Don’t Mistake Anaphylactic Rhinitis for a Common Cold

Don’t Mistake Anaphylactic Rhinitis for a Common Cold

Rhinitis is a very common illness; studies show that in large cities one in every ten people suffers from rhinitis. Among them, anaphylactic rhinitis sufferers are most common.

The symptoms of anaphylactic rhinitis are very similar, so may people mistake it for a stubborn cold. They take very simple cold medicines to try to treat it, but only end up prolonging their illness. Clinical studies show that approximately 7 in 10 patients mistake anaphylactic rhinitis for the common cold when the come in for treatment.

How to distinguish between a common cold sneeze and anaphylactic rhinitis

Sneezing: Everyone who has ever had a cold knows sneezing is a symptom, however it is unlikely that there will be more that 2 or 3 at a time. Anaphylactic rhinitis sufferers will often sneeze 10 or so times in a row, some will even sneeze 30 or so times in one day.

Itchy nose:

An itchy nose is not a main symptom of the common cold. Cold sufferers usually experience a stuffy nose for an extended period of time. However, if you have hypersensitive rhinitis, the part of the nasal cavity that meets the throat will be extremely itchy.

Runny nose:

A runny nose for a common cold runny usually occurs during the initial stages of infection and usually isn’t much. However, an anaphylactic rhinitis runny nose is exactly the opposite: along with the sneezing, the nose runs profusely with large amounts of mucus.

Other symptoms:

With a cold, you make experience some full-body symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, muscle aches, etc. With anaphylactic rhinitis, the nasal mucus membrane initiates an immune response to some sort of foreign material. Consequently, experiencing any of the aforementioned total-body symptoms is unlikely.

Prevention and Treatment of Anaphylactic Rhinitis

1. Proactive treatment: Keep the nasal cavity clear.

If you think you have rhinitis, you should do your best try to keep your nasal cavities unobstructed at all times.

2. Live a healthier lifestyle: To prevent illness, it is important to exercise, give up smoking, limit alcohol consumption, and be generally self-aware.

3. Avoid “dealing with it”: Many people believe chronic rhinitis is incurable, therefore, they decide to “deal with it” and avoid treatment. This only prolongs their time being ill and can cause unforeseen damage.

Please note: Rhinitis check-ups contribute to the understanding of nasal disease and pathogens. Nasal check-ups allow doctors to discover as early as possible what pathogens are causing nasal disease. They are vital to helping doctors understand and eliminate these pathogens. See your doctor as soon as possible. Don’t contribute to the progression of this illness.