Is it a Cold, Allergies, or Sinusitis? Know the Difference to Find Relief

Winter is a prime time for stuffy noses, sore throats and watery, itchy eyes, but are these the signs of a cold or something else? If your symptoms last more than a week, or if they seem to turn off and on based on your surroundings, you may be battling allergies or sinusitis says Dr. Gina Dapul-Hidalgo at Family Center for Allergy and Asthma.

“The main distinction between a cold and an allergy is the length of time the symptoms last. While a cold will last a week, allergies can last longer than that,” says Board-Certified Allergist Immunologist Dr. Gina Dapul-Hidalgo. “It’s important to get a proper diagnosis on your condition before you begin treatment.”

Colds are caused by a virus whereas allergies are caused by exposure to allergens. Colds and al­lergies can both lead to sinusitis, where the sinuses become swollen and blocks mucous from draining, leading to painful pressure and infection.

People with allergies or asthma are more likely to develop sinusitis because their nasal and sinus tissue can become swollen when they breathe in triggers like dust, pollen or smoke. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of sinusitis. Your Aller­gist Immunologist may recommend long-term treatments such as allergy shots, medication to control inflammation and avoidance of allergy triggers.

The following chart explains the differences between the three conditions:

	Allergies	Colds	Sinusitis
Symptoms	Runny or stuffed nose, sneezing, wheezing, watery or itchy eyes	Similar to allergies, but may also include sore throat, fever and body aches	Swollen, painful feeling around forehead, eyes and cheeks; stuffy nose with thick, colored mucous; bad tasting post-nasal drip; bad breath; sore throat; cough; tiredness and occasional light fever
Warning Time	Begins shortly after exposure to an allergen	Develops over several days	Stuffy nose and cough lasting longer than one or two weeks
Duration	Lasts as long as exposure. If the allergen is present year-round, symptoms may be chronic.	Should clear up within several days	Acute sinusitis lasts less than four weeks. Chronic sinusitis lasts three months or longer.

If your symptoms are making you feel miserable, schedule an appointment with Board-Certified Allergist Immunologist Dr. Gina Dapul-Hidalgo at 240-243-6115 for an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment plan.