Summer Cold or Allergies? 3 Ways to Know

Sneezing your head off in December, eyes streaming, nose running — and wondering how you managed to catch a “cold” at the beach?

You’re not alone. Recent Australian data suggest around 1 in 4 Australians now live with hay fever (allergic rhinitis), and allergy rates are still climbing. That’s more people than ever dealing with allergy symptoms that can easily be mistaken for a summer cold. At the same time, allergic disease overall affects an estimated 8.2 million Australians (about 30% of the population) and costs the country billions of dollars each year in healthcare and lost productivity.

No wonder so many of us are confused when we’re sniffling through BBQs, beach trips and Christmas parties. Is it a summer cold? Hay fever? A sinus infection brewing in the background?

As an Australian telehealth clinic, we talk to people every day who are trying to work out exactly that. In this guide, we’ll walk you through three clear ways to tell the difference between a summer cold and hay fever, with a quick detour into sinus infection vs allergy so you know when it’s more serious.

You’ll learn:

• How symptoms feel different in a viral cold vs seasonal allergies
• Why timing and triggers can give away whether it’s hay fever
• How duration and progression separate a passing virus from ongoing allergic rhinitis or sinusitis
• Where antihistamines in Australia fit in — when they help and when they don’t
• Practical, Australia-specific tips to get through summer without constant sneezing

By the end, you’ll have a simple mental checklist you can use next time you’re sniffling in December — and know when it’s time to talk to a doctor (in person or via telehealth).

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First, A Quick Refresher: Cold vs Hay Fever vs Sinus Infection

Before we jump into the “3 ways to know”, it helps to understand what’s actually happening in your body.

What is a “summer cold”?

A common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract (mainly your nose and throat). Most people recover in 7–10 days, sometimes a little longer. Typical symptoms include:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore or scratchy throat
• Cough
• Sneezing
• Mild headache or body aches
• Low-grade fever
• Feeling generally unwell or “run down”

Colds are more common in the cooler months, but you can catch them in summer — especially if you’re travelling, working in close quarters, or around small children.

What is hay fever (allergic rhinitis)?

Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, happens when your immune system overreacts to harmless particles like pollen, dust mites, mould spores or animal dander. Instead of ignoring them, your body releases histamine and other chemicals, leading to classic allergy symptoms such as:

• Sneezing (often in bursts)
• Itchy, runny or blocked nose
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Itchy throat or roof of the mouth
• “Post-nasal drip” and needing to clear your throat
• Feeling like you have a mild cold that just won’t go away

Hay fever is extremely common in Australia. Healthdirect estimates it affects around 1 in 5 adults, and other Australian sources suggest it may now be closer to 1 in 4.

While we often think of hay fever as a spring problem, pollen seasons are changing. In many parts of Australia, pollen levels stay high into summer, and research suggests pollen seasons are becoming longer and more intense, partly due to climate and environmental changes.

That’s why so many Aussies are sneezing through December, January and even into February.

Where does a sinus infection fit in?

A sinus infection (sinusitis) occurs when the lining of the sinuses (air-filled spaces in your skull) becomes inflamed, often after a cold or as a complication of allergies. Inflammation blocks normal drainage, mucus gets trapped, and germs can multiply.

Compared to a simple cold or hay fever, sinus infections are more likely to cause:

• Persistent facial pain or pressure (cheeks, forehead, around eyes, upper teeth)
• Thick, coloured mucus from the nose or down the back of the throat
• Bad breath or an unpleasant taste in the mouth
• Symptoms lasting more than 10 days or getting worse after initially improving

Untreated hay fever can increase your risk of sinus infections, so getting on top of allergies isn’t just about comfort — it’s also about preventing complications.

1. Way #1: How It Feels — Itchiness vs Aches

One of the simplest ways to distinguish summer cold vs hay fever is to tune into how your body feels, not just whether your nose is running.

