Seasonal allergies are often mistaken for a cold. There pretty much is no way to be sure which is which. I don't know where you live, and what your history regarding pollen allergies is, but this year is one of the worst, maybe THE worst, I have ever dealt with regarding allergies.
I don't know what the pollen counts have been, I just know my usually annoying spring pollen allergies are off the hook this year. My wife and kids are the same way. Benedryl is the only thing working and every day is a struggle between the drowsiness of Benedryl vs. the out of control sneezing, wheezing, itchy throat, plugged E tubes and crusty eyes.
If you usually don't have pollen allergies, that does not mean that the ridiculous level of symptoms this season aren't giving you a hard time this year. I have spoken to several people here who usually don't have seasonal allergy problems that DO have them this year. I think if enough pollen is dumped on even the most resistant person they will start to have symptoms from it.
