Differences between Allergic Rhinitis and the Common Cold

Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
Updated on December 23, 2024
00:00
00:00

The differences between allergic rhinitis and the common cold are very clear. Allergic rhinitis lasts longer and causes patients to experience sudden bouts of sneezing in the morning, continuous clear nasal discharge, bilateral nasal congestion, and also includes symptoms such as itchy eyes and nasal issues. On the other hand, the common cold generally lasts for a shorter period and is usually caused by a virus or bacteria due to lowered immunity, leading to both systemic and local symptoms. Patients with a cold may experience fever, dizziness, headache, muscle weakness, muscle soreness, nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, and coughing. In terms of treatment, allergic rhinitis requires symptomatic anti-allergy treatment, while the common cold needs symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment and generally improves gradually over about a week, whereas allergic rhinitis requires a longer process.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 10sec home-news-image

Can people with allergic rhinitis eat mangoes?

For allergic rhinitis, it is first necessary to go to the hospital for a detailed examination of allergen antibody tests to identify the substances causing the allergy. If you are allergic to mangoes, then you must avoid eating mangoes. Allergic rhinitis is mainly caused by a decrease in the body's immunity and resistance, leading to localized symptoms after the nasal and oral cavities come into contact with an allergen. Patients may experience symptoms such as sneezing fits in the morning, runny nose with clear mucus, bilateral nasal congestion, nasal itching, and eye itching. During the examination, pale and swollen nasal conchae mucosa can be observed, and the prick test is positive. In terms of treatment, during the acute phase of allergic rhinitis, symptomatic antiallergic treatment is required first. Patients also need to avoid allergens, wear masks, avoid spicy and irritating foods, exercise regularly to enhance immunity and resistance, and avoid catching colds, which can gradually lead to improvement.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
49sec home-news-image

How to completely cure allergic rhinitis?

For allergic rhinitis, most patients mainly focus on controlling and stabilizing the condition, and only a small portion of them can be completely cured, mainly those who are solely allergic to mites. It is advisable to first undergo allergy testing. If the test results show only a simple mite allergy, and the allergic reaction is severe (exceeding three levels), desensitization treatment could be considered. Currently, this mainly involves sublingual immunotherapy or subcutaneous injections. Most patients can achieve clinical cure with this treatment; however, a minority may only experience relief without achieving complete cure. Overall, for allergic rhinitis, most patients cannot be completely cured. (Use of medication should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
37sec home-news-image

How to check for allergens in allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis can be screened for allergens. Currently, allergy testing is mainly conducted through two methods. The first method is blood testing, and the second method is a skin prick test. Blood testing is more commonly used and typically involves various allergens, such as dust, pollen, pets, hair, and it could also be due to allergies to seafood or mold, plants. Both skin prick tests and blood tests can be used. If one method does not provide sufficiently clear results, both types of allergen tests can be performed simultaneously for a more accurate comparison.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
54sec home-news-image

Allergic rhinitis typical symptoms

Allergic rhinitis is caused by the body's immunity and lower resistance after inhaling relevant allergens in the nasal cavity. Allergens can include mites, dust, pollen, and direct stimulation by cold and warm air, which can cause patients to have paroxysmal sneezing upon waking up. Typically, there are more than three sneezes, and in severe cases, dozens can occur. There is also continuous discharge of clear watery nasal mucus, bilateral nasal congestion, which alternates from side to side. During examination, evident pale swelling of the bilateral inferior turbinates can be found, and the surface may be covered with abnormal secretions. In treatment, allergic rhinitis firstly requires symptomatic antiallergic treatment and, most crucially, patients need to regularly exercise to enhance their immunity and resistance, for allergic rhinitis to gradually improve.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
1min 3sec home-news-image

How to treat allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis refers to a pathological reactive disease of the nasal cavity caused by an allergy to certain substances. The main clinical treatments for allergic rhinitis include the following points: First, it is essential to avoid contact with the allergens that cause allergic rhinitis as much as possible. Second, medication treatment is implemented, mainly antiallergic drugs such as loratadine and cetirizine. Additionally, local use of corticosteroid nasal sprays is used for treatment. Third, specific desensitization treatment can be carried out, mainly for mite allergies. Fourth, some surgical interventions can be performed, such as surgery to correct the nasal framework and turbinate reduction treatment for enlarged inferior turbinates, or corrective treatment for a deviated nasal septum. These treatments are auxiliary and help improve allergic rhinitis but are not direct treatments for the condition. (Medication usage should be based on specific circumstances and under the guidance of a doctor.)