Differences between Allergic Rhinitis and the Common Cold

Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
Updated on December 23, 2024
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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.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Does allergic rhinitis cause a fever?

Allergic rhinitis generally rarely involves a fever. This is because the main pathogenic mechanism of allergic rhinitis is exposure to allergens, which triggers the body's autoimmune response, leading to common clinical symptoms such as itchy nose, clear nasal discharge, and sneezing, and it may persistently recur. However, overall, it is caused by the body's immune allergic response, without obvious acute bacterial or viral infection, so the likelihood of causing a fever is small. Therefore, in terms of treatment, if there is a fever, it is necessary to investigate whether there is an acute viral or bacterial infection. This can be done by observing clinical symptoms, examining the conditions inside the nasal cavity, and combining this with routine blood tests, which essentially can confirm and determine the diagnosis.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How to treat allergic rhinitis?

The treatment of allergic rhinitis is currently mainly divided into three categories: The first category is pharmacotherapy, the second is desensitization therapy, and the third is surgical treatment. Pharmacotherapy generally focuses on nasal sprays and oral medications, which are targeted anti-allergy treatments. This method primarily controls and stabilizes the symptoms but is unlikely to provide a cure. Desensitization therapy is mainly suitable for patients who are solely allergic to mites. Some patients may achieve a cure after undergoing desensitization therapy. Surgical treatment can also be considered, but it is not the first choice. It is mainly used for patients who do not respond well to conservative medication and have particularly severe symptoms. In such cases, surgery might be considered because, whether through pharmacotherapy or surgical treatment, most patients aim primarily to control the disease rather than achieving a cure. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor)

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Written by Yao Jun
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
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Allergic rhinitis symptoms

Allergic rhinitis is a common disease in otolaryngology, often occurring throughout the year. It can be categorized into perennial allergic rhinitis or seasonal allergic rhinitis. Perennial allergic rhinitis may be related to dust, talcum powder, dust mites, or animal dander, among others. Seasonal rhinitis is often associated with hay fever. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the type of allergic rhinitis based on the patient's season of onset and the allergens involved. Common symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itching of the nose, and itchy eyes. Perennial allergic rhinitis occurs throughout the year, whereas pollen-induced allergic rhinitis, or seasonal rhinitis, tends to have more severe symptoms during the blooming season of spring.

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Written by Feng Ying Shuai
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Where to apply moxibustion for allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is a common clinical disease. Apart from medication, we can also use moxibustion to enhance the body's resistance and reduce local congestion of the nasal mucosa in allergic rhinitis, achieving the purpose of disease prevention and treatment. Where do we usually apply moxibustion? If it involves distant moxibustion, it usually targets acupuncture points that enhance the body's resistance, such as Zusanli and Guanyuan, which are very effective points. Moxibustion can also be applied to Xuehai. Additionally, we can moxibust certain local points such as Yingxiang and Yintang to relieve nasal congestion and alleviate clinical symptoms like swelling of the nasal mucosa. Of course, moxibustion can also be applied to some points on the back related to the lungs, including lung meridian points and Gaohuang, all of which are effective in treating and preventing allergic rhinitis.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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.