Cold, Hay Fever, or Sinusitis? Understanding the Symptoms

Learn to differentiate between very different conditions that can have very similar symptoms.

If you have a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, headache, or sinus pressure, you could either have a cold, hay fever, or sinusitis. Despite the similar symptoms, each of these conditions is very different and requires a different treatment approach. The following information will help you tell the difference between these conditions and decide when to see a doctor.

Common Cold

• Key Symptoms: If your runny nose transitions to a thick, colored mucus and you also have a sore throat and a fever, this likely indicates the common cold is to blame.
• Onset: The common cold is caused by a virus and symptoms can appear 1 to 3 days after exposure. This can be helpful in diagnosing a cold—think back and consider if you interacted with anyone who had a cold in the past few days.
• Duration: Most people get over the common cold within 3 to 7 days.

Hay Fever

• Key Symptoms: Hay fever can cause many of the same symptoms as a cold or sinusitis. One key difference is you should never have a fever or thick mucus, though your nose may feel stuffy due to sinus pressure.
• Onset: Onset is a very important clue in the diagnosis of hay fever as opposed to a cold or sinusitis. If your symptoms appear immediately after exposure to allergens like pollen, mold, dust, or pet dander, you can be sure you have allergies.
• Duration: The duration of the symptoms can also be a very good indicator of hay fever. You will continue to struggle with symptoms as long as you continue to be exposed to the allergens.

Sinusitis

• Key Symptoms: Sinusitis is characterized by thick, colored mucus and painful sinus pressure not only in the nose but in other areas like the eyes and forehead. Sinusitis often comes with a foul-tasting post-nasal drip.
• Onset: Sinusitis may develop after either a cold or a hay fever attack. It can also be caused by other sources of swelling, inflammation, or blockage in the sinus passages such as nasal polyps, a deviated septum, or asthma.
• Duration: Suffering with symptoms for longer than 1 week is a key sign of sinusitis. If you suffer for more than 8 weeks or have recurring bouts of the symptoms, you have chronic sinusitis.

When to Visit a Doctor

When you are confronted with symptoms that might be a cold, hay fever, or sinusitis, you should definitely visit a doctor if the symptoms last more than a week or if you have any reason at all to believe you have something other than the common cold. At Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Medical Group, we can provide expert allergy testing and other diagnostic services to help determine whether you have allergies, sinusitis, or perhaps both. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, we can then move forward with recommending treatment options to relieve your discomfort.