#allergy #general blood analysis #ARVI+2

Allergies or Colds? Looking for the Cause of Runny Nose

28. října 2025

2 min čtení

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If you have a stuffy nose, the first thing you think of is a cold, and, of course, you start to treat it intensively. The problem is that a runny nose can be caused by a completely different reason ‒ for example, allergies. In the case of allergies, sprays and drops will not help.

Klíčové poznatky

If you have a stuffy nose, the first thing you think of is a cold, and, of course, you start to treat it intensively.
Allergies vs. Colds
How to distinguish an allergy from a cold

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Autor článku

Dr. Jane

Otolaryngologist

Allergies vs. Colds

Since allergies (often referred to as allergic rhinitis) and colds have many similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell them apart.

Different types of viruses are the cause of acute respiratory infections. An allergy-like runny nose develops when the immune system reacts negatively to a substance, causing allergy symptoms.

Generally, the main cause of allergic rhinitis is exposure of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses to plant allergens such as pollen from flowering plants and trees, dust mites, animal hair or saliva, mold in foods (such as peanuts, tree nuts, milk and eggs), dust, and chemicals that enter the body by inhalation (household chemicals, etc.).

How to distinguish an allergy from a cold

Allergies and colds share some common symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, sore throat, runny nose, stuffy nose, and watery eyes. Therefore, one way to determine the cause of your ailment is to pay attention to other signs that they do not have in common.

Allergic rhinitis is often accompanied by fatigue, sore throat, stuffy nose, headache, and high fever. However, it typically passes quickly in 7-10 days.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis include difficulty nasal breathing, sneezing, and attack-like abundant discharge of mucus from the nasal passages. During sleep, nasal congestion increases. There is often a feeling of heaviness in the perinasal area and the head. Unlike acute respiratory infections, allergies will not disappear until you eliminate their cause. Seasonal allergens tend to cause symptoms for 2-3 weeks.

Allergic rhinitis is confirmed by positive allergy tests for specific IgE immunoglobulins.

Allergy treatment

First, it is necessary to eliminate contact with the allergen. Doing salt rinses for the nose and drinking lots of water will provide relief. Additionally, the doctor can prescribe medications with intranasal glucocorticosteroids and antihistamines.

The most effective treatment to get rid of allergies completely is allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT). It consists of introducing a specially treated allergen into the human body, with the dosage increasing each time. Over time, an immune response is formed without an allergic reaction. The principle of the method is very similar to the usual vaccination, but, in this case, the doctor selects a different schedule and duration of therapy for each patient.

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