Matching your symptoms to a condition

Return to Index Step 1: What is an Allergy? Step 2: The Role of the Immune System Step 3: What Substances Cause Allergies? Step 4: Allergy-Related Conditions Step 5: Should You See an Allergist? Step 6: Allergy Testing and Diagnosis Step 7: Introduction to Allergy Treatment Step 8: Avoid Allergy Triggers Step 9: Types of Allergy Medication Step 10: Over-the-Counter vs Prescription Drugs Step 11: Immunotherapy Step 12: You and Your Doctor Are a Team Key Points Glossary

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When you have a common symptom like a stuffy nose or congestion, you don't always know what condition you have. Are those symptoms part of a cold, flu, allergic rhinitis or sinusitis? It is not always easy to know. Refer to the chart below to match your symptoms with the following conditions.

Symptom	Cold	Flu	Allergic Rhinitis	Sinusitis
Congestion	Yes		Yes	Yes
Cough	Yes	Yes		Yes
Dizziness	Yes	Yes		Occassional
Sore throat	Early	Mild	Yes	Yes
Runny nose	Yes		Yes	Yes
Stuffy nose	Yes		Yes	Yes
Sneezing	Yes		Yes
Nasal discharge	May be thick and yellow	Cloudy	Thin and clear	Thick, yellow-green
Duration	5-7 days	2-3 weeks	Episodic	Perpetual if not treated
Generalized aches and pains		Yes, often severe		Mild
Sweating		Yes
Extreme exhaustion		Early and prominent
Fatigue/weakness	Mild	Pronounced	Mild	Mild
Fever		High (102-104), lasts 3-4 days		Low grade
Headache	Rare	Yes		Yes
Itchy nose/eyes/throat			Yes
Seasonal pattern	Yes	Yes (Winter)	Yes	Yes
Hoarseness	Yes			Yes
Facial pain				Yes
Bad breath				Yes

Review Date: 6/29/2011
Reviewed By: Paula J. Busse, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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