Whats The Difference Between Allergies And Sinus

Treatment Of Food Sensitivities

Once you have identified your food triggers, they should be avoided as much as possible for at least the first 6-8 weeks. This initial avoidance allows any active immune response to subside. After this period of avoidance, many people find that they are able to tolerate these reactive foods in moderation. Tolerance of these foods becomes more likely if you have also been supporting your overall digestive health, and working with a naturopathic doctor is very helpful in that regard!

Do I Have Covid Symptoms Or Something Else

For most people it is crucial that they can identify coronavirus symptoms vs flu symptoms, coronavirus symptoms vs cold symptoms, or even coronavirus symptoms vs allergy symptoms. While it is true that Covid, allergies, colds and flu symptoms can be similar there are some differences to point out. But first it is good to know a little about each illness.

Can You Test For A Sinus Infection Can You Test For Allergies

Its possible to test for a sinus infection, either with a nasal endoscopy or imaging. Testing for allergies is possible too, and with a skin prick test, a professional can determine which allergens youre allergic to. We can provide the necessary tests here at Allergy & Asthma Center and proceed with the appropriate treatment.

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Are There Different Treatments For Allergies Vs A Sinus Infection

Yes, the treatments for allergies are different from a sinus infection, but its easy to confuse the two illnesses because the symptoms they cause are so similar. For example:

Dr. Dobson comments, One of the things that I hear over and over from patients is that they have these terrible sinus infections and I think a lot of times that they seem to underplay or not fully realize the role that the allergies are playing in their sinus complaints.

Determining the underlying cause of these symptoms is important because if you have allergies and theyre treated with an antibiotic, it wont solve the underlying issues causing all of your symptoms.

If you have severe stuffiness related to either allergies or a sinus infection, the symptoms can be lessened with an over-the-counter or prescription decongestant. Common allergy treatments can also include antihistamines that block the immune system response.

However, allergy medications will not eliminate the sinus infection. The first step is to understand whether the sinus infection is viral or bacterial. If your doctor believes the sinus infection is viral, you should:

• Drink clear fluids such as broth or water
• Rest as much as possible
• Take over-the-counter or prescription medicines to alleviate symptoms
• Use a saline spray to rehydrate your nasal passages

Start Treating Your Nasal Allergies Today

Are you suffering from nasal allergies? Dr. Chacko has helped countless adults and children in the Atlanta area treat issues of the ear, nose and throat successfully. Visit us at one of our Georgia locations in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Canton, Cumming, Duluth and Johns Creek. Make an appointment at the Chacko Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center by calling .

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How Nasal Allergies Can Cause A Sinus Problem

Common allergens that irritate the nasal passages include pollen, pet dander, dust mites, dirt and so on. Allergic people will react to these allergens by producing chemicals such as histamines. In the nose, the result can be swelling of the inside nasal layer. The swelling may be incredibly painful and bring on cold-like symptoms due to excessive mucus production.

It can be tricky to tell the difference between a sinus infection and a problem caused by allergies. Both conditions can lead to overproduction of mucus and result in a runny nose or congestion. You may also feel sinus pressure from swelling of the nasal passages. Nasal allergies can sometimes lead to itchy eyes, which are less likely with an infection. Speaking to an ENT doctor in Johns Creek, Canton, or a nearby Georgia location will help with a diagnosis.

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Whats The Main Difference Between Sinus Infection And Covid

The main difference between COVID and a sinus infection is what causes them. A sinus infection is caused by inflammation of the sinuses and often follows a cold or allergy flare-up. COVID-19 is only caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.

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So How Do I Know If Its Sinus Or Allergies

Allergies occur when your immune system reacts to an allergen like pollen or dust. A sinus infection, also known as sinusitis, occurs when the nasal passage gets infected. The conditions can have similar symptoms like congestion and stuffy nose, but the conditions are quite different.

Its possible to have allergies at any point in your life even though they tend to be most common during childhood. Its also possible for allergies to lead to a condition called allergic rhinitis. With this condition, itchy eyes is a common symptom in addition to the other symptoms caused by a sinus infection or allergies. If itchy eyes is one of your symptoms, then your condition likely isnt sinusitis and likely is allergies. However, if pain around your cheeks and eyes is a symptom youre having, or possibly thick, discolored mucus, then you likely have a sinus infection.

Its actually possible to have both conditions at the same time. This can cause even more confusion, so its often best to get professional testing and treatment.

Causes And Signs Of Sinus Infections:

The Mayo Clinic describes three symptoms of a sinus infection:

• Nasal obstruction or congestion
• Drainage of a thick yellowish or greenish discharge from the nose
• Tenderness, pain, and swelling around the nose

Bacterial sinus infections often follow a severe head cold or one that lasts more than 14 days. Another potential cause of a sinus infection is a fungus within your sinuses. It is important to know the cause of the infection to ensure the appropriate treatment is provided.

