#Colds

As Thailand moves from the rainy season into hotter months, many residents reach for tissues with uncertainty. Are persistent sneezes, sniffs, and scratchy throats signs of a lingering cold or reactions to rising pollen? Global research shows allergy seasons are starting earlier and lasting longer due to climate change, making the distinction more important for urban Thais facing air pollution and dense greenery.

The overlap between cold and allergy symptoms is real. Nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and fatigue appear in both conditions, which can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. A senior physician from a major medical center notes, “People often confuse the two. Nasal stuffiness and sneezing occur in both.” With pollen seasons intensifying, Thai doctors warn that managing this issue now extends well beyond a single season.

As Thailand’s wet season transitions into the hot months, many residents find themselves reaching for tissues—uncertain whether their persistent sneezes, sniffles, and scratchy throats are signs of a lingering cold or responses to the rising pollen count. With research indicating that allergy seasons globally are starting earlier and lasting longer due to climate change, understanding the difference between allergies and the common cold has never been more important—especially for those living in Bangkok and other urban centres prone to increasingly severe air pollution and dense greenery (theguardian.com).