze, or chest tightness, which may signal asthma. Seek urgent care for severe shortness of breath or chest pain.

Can I take antihistamines for a cold?

Older, sedating antihistamines (first-generation, like chlorphenamine found in some cold and flu tablets) may help dry up a runny nose during a cold due to their anticholinergic effects. However, modern non-drowsy antihistamines like cetirizine, loratadine, and fexofenadine have minimal benefit for cold symptoms. If you have a cold, you are better off with paracetamol and a decongestant.

Why are my allergies worse some years than others?

Pollen seasons vary in intensity from year to year depending on rainfall, temperature, and wind patterns. A wet winter followed by a warm spring tends to produce a worse hayfever season because grasses grow more vigorously. Climate change is also extending pollen seasons and increasing pollen counts in many parts of Australia.

Are pharmacy-own brand antihistamines as good as branded ones?

Yes. All antihistamines sold in Australia must meet the same TGA standards for quality, safety, and efficacy, regardless of the brand name on the box. A 10mg cetirizine tablet from Chemist Warehouse's own brand works the same as a 10mg Zyrtec tablet. The active ingredient and dose are identical — only the price differs.

Can children get hayfever? When should I see a doctor?

Yes, hayfever commonly develops in childhood, often from around age five. Some antihistamines and nasal sprays are approved for children (check age on the label), but always consult your pharmacist or GP before giving allergy medication to children under six. See your GP if your child's symptoms are affecting their sleep, concentration at school, or quality of life, or if you suspect asthma may also be present.

Should I get an allergy test?

If your symptoms are mild and respond well to OTC treatment, formal allergy testing is usually unnecessary. Consider seeing your GP for a referral to an allergist if your symptoms are severe, not responding to treatment, occurring year-round, or if you want to explore immunotherapy (desensitisation). Skin prick tests and specific IgE blood tests can identify your exact triggers, which can help with avoidance strategies.