How Do I Know If It’s Sinus or Allergies?

When dealing with congestion or sniffling that persists longer than a normal cold, it can be tricky to figure out the cause of the symptoms, whether they are due to allergies or a sinus infection. Some symptoms that could help differentiate between the two possible causes include wheezing, sneezing, and eye irritation, which are indicative of allergies. A sinus infection comes with a few more associated symptoms, including headaches or pain around the teeth, a cough or sore throat, fatigue, post-nasal drip, a mild fever, and the sensation of swelling around the forehead, eyes, and cheeks. Another way to help differentiate between suffering from allergies and a sinus infection is the viscosity and color of the mucous, as allergies typically come with thinner, clear mucous, and a sinus infection is often associated with thicker, yellow, or green-tinted mucous. Many people who suffer from a sinus infection will also experience bad breath.

To diagnose a sinus infection, your doctor will typically chat with you to figure out which specific symptoms you have been experiencing and will likely use an otoscope to quickly check your nose to see if there is any visible swelling that is often indicative of a sinus infection. If you have all of the normal symptoms of a sinus infection but the otoscope proves to be unhelpful, your doctor may use a light to see the inside of your nose, continue with nasal endoscopy, or even a CT scan if the cause of the symptoms is still not able to be confidently diagnosed. So, while there is no specific test for a sinus infection, there are several different tools that doctors may use to accurately diagnose the infection. There are multiple ways to test for allergies, such as through skin prick tests, blood tests, or simply removing different possible allergens to see if the symptoms are alleviated. Many allergies that lead to nasal congestion or sniffling can be tested for with a simple prick test, which is when the allergist uses a small needle that contains the possible allergen to apply it to the broken skin to see if a hive or some type of reaction occurs.

The treatments for allergies are often either removing the allergen if possible, prescribing anti-histamines, or recommending allergy shots, depending on the origin of the allergen. There isn’t a “cure” for allergies; there are only a couple of different methods to help alleviate the experienced symptoms. Most sinus infections will go away on their own with time, but many doctors will recommend saline sprays or decongestants to help alleviate the associated symptoms. Depending on the case, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help you get rid of the infection, but they will only work for some circumstances, otherwise, they may do more harm than good.

If you reside in Webster, TX, or the surrounding area, Primary Care Center offers high-quality personalized allergy and asthma care for all of our patients. Whether you are suffering from symptoms caused by allergies or sinus issues, our highly skilled team can diagnose and treat the problem allowing you to return to your normal comfortable life as quickly as possible. Our clinic can provide testing for any type of allergy, whether they are caused by food, spring, insects, medications, or animals, and is excited to offer allergy shots all under one roof.
 
Visit Primary Care Center, to get relief from allergies and sinus problems. Our specialists, Dr. Niraj Choudhary, MD, and Dr. Smriti Choudhary, MD, offer effective treatments to treat your conditions. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Webster and Pasadena, TX. We serve patients from Webster TX, Pasadena TX, South Houston TX, Brookwood TX, Seabrook TX, Bacliff TX, and surrounding areas.