What is the difference between sinusitis and allergic rhinitis?
With allergic rhinitis, you can have the above symptoms as well as itchy eyes. This itchiness is one of the key distinguishing factors between allergies and sinusitis. A sinus infection, on the other hand, occurs when your nasal passages become inflamed. Sinusitis is most often caused by viruses.
Is allergic rhinitis a sinus infection?
What is allergic rhinitis? Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, happens when you breathe in something to which you are allergic, and the inside of your nose becomes inflamed and swollen. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the lining inside the sinuses which can be acute or chronic.
How do you know if you have a sinus infection or allergies?
One of the key ways to tell if you are experiencing allergic rhinitis is if you have itchy, watery eyes along with your other symptoms. Itchiness is rarely a symptom of a sinus infection. Another way to tell the difference is if you have very thick yellow or green nasal discharge.
Is allergic rhinitis a respiratory allergy?
In the past, allergic rhinitis was considered to be a disorder localized to the nose and nasal passages, but current evidence indicates that it may represent a component of a systemic airway disease involving the entire respiratory tract.
How do you treat sinusitis and rhinitis?
Treatment
- Saline nasal sprays. Use an over-the-counter nasal saline spray or homemade saltwater solution to flush the nose of irritants and help thin the mucus and soothe the membranes in your nose.
- Corticosteroid nasal sprays.
- Antihistamine nasal sprays.
- Anti-drip anticholinergic nasal sprays.
- Decongestants.
Can allergies cause sinusitis?
Sinusitis usually develops because of allergies or a cold. Sometimes, but not often, it’s from bacteria that cause an infection. When you have allergies or a cold, your nose and sinuses get inflamed. That blocks mucus from draining, which can cause an infection — not to mention pain and pressure.
How long does allergic rhinitis last?
Chronic means that the nasal inflammation is long term, lasting for more than four consecutive weeks. This is different from acute rhinitis, which only lasts a few days or up to four weeks….Symptoms.
| Symptoms | Allergic rhinitis | Non-allergic rhinitis |
|---|---|---|
| Symptoms tend to be seasonal | ✔ | |
| Symptoms tend to be year-round | ✔ |
Can you have both sinusitis and rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis occurs when the body’s immune system views harmless airborne particles as a hazard – prompting the body to release histamine and other mediators that cause an allergic response. Sinus congestion and inflammation due to allergic rhinitis can sometimes allow sinusitis to develop.
How do you test for allergic rhinitis?
Allergy testing a skin prick test – where the allergen is placed on your arm and the surface of the skin is pricked with a needle to introduce the allergen to your immune system; if you’re allergic to the substance, a small itchy spot (welt) will appear.
Is allergic rhinitis the same thing as hay fever?
Hay fever and allergic rhinitis are the same condition. Allergic rhinitis is the medical term for hay fever. Symptoms involve the nose, throat, eyes, ears, skin or roof of the mouth. This condition is called seasonal allergic rhinitis when symptoms happen during certain seasons of the year (typically spring and fall).
Are allergies and sinusitis the same?
Allergies can produce many of the same cold-like symptoms as a sinus infection, including sinus pressure, a runny nose and congestion. But the condition itself, called allergic rhinitis , is different. It is caused by an allergic response to allergens, such as pollen, dust mites or pet dander.
Is allergic rhinitis the same as the flu?
2. It’s the same as the common cold or flu Although they share several symptoms, such as runny nose, blocked nose and sneezing, allergic rhinitis is quite different from the common cold or flu. It’s not caused by a viral infection and it doesn’t just go away within a couple of days.
Could allergies be causing your sinusitis?
Sinusitis usually develops because of allergies or a cold. Sometimes, but not often, it’s from bacteria that cause an infection. When you have allergies or a cold, your nose and sinuses get inflamed. That blocks mucus from draining, which can cause an infection — not to mention pain and pressure.