While symptoms of a sinus infection and allergic rhinitis can seem similar, the cause of each is actually quite different, and this requires that doctors treat them differently. At Arkansas Allergy and Asthma in Little Rock and Conway, obtaining an allergy test to evaluate for allergic rhinitis can help understand the cause of your sinus congestion.

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Diagnosing A Sinus Infection

Our staff will start with a patient history to diagnose a sinus infection, and then our physicians will examine your throat, nose, and sinuses. In addition to looking for polyps or changes in the noses anatomy, an allergy test can determine if allergies cause nasal swelling. A computed tomography scan or CT scan of your sinuses can also tell us where your inflammation is occurring and if any structural problems exist.

Relief From Rhinitis And Sinusitis In Denver Co

If you think you have either rhinitis or sinusitis, you need to talk to a qualified physician. At Associates of Otolaryngology, we are qualified to diagnose and treat these conditions. Upon assessment, one of our ENT specialists will tell you which one you have if its not clear from the symptoms alone. Then, a personalized treatment plan will be formed so you can get the relief you need from these conditions. Contact AOO to schedule your consultation by calling one of our convenient Colorado office locations or contacting us online today.

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What Causes Sinus Infections Vs Allergies

Sinus Infection

Sinus infections or sinusitis may be caused by anything that interferes with airflow into the sinuses and the drainage of mucus out of the sinuses. The sinus openings may be blocked by swelling of the tissue lining and adjacent nasal passage tissue, for example with

• common colds,
• tissue irritants such as OTC nasal sprays, cocaine, and cigarette smoke.
• Other causes of sinus infections or sinusitis
• Tumors or growths also can block the sinuses if they are near the sinus openings.

Dehydration, disease, drying medications, and lack of sufficient humidity can cause sinusitis or sinus infection.The drainage of mucous from the sinuses can also be impaired by thickening of the mucous secretions, by decrease in hydration of the mucous brought on by disease , drying medications , and lack of sufficient humidity in the air. The epithelial cells have small hair-like fibers, called cilia, which move back and forth to help the mucus move out of the sinuses. These small cilia may be damaged by many irritants, especially smoke. This can prevent them from assisting the mucus in draining from the sinuses, and thus results in sinus infections or sinusitis.

Stagnated mucus provides an environment for bacteria, viruses and in some circumstances, fungus, to grow within the sinus cavities. In addition, the microbes themselves can initiate and exacerbate sinus blockage. The most commonly infected sinuses are the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses.

Allergies

Whats The Difference Between Rhinitis Allergies And Sinusitis

by Lisa Twang | Published on Jan 18, 2021 | Last updated Feb 4, 2021 | Otorhinolaryngology / ENT

Rhinitis is the inflammation of the nose, while sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinuses . Sinusitis is also known as rhinosinusitis , as both the nose and sinuses are often affected.

Most patients who believe they suffer from sinus problems actually have allergic rhinitis, also known as nasal problems related to allergies. In Singapore, 5.5% of the adult population and 44% of school-going children suffer from allergic rhinitis. According to research done by Dr Samuel Yeak , fewer than 5 per cent of the population suffer from true sinus problems.

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Do You Offer Allergy And Sinus Infection Testing And Treatments Near Me

Allergy & Asthma Center has 3 locations in the Georgia area, so if you live in the area, you can come see us at the location nearest you. Go ahead and contact us to learn more about our treatments and our clinics. Were here for you if you have any questions for us whatsoever, so dont hesitate to reach out if you believe we can help you here at Allergy & Asthma Center.

We look forward to helping and treating you soon!

How To Tell The Difference

The easiest way to tell the difference between allergies and a sinus infection is to compare your symptoms. While there is some overlap, as shown above, both allergies and sinus infections have symptoms that are unique to each condition.

Note that it is possible to have both allergies and a sinus infection. Youll know this if you exhibit symptoms from both lists.

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Common Sinus Infection Symptoms

• Loss of smell and taste
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Bad breath

In order to determine what condition you are suffering from, your physician will review your list of symptoms and perform a physical exam. The difference between these two conditions can be boiled down into two questions:

Is your sinus congestion accompanied by watery or itchy eyes?

Do you have a headache, pressure or pain in the face and chronic fatigue?

Watery or itchy eyes will lead your doctor to determine that you are suffering from seasonal allergies, while pain or pressure in the face combined with a headache and fatigue is usually an indication that you have a sinus infection.

The reason it is important to figure out what is causing your symptoms is because that will shape your treatment plan.

Antihistamines, decongestants and nasal or oral corticosteroids are used to treat seasonal allergies. Immunotherapy is an option for long-term relief of these symptoms.

Treatment for a sinus infection depends on the infections severity. Saline nasal sprays and corticosteroids are useful for rinsing your nasal passages and relieving inflammation. Decongestants are a good short-term solution, but extended use can actually worsen the condition. Antibiotics are usually prescribed for bacterial infections.

