Allergies or Colds? Looking for the Cause of Runny Nose
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.
Dr. Jane
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 allerg...
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