Constant cold or allergy?

Constant cold is often difficult to distinguish from allergies

01/14/2014

Dripping noses are currently in high season. But more than two million people also suffer from stuffy noses if they do not catch a cold. Often they eliminate symptoms as harbingers of an infection. More likely, however, is that a particular form of the cold - the so-called rhinitis - provide for snuffing noses. This is triggered for example by allergic reactions, enlarged tonsils, nasal spray abuse or external stimuli.

„In some people, even slight mechanical, thermal or chemical stimuli lead to an overreaction of the nasal mucosa“, explains Dr. Uso Walter, practicing ear, nose and throat doctor and chairman of the medical network HNOnet NRW. These include, for example, dry or dusty air, cold or certain medications. Cortisone-containing sprays reduce these overreactions of the secretory-producing glands and thus reduce constant nasal running. Such sprays also help against allergic swelling of the nasal mucosa. This reaction is triggered when the body responds to normally harmless environmental substances with excessive defense reactions of the immune system. Allergens do not necessarily have seasonal pollen, but can also be present all year round substances such as dust mites, animal hair or undetected mold. With an allergy test, the ENT specialist determines whether an allergy triggers the symptoms and which allergens the patient reacts to. „Sometimes, then consistently avoid contact with the appropriate substance“, thinks Dr. Walter. For example, textiles with fur can be easily replaced by other materials for animal hair allergies. If you do not want to accept any restrictions or you can not easily avoid the allergen, then a specific immunotherapy, hyposensitization, is recommended. Prescription, cortisone-containing sprays help especially in the acute case.

The over-hasty nasal spray sometimes leads to running noses - at least when it comes to conventional sprays. Many people with constantly congested noses bring about the chronic condition themselves by regularly using over-the-counter nasal sprays. Although the sprays initially bring relief, but when the effect of the decongestant substances through habituation subsides, it often leads to increased circulation of the nasal mucosa. It swells more than before, dries out and, in the worst case, will cause permanent damage. The re-swelling also leads to reuse the spray. Instead of liberating the nose, the permanent use leads to a chronically congested nose. „With prescription sprays this dependency does not arise, so that they can be applied also in the long term“, supplements Dr. Walter. „Nasal sprays used as part of a cold for a few days also does not make you dependent. But who still torments after a week with the cold, should consult an ENT doctor. This is a sign of pathological changes inside the nose.“ Then, an anatomical cause such as Scheidewandverbiegungen, internal warