You certainly have a cold, right? Did you know that in addition to being caused by infections, colds can also be caused by allergies you know. Let's see what an allergic runny nose is and the difference with a runny nose infection.
In the medical world, allergic colds are known as allergic rhinitis. In this condition, colds occur if the sufferer is exposed to an allergen (allergic substances or substances), such as dust or animal dander. When you inhale the triggers, the immune system will consider it a dangerous object and release a compound called histamine as a resistance reaction. This reaction causes allergic symptoms, such as runny nose and itching in the nose.
Difference between allergic colds and infections colds
The main difference between these two types of colds is the cause. Cold infections are caused by viral or bacterial infections, whereas allergic colds are caused by allergen exposure. Well, what about the symptoms? Although both cause runny and stuffy nose, there are still differences between the two.
Symptoms of allergic colds include:
- Itching in the nose, throat and eyes
- Runny and stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Cough
- Swollen or watery eyes
- Headache
- Skin rash or hives
While the symptoms of colds due to infection include:
- Fever
- Throat pain
- Cough
- Headache
- Muscle ache
- Phlegm is white, yellow or green
In addition to the causes and symptoms, allergic colds and infections colds also have several other differences, namely:
- Symptoms of allergic colds can immediately appear immediately after the sufferer is exposed to allergens. While the symptoms of a cold infection will only appear a few days after being infected with a virus or bacteria.
- Allergy colds can occur at any time. While cold infections are more common during the rainy season and transition season, although it can also occur outside the season.
- Although both can heal itself without treatment, symptoms of allergic colds will continue as long as you are still exposed to allergens. While symptoms of runny nose infections generally last for 3-14 days.
Allergy Colds and Infection Colds Treatment
To relieve allergic colds, you need to avoid the cause. Whereas in colds infections, especially those caused by viruses, drugs are not always needed. You only need to have enough rest until the infection is cured.
However, if the symptoms are very disturbing, colds can be treated with antihistamines, especially allergic colds. Here are some ways you can treat colds due to allergies or infections:
Care at home
To deal with allergic colds, you should avoid various triggers, such as dust, cigarette smoke, as well as fur or debris. Allergy triggers can vary in each person. If you're not sure what the trigger is, you can do an allergy test.
Meanwhile, to deal with runny nose infections, you only need to rest and drink lots of water to relieve symptoms. Generally, a cold infection can resolve on its own within 7 to 10 days.
To help reduce colds, you can use an air humidifier in an air-conditioned room, and keep the air condition clean. Get used to wash your hands to prevent the entry of viruses or dust that causes colds.
Drug consumption
The drug commonly used to relieve allergic colds is antihistamines. This drug works by inhibiting the effects of histamine, which is a natural substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms.
One antihistamine drug is fexofenadine. This latest generation of antihistamines is more comfortable to use because it tends not to cause drowsiness, so it doesn't interfere with your activities. Other antihistamines, such as dexchlorpheniramine and cyproheptadine, can also be used, but both types of drugs often cause drowsiness.
In addition to antihistamines, the group of decongestants can also be used to relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis. But keep in mind, children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and people with special medical conditions, such as kidney disease, need to consult a doctor first before taking drugs to treat allergic colds.
Apart from allergies and viral infections, colds can also be caused by a disease, such as nasal polyps and sinusitis. Colds can also occur due to deformity of the nose called septal deviation.
Colds due to certain diseases require medical treatment, according to the cause. Therefore, you are advised to consult a doctor if a cold does not improve after a few weeks or it gets worse.
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