healthspin
by Nancy R. Mellin, MD
treat your sniffles as cold or allergy?
If sniffles and sneezes are muddling your
game, the course of treatment will depend
on what’s causing your symptoms.
Although symptoms for both allergies
and colds – like a scratchy throat and
coughing – are similar, the cause and
manner in which they are treated varies.
A cold begins when a virus attaches to the
lining of your nose or throat. Your immune
system strikes at the invader, which has the
potential to harm the body.
With allergies, the body mistakes a
harmless material, such as pollen or dust,
for a dangerous intruder. It then launches an
Nancy Mellin, MD attack that results in symptoms associated
with allergies.
Northshore ENT,
While colds are usually just inconvenient,
Hammond
allergies can be serious and sometimes
lead to chronic respiratory diseases like
asthma. Patient education and adequate
management of the allergy through
consultation with a physician can control
allergic diseases. A physician may be able
to diagnose the trigger of the allergy and
provide information or medication to
prevent a reaction. An allergy is a lifelong
condition that your allergist can control but
rarely cure.
A good guideline for distinguishing
between a cold and an allergy is time. Colds
get better over time, generally in seven to
10 days, while allergic reactions can last for
months.
What are some common differences to
help you differentiate between a cold and
an allergy?
• Allergies – No Fever
• Colds – Rare Fever
• Allergies – No General Aches or Pains
• Colds – Slight Aches and Pains
• Allergies – Sore Throat Sometimes
• Colds – Sore Throat Common
• Allergies – Sometimes Cough
• Colds – Cough Common, Hacking
• Allergies – Chest Discomfort Rare
• Colds – Chest Discomfort Mild to
28
Moderate
Although there is no cure for allergies,
there are many treatment options.
For allergy sufferers, treatment will
involve avoiding the allergen that causes a
reaction. Once the source of the allergy is
identified, a doctor can determine the most
appropriate treatment. Treatment may
involve avoiding the allergen that causes the
reaction and may include medications to:
• Reduce inflammation
• Open breathing passages and reduce
mucus in lungs
• Reverse life-threatening symptoms
• Prevent the onset of allergy symptoms
• Decrease the symptoms and prevent
infections, like sinusitis.
Allergy shots or allergy drops (placed
underneath the tongue) which reduce
symptoms or the frequency of reactions are
another potential treatment.
For colds, a nutritious diet and time are
often the best treatments. Medications that
may be used to treat cold-like symptoms
include:
• Expectorants
• Cough suppressants
• Ibuprofen, acetaminophen and other
pain relievers
• Antibiotics (if bacterial infection is
suspected).
Medications that may be used to treat
both allergies and colds include:
• Antihistamines
• Decongestants
• Nasal sprays
• Eye drops
• Allergy shots or drops.
Once your allergy or cold triggers are
identified, prevention measures should
also focus on reducing exposure, when
possible, to the allergens, viruses or bacteria
that cause your symptoms. To accurately
diagnose your condition and plan for
appropriate treatment, consult your health
care provider.