Table of Contents
Other Causes of Congestion
Ruling out Allergic Rhinitis. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis include nasal obstruction and congestion, which are similar to the symptoms of a cold. People with allergies, however, are likely to have the following:
- Thin, clear, and runny nasal discharge
- An itchy nose, eyes, or throat
- Recurrent sneezing
There are two forms of allergic rhinitis:
- Symptoms that appear only during allergy season are called allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay or rose fever. [For more information, see In-Depth Report #77: Allergic rhinitis.]
- Allergens in the house, such as house dust mites, molds, and pet dander, can cause year-long allergic rhinitis, referred to as perennial rhinitis.
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Click the icon to see an image of common allergens. |
Ruling out Sinusitis. The signs and symptoms suggestive of true acute sinusitis include the following:
- A return of congestion and discomfort after initial improvement in a cold (called double sickening)
- Purulent (pus-filled) nasal secretion
- A lack of response to decongestant or antihistamine
- Pain in the upper teeth or pain on one side of the head
- Pain above or below both eyes when leaning over
Children with sinusitis are less likely to have facial pain and headache and may only develop a high fever or prolonged upper respiratory symptoms (such as a daytime cough that does not improve for 11 - 14 days). When the diagnosis is unclear or complications are suspected, further tests may be required. [For more information, see In-Depth Report #62: Sinusitis.]
Other Causes of Coughing
Acute Bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus and in most cases is self-limiting. The cough it causes typically lasts for about 7 - 10 days, but in about half of patients, coughing can last for up to 3 weeks, and 25% of patients continue to cough for over 1 month.
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Review Date: 01/29/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