If you are experiencing these symptoms, now is the time to do something about it. Contact your Houston physician to schedule an appointment today.

How To Tell The Difference Between Covid

Allergy and sinus symptoms can be similar to COVID-19 symptoms. An otolaryngologist explains how to tell them apart and when you should seek treatment.

Allergy season has become more complicated since the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have allergies or sinus problems, you may not be sure how to tell the difference between those symptoms and COVID-19 symptoms. Jessica Southwood, MD, otolaryngologist, offers expert guidance to help you better understand these three conditions.

Since sinus and allergy symptoms and COVID-19 symptoms can seem similar and have some overlap, it is important to familiarize yourself with the differences. That way, you and your provider can manage your health care appropriately.

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Key Difference Sinus Vs Allergies

The exaggerated and inappropriate immune responses that result in tissue damage and death are called the allergies. On the other hand, sinuses are air filled spaces present within some bones around the nasal cavity. From these definitions, you can understand that there is no similarity between these two at all. The key difference between sinus and allergies is that a sinus is an anatomical structure whereas an allergy is a physiological derangement. But in a pathological perspective, they are interconnected because an allergy is capable of inflaming the sinuses causing sinusitis.

Matching Treatment With Medical Condition

Obviously, the important point in determining which treatment is the right one is to correctly identify which medical condition you may be troubled with. While the symptoms from your allergies wont be helped at all by balloon sinuplasty, neither will your chronic sinusitis be helped by allergy medications or an allergy shot.

The key to all this is to consult with your doctor about exactly which symptoms you are experiencing, to have an understanding of what you are allergic to, and what triggers may be present in your household or extended environment. It is also helpful to be aware of local allergy seasons which may impact your health. The key elements to look for in any diagnosis of the cause for your symptoms are the actual duration of your symptoms, the possible presence of allergy season, and if necessary, a thorough examination by your primary care physician. Taken all together, these factors should provide a fairly clear diagnosis for whether youre suffering from allergies or sinuses.

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Taking The Right Medication For The Right Illness

The best thing to do for cold or sinus symptoms during the first seven to 10 days is to treat the symptoms, not the illness. You can do this with medications such as:

• Cough medicine
• Pain reliever

Cold viruses dont respond to antibiotics, so taking them during the first seven days probably wont help. In fact, taking antibiotics when theyre not needed can increase your risk for being infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or other serious antibiotic related problems.

After seven to 10 days, when the symptoms are more likely to indicate a sinus infection, it may be time to ask your doctor about antibiotics. However, sinus infections can and do sometimes go away on their own, just like colds. Ask your doctor if you need an antibiotic or if the infection is likely to go away on its own without medication.

If your symptoms point to allergies, many effective medications are available over the counter to control symptoms, such as antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays. These medications work on all sorts of allergies because they suppress the bodys reactions to allergens, rather than treating the specific allergen. Some antihistamines can cause drowsiness, however, so be cautious of that when taking them. They also do not help stuffiness or pressure symptoms, so adding a decongestant plus a pain reliever as needed can help you ride it out.

How Can You Tell If You Have A Sinus Infection Or Covid

You cannot tell if you have COVID or a sinus infection just based on your symptoms alone. Some symptoms of COVID overlap with those of a sinus infection, but there are also symptoms that are specific to one or the other.

While the symptoms of a sinus infection mostly involve your respiratory system, COVID can cause a range of symptoms that affect other parts of your body .

Its also important to note that you can have COVID and not have any symptoms.

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What Is Allergic Fungal Sinusitis

Allergic Fungal Sinusitis is a sinus fungal infection that can cause a chronic allergic reaction resulting in nasal polyps and mucosal plugging of the sinus. Treatment usually involves surgical removal of the mucosal debris and steroid medications. However, treating the underlying allergic condition causing nasal passage swelling and congestion may prevent the development of AFS.

How Can An Ent Help With My Allergies Or Sinus Infection

An ENT specialist, or otolaryngologist, has special training in the diagnosis and treatment protocols for a variety of disorders of the head, neck and face. From simple sinusitis and allergies to surgical correction of physical deformities of the sinuses, voice disorders, or problems with the thyroidto name just a few of the conditions your otolaryngologist is trained to treat.

Allergies are a common problem, and, when they are chronic, they can lead to debilitating symptoms. Dr. Dobson says her goal is to, Work on the allergies, get the symptoms under control, decrease the frequency of the flare ups, and get you feeling better.

If you experience any of these symptoms that last more than 10 days, its more than time to see your doctor:

• Balance or dizziness issues
• Hearing loss or stuffy ears
• Hoarseness or other voice issues
• Pain in your ears, face, or teeth
• Persistent sore throat
• Recurring adenoid, ear, or tonsil infections
• Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
• Trouble swallowing

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