Is It a Cold or an Allergy Attack?

Seasonal allergy season is here

You can get relief from seasonal allergies

You can feel it coming.

Eyes irritated – a tickle in the throat – nose begins to run; but is it an allergy attack or a cold?

Allergies and the common cold share many of the same symptoms, however they are two different conditions.

April and May are the first months seasonal allergies begin to make life miserable for many sufferers. Get the latest pollen count

“I see many different levels of symptoms from allergies, sometimes in the same individual. Even for physicians, it can be difficult to sort out allergies from sinus infections, colds or the flu,” said Marshall Cusic Jr., M.D., a Marshfield Clinic allergist who sees patients in Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids and Stevens Point.

Podcast:
Dr. Marshall Cusic discusses allergy injections or allergy immunotherapy, as a method of treating seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergies can range from a minor nuisance to a dangerous asthmatic event. One thing is for certain, that the pollens that cause these reactions will begin to appear in our area very soon.
 13 minutes and 58 seconds

Allergic reaction

Allergies are the result of contact with an allergen that causes an allergic reaction.

“This triggers the release of defense mechanisms such as histamines and other inflammatory substances that cause the telltale symptoms of sneezing, runny and itchy noses, congestion and watery or red eyes,” said Allergist Mark Huftel, M.D., who sees patients at Marshfield Clinic Wausau Center.

The medical term for allergies that cause your nose to run is allergic rhinitis. Allergic conjunctivitis identifies an allergic reaction that irritates your eyes. You may experience both conditions at the same time.

Common allergens

Some of the more common allergens that trigger symptoms are:

• Pollen (tree, weeds, grass)
• Dust and dust mites
• Animals
• Mold and fungi

While the symptoms of an allergy attack and a cold are very similar, colds will eventually end, but an allergy attack without treatment may continue until the allergen is no longer present.

Allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe. For all sufferers, avoiding the allergen is an important step in reducing or eliminating symptoms.

Avoiding allergens

Of course, avoiding allergens may not be possible, especially when you react to pollen, dust, molds, pets and so on.

You can treat mild symptoms with antihistamines available without a prescription. These medications help relieve the symptoms, but do not cure your allergies. Doctors have several effective prescription-only medications that relieve symptoms in many cases.

If your allergy symptoms are causing you to miss work or school, you should see your doctor for an evaluation to confirm the allergic reaction and to decide on a course of treatment. An allergy specialist can identify which allergens are triggering your symptoms and recommend treatment.

“We place a series of drops containing small amounts of known allergen on the skin. We then prick the skin through the drop, bringing the allergen into contact with underlying cells that cause the allergic reaction,” Dr. Cusic said.

“If one of these skin locations swells like a hive or a mosquito bite within as little as 15 minutes, we can confirm that allergy is present.” To achieve more accuracy, we sometimes use a second phase of testing, introducing the allergen through a small needle at individual test sites on the skin of the upper arm.

In some cases, immunotherapy, which is also known as allergy shots or desensitization shots, can help your body minimize the allergic reactions. The shots do not always cure the allergies, but reduce the severity of attacks for most sufferers.

“We typically recommend immunotherapy for patients whose allergies are not controlled by environmental control measures and medications,” Dr. Huftel said.

“They work best for pollen allergy, followed by dust mite allergy, and are less effective for mold and animal allergy. The normal course of therapy is 3-5 years. Some people will have long lasting benefits.”

Significant relief

“Others will find that their allergy symptoms recur after a few years and need retreatment, while an unlucky minority find no relief at all,” Dr. Cusic said. “With time and effort, most people notice significant improvement.”

If temporary or ongoing allergies are reducing the quality of your life, check with your doctor for recommendations on how best to relieve the symptoms.

“With all the treatments we have available, anyone who is limiting their activities because of allergies should certainly see a physician,” Dr. Huftel said.

You can find more information on allergies and contact information for a Marshfield Clinic allergist near you in the allergy section of our Web site.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Web site also offers helpful information.