Allergy symptoms: the itch factor

If you remember nothing else, remember this:

"Itch = think allergy."

Hay fever and other seasonal allergies are much more likely to cause itch-related symptoms than a virus. Think:

• Itchy eyes (often red and watery)
• Itchy nose, especially deep inside
• Itchy throat or tickly sensation in the back of the throat
• Itching on the roof of the mouth

You might also notice:

• Sudden sneezing fits (10 sneezes in a row is a classic allergy move)
• Clear, watery mucus that just won’t stop
• Nose feels blocked, but you don’t feel sick in the “I want to lie in bed and die” way

Healthdirect describes hay fever as causing an itchy, runny or blocked nose and itchy, watery eyes — often with a feeling that you have a cold that never quite goes away.

Cold symptoms: fatigue, aches and feeling “off”

Viral colds, even mild ones, usually involve systemic symptoms — your whole body knows you’re unwell:

• Sore or scratchy throat, often as the very first sign
• Headache or feeling “foggy”
• Mild body aches or joint pain
• Low-grade fever or chills (not everyone gets this, but many do)
• Fatigue and wanting to rest more than usual

You might get watery eyes with a cold, but intense itchiness in the eyes, nose or throat is much more typical of allergies.

Quick sense-check

If you’re thinking, “Honestly, I feel fine apart from my nose/eyes” and the main complaint is itchy, watery, sneezy symptoms, hay fever is more likely.

If you’re thinking, “I feel run-down, my throat hurts, and everything aches a bit,” a viral cold is more likely — even if it happens to show up in December.

2. Way #2: Timing & Triggers — Patterns Tell a Story

Another big clue in the summer cold vs hay fever puzzle is when your symptoms flare and what you’ve been doing.

Colds: random and linked to sick contacts

Colds tend to behave like this:

• They appear 1–3 days after you’ve been exposed to someone who’s unwell.
• You may be able to trace them back to a sick child, a colleague, or travel (planes are classic bug factories).
• They’re not especially tied to weather or time of day.
• Symptoms tend to build over a couple of days, peak, then gradually improve.

You can absolutely get a cold in summer (viruses don’t read the calendar), but most people don’t see a regular pattern like “every time I mow the lawn, I get a cold”.

Seasonal allergies: predictable patterns and clear triggers

Allergic rhinitis and other seasonal allergies, on the other hand, often behave in a much more predictable way:

• Symptoms flare when you’ve been outdoors on windy or high-pollen days.
• You get worse after mowing the lawn, gardening, picnics in the park, or a day at the cricket on a dry, breezy day.
• Symptoms may improve noticeably when you:
  • go indoors with doors and windows shut
  • shower and wash your hair
  • use air-conditioning in recirculate mode in the car
• You notice the same pattern every year — e.g. from late October through January your nose and eyes play up.

Healthdirect even recommends checking a pollen forecast and staying indoors when counts are high or during/after thunderstorms — a very Australian problem thanks to events like the 2016 Melbourne thunderstorm asthma episode.

Summer in Australia: why timing matters

In much of Australia, grass pollen season peaks in spring but often stretches into early summer, especially in southern and eastern states. Some people also react to weed or tree pollens, which can have slightly different peak times.

So if your “summer cold” seems to:

• kick off every November–January,
• flare on days the news is talking about “pollen bombs” or thunderstorm asthma risk, and
• consistently worsen outdoors and ease indoors,

…you’re probably looking at seasonal allergies, not a rogue summer virus.

3. Way #3: Duration & Progression — Does It Come and Go or Linger?

The third big difference in the summer cold vs hay fever debate is how long symptoms last and how they evolve.

How long does a cold last?

Most people recover from a common cold in 7–10 days, although a cough or mild fatigue can last a bit longer. The pattern usually looks like:

1. Days 1–2: Sore throat, mild tiredness, maybe a headache.
2. Days 2–4: Runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, feeling more unwell.
3. Days 4–7: Nasal symptoms and cough may peak then gradually start to improve.
4. After day 7: Most symptoms steadily resolve, though a cough can hang around.

