Is It a Cold, Allergies, or Sinusitis? How to Tell the Difference

Summer colds can make your life miserable. So can seasonal allergies. Ditto for bouts of sinusitis. How can you differentiate between these conditions, get help, and start enjoying your summer again?

At SLENT, with locations in Mandeville, Slidell, Covington, and Hammond, Louisiana, our otolaryngology specialists know how to tell the difference between these issues, identifying condition-specific symptoms and making sure you get the right treatment, whether you have allergies, a cold, or sinusitis. Here’s what you should know.

The common cold

The common cold is a mild viral infection that could be caused by any of more than 200 different viruses.  Fortunately, most colds last less than 10 days, and you can shorten that time frame with the right treatment.

Symptoms of a cold:

If you have a cold, you probably feel pretty under the weather. Common early symptoms include:

• Congestion
• Cough
• Hoarseness
• Sneezing
• Runny nose

A few days into a severe cold you might start having secondary symptoms, like:

• Body aches
• Fatigue
• Fever (usually seen in children)
• Headache
• Runny eyes and nose

At about day seven of a cold, you’ll probably start to feel a lot better, with just a lingering cough as your immune system kicks the cold to the curb. 

Best cold treatments

Treating a cold is a matter of waiting it out and supporting your immune system. Stock up on:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) medications to reduce fever and headache
• Antihistamines to limit sneezing and runny eyes and nose
• Decongestants to help clear your sinuses
• Expectorants to help you expel mucus
• Cough suppressants to spare your throat

Wash your hands and pillowcase frequently to avoid spreading germs.

Allergies

Summer allergies can make you feel like you have a cold, but there are differences. Seasonal allergies are commonly caused by immune reactions to airborne allergens, typically seasonal pollen. 

Allergy symptoms

Some allergy symptoms are similar to early cold symptoms:

• Cough
• Sneezing
• Stuffy or runny nose

However, you may also have more allergy-specific symptoms, like:

• Itchy, watery eyes
• Wheezing

If your skin is sensitive to allergens, you could have:

• Itchy skin
• Skin rash or hives

However, you really need to worry about allergies if you have alarming secondary reactions such as:

• Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Low blood pressure

These severe symptoms mean you need to seek emergency medical care right away.

Best allergy treatments

The best treatments for allergies include:

• Avoidance: Stay away from allergens that trigger your reactions
• Medication: OTC or prescription medications to reduce your symptoms
• Allergy therapy: Allergy shots or sublingual therapy to lessen your immune response

Although colds and seasonal allergies may seem similar when it comes to early symptoms, secondary symptoms are quite different. 

Sinusitus

Sinusitis, commonly known as a sinus infection, is inflammation, swelling, and fluid build-up in your sinuses. The entire area from your upper forehead to your upper lip and from one cheekbone to the other can feel affected, sore, and painful.

Symptoms of sinusitis

Early symptoms of sinusitis can feel like allergies or a cold:

• Runny nose showing thick yellow or green mucus 
• Stuffy nose
• Facial pressure (particularly around your nose, eyes, and forehead)
• Postnasal drip (mucus dripping down your throat)

As sinusitis worsens, you may start having:

• Facial pressure that gets worse when you move your head around or bend over
• Pressure or pain in your teeth
• Ear pressure or pain
• Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth

Severe sinusitis continues to develop symptoms, such as:

• Cough
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue

Sinusitis is different from a cold or seasonal allergies, but it can be caused by either. Infections that come back over and over or last for weeks at a time are cause for concern and mean you need testing to find the root cause

Best sinusitis treatments

If your sinusitis is caused by allergies, allergy testing can help. If it’s caused by a cold, treating the cold should help. In addition, the following treatment may be needed:

• Nasal irrigation with salt water
• Steroid nasal sprays
• Antibiotics for bacterial sinusitis (rare)
• A balloon sinuplasty to open your sinus passages 

Not sure if you have a long-lasting cold, an ongoing allergic reaction, or sinusitis? Schedule a consultation with the team at SLENT by calling the location closest to you or visiting our contact page for more options.