If your symptoms clearly follow this curve and then disappear, it’s likely you had a viral cold — even if it showed up in the middle of January.

How long does hay fever last?

Hay fever, by contrast, can feel like a “cold that never ends”:

• Symptoms may stick around for weeks or months, depending on the length of the pollen season or exposure to your trigger (e.g. dust mites or a pet).
• They can wax and wane with weather and exposure — bad on windy days, better after rain.
• You rarely get a clear “I was sick, now I’m well again” moment; instead, there’s a background level of sniffle and itch that varies in intensity.

If your nose and eyes misbehave every day for weeks, especially at the same time of year, that strongly suggests seasonal allergies.

Sinus infection vs allergy: when pain and fever join the party

What if your “cold” and “hay fever” symptoms are hanging around and getting more painful? That’s when we think about sinus infection vs allergy.

You’re more likely to be dealing with sinusitis if:

• Facial pain or pressure becomes a main symptom (cheeks, forehead, teeth, around eyes).
• You have thick, greenish or yellow mucus (note: mucus colour alone isn’t a perfect guide, but in combination with other symptoms it’s useful).
• You develop a fever, feel quite unwell, or have bad breath.
• Symptoms last more than 10 days without improvement, or get worse after initially getting better.

Uncontrolled allergic rhinitis can set you up for sinus infections by keeping the nasal passages swollen and congested. That’s one reason why taking hay fever seriously matters — it’s not just “a bit of sneezing”.

Antihistamines in Australia: When They Help (and When They Don’t)

If you’re trying to work out whether you’re dealing with a summer cold vs hay fever, antihistamines can sometimes act like a mini “test” — with some caveats.

What antihistamines actually do

Antihistamines work by blocking histamine, one of the key chemicals your body releases during an allergic reaction. That makes them particularly useful for:

• Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
• Allergic conjunctivitis (itchy, watery eyes from allergies)
• Hives
• Mild reactions to insect bites or stings

In Australia, most antihistamines are available over the counter from pharmacies and even supermarkets, though it’s still wise to ask your pharmacist for advice — especially if you’re pregnant, taking other medicines, or have chronic conditions.

Healthdirect divides them into:

• Non-sedating or less-sedating antihistamines (e.g. cetirizine, loratadine, fexofenadine, desloratadine, bilastine)
• Sedating antihistamines (older types like dexchlorpheniramine, promethazine, diphenhydramine)

Sedating antihistamines can cause drowsiness, poor coordination and dry mouth and aren’t recommended for treating allergic reactions in most cases. They shouldn’t be used in young children for cold/flu symptoms.

How antihistamines help you tell cold vs allergy

Because antihistamines target histamine, they’re much more effective for allergy symptoms than for viral colds. So:

• If you take a non-drowsy antihistamine and notice clear improvement in itchiness, sneezing and runny nose within a few hours, that supports hay fever or another allergy as the main culprit.
• If nothing much changes, and you still feel tired, achy and “viral”, you might be dealing with a cold instead.

However, this isn’t a perfect test — some people with strong allergies may need regular antihistamines plus a nasal steroid spray for good control, and not every cold will ignore an antihistamine completely (especially if you also have underlying allergies).

If you’re relying on antihistamines most days for weeks on end just to function, that’s a good sign you should talk to a GP about longer-term strategies — including nasal sprays or even allergy testing and immunotherapy.

Red Flags: When Sniffles Aren’t “Just Allergies” or “Just a Cold”

Sometimes the line between summer cold vs hay fever vs sinus infection gets blurred, and other times something more serious is going on. You should seek urgent medical care (call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department) if you have:

• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness
• Wheezing that is new or rapidly worsening
• Swelling of the lips, tongue or face, or trouble swallowing
• Sudden, severe facial pain or headache with high fever
• Confusion, drowsiness, or feeling faint

For non-emergency but concerning symptoms, book a GP or telehealth appointment promptly if:

• Your “cold” lasts more than 10 days without improvement
• You suspect a sinus infection (persistent facial pain, thick mucus, fever)
• Your hay fever is so bad it’s impacting sleep, work or study
• You also have asthma and your breathing is getting worse
• Over-the-counter treatments aren’t helping, or you’re not sure what to use

If you’re unsure whether to see a doctor, you can call the healthdirect helpline (1800 022 222) for 24/7 nurse advice.

How We Can Help at NextClinic

If you’re reading this because you’re currently miserable with sniffles, you don’t necessarily have to drag yourself to a walk-in clinic.

At NextClinic, our Australian-registered doctors can assess many cases of suspected hay fever, colds, sinus infections and other URTIs (upper respiratory tract infections) via telehealth. We can:

• Help you work out whether it’s likely a virus, allergies, or a sinus problem
• Provide treatment plans for hay fever and other seasonal allergies — including advice on non-sedating antihistamines, nasal sprays and lifestyle measures
• Prescribe medications when clinically appropriate (such as nasal corticosteroids, antihistamines, or medicines for sinusitis)
• Advise when you do or don’t need antibiotics for sinus infections (and when to seek in-person care) — we talk more about that in our blog post Antibiotics 101: How to Use Them Responsibly
• Issue online medical certificates if your symptoms mean you need time off work or study — including 1‑day or 2‑day certificates
• Provide referrals to allergy or ENT specialists if your symptoms are frequent, severe, or complicated

If you know your symptoms tend to progress into wheeze or asthma, you might also find our articles Thunderstorm Asthma: Triggers and How to Stay Safe and Understanding Asthma: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options helpful.

And if you’re currently in bed with a suspected URTI, our URTI Treatment Online service lets you speak to a doctor quickly, without leaving home.

Practical Tips to Survive Summer Sniffles in Australia

Whether your main concern is a summer cold, seasonal allergies, or avoiding a sinus infection, a few simple habits can make a big difference.

If it’s likely hay fever or seasonal allergies

Drawing on advice from Healthdirect, the National Asthma Council and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia:

• Check pollen forecasts
  • Use local pollen count services or apps like AirRater, especially in southern states where grass pollen levels can be high.
• Time your outdoor activities
  • Avoid gardening, lawn mowing or outdoor exercise on very windy, dry days or in the hours just before a thunderstorm.
• Use a physical barrier
  • Wear sunglasses and a hat outside to reduce pollen reaching your eyes.
  • Consider a mask if you’re very sensitive or doing yard work.
• De-pollen when you get home
  • Shower and wash your hair after spending time outdoors.
  • Change clothes and avoid drying washing outside on high-pollen days.
• Optimise your medications
  • Use non-sedating antihistamines as needed (or daily during your worst season, if advised by your doctor).
  • If symptoms are frequent or moderate to severe, talk to a GP about a regular nasal corticosteroid spray, which can be more effective for nasal congestion when used properly and consistently.
• Think long-term
  • If your seasonal allergies are severe, ask about allergy testing or immunotherapy (desensitisation), which can reduce symptom severity over years rather than just masking symptoms day to day.

For a deeper dive, you can read our own guide: Hay Fever: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments or Allergy Awareness: Managing Seasonal Allergies in Australia.

If it’s probably a summer cold

While there’s no quick cure for a viral cold, you can support your body as it fights it off:

• Rest – your immune system works better when you’re not pushing through exhaustion.
• Hydrate – water, herbal tea, broth and electrolyte drinks all help keep mucus thin and easier to clear.
• Soothe your nose and throat
  • Saline nasal sprays or rinses can ease congestion and wash out irritants.
  • Honey (for adults and kids over 1) in warm water or tea can calm a sore throat or cough.
• Use simple pain relief if needed
  • Paracetamol (and ibuprofen if suitable for you) can relieve headache, sore throat and mild fever.
• Stay home if you’re unwell
  • To avoid sharing your virus, work from home if possible, or use a sick day — especially important if you’re around vulnerable people. Telehealth can help you get a medical certificate without leaving bed.

If symptoms aren’t improving after about a week, or are getting worse, it’s wise to talk to a doctor to rule out complications like sinusitis or chest infections.

Putting It All Together: Your 3-Step Checklist

When you’re trying to decide whether you’re dealing with a summer cold vs hay fever, run through these three questions:

1. What does it feel like?
   • Lots of itching in eyes, nose, throat, big sneezing fits, mostly clear mucus, but otherwise feeling OK → think allergies.
   • Sore throat, aches, fatigue, maybe fever and feeling generally unwell → think viral cold.
2. When does it flare?
   • Symptoms track with outdoor exposure, windy days, mowing, or certain seasons, and settle when you come indoors → seasonal allergies are likely.
   • Symptoms appear after being around sick people, don’t follow a clear pollen/weather pattern, and seem more random → more likely a cold or other infection.
3. How long has it been going on?
   • Roughly 7–10 days with a clear beginning, middle and end → fits a common cold.
   • Weeks or months of a “never-ending cold”, especially at the same time each year, or symptoms getting worse after 10+ days with facial pain and thick mucus → hay fever and/or sinusitis should be on the radar.

If you’re still unsure after that, that’s exactly the sort of scenario telehealth is designed for — we can talk through your symptoms, look at the timing, and help you work out the most likely cause and best next steps.

Conclusion: Your Nose Is Telling You Something — Will You Listen This Week?

To recap the most important points:

• Itchiness and sneezing fits that flare outdoors and improve indoors strongly point to seasonal allergies, not a random “summer cold”.
• Systemic symptoms like fatigue, aches and fever, plus a clear 7–10‑day illness arc, are more typical of a viral cold — which you can get at any time of year.
• The line between sinus infection vs allergy is often drawn at facial pain, thick mucus, fever, and symptoms dragging on past 10 days — that’s when a GP review is really important.
• Antihistamines in Australia are widely available and can provide quick relief for many allergy symptoms, but long-term or severe hay fever usually needs a proper plan (often including nasal sprays and trigger management).
• Taking hay fever seriously can protect not just your comfort, but also your sleep, productivity, and risk of complications like sinusitis and even asthma flares.

Now it’s over to you.

This week, pick one simple strategy from this guide and actually try it. For example:

• Keep a quick symptom diary for a few days, noting what you were doing when your nose went wild.
• Check the pollen forecast for your city and see whether your symptoms line up with high-pollen days.
• Trial a non-sedating antihistamine (if appropriate for you) on a bad day and see how your body responds.
• If you’ve been “just putting up with it” for weeks, book a telehealth consult and get a proper plan in place.

Notice what you learn — and if you’re reading this on our blog, we’d love you to share in the comments:

• Which clue (symptom feel, timing/triggers, or duration) helped you most?
• What strategy did you try this week, and what happened?

Your experience might be exactly what another Aussie needs to finally realise their “summer cold” is actually hay fever — and that they don’t have to suffer through the season unprepared.

References

• Allergy rates climb, costing Australians $18.9 billion in financial losses - National Allergy Council
• Common cold - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
• Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) - symptoms, treatments and causes | healthdirect
• Nothing to sneeze at: why so many Australians suffer from hay fever - National Allergy Centre of Excellence
• Sinus Infection vs Cold - What's the difference between them?
• About Common Cold | Common Cold | CDC
• Pollen - a trigger for hay fever - National Asthma Council Australia
• Antihistamines | healthdirect
• Thunderstorm asthma
• Online Doctors: Telehealth Consultations at NextClinic
• Common Cold: Symptoms, How to Treat, and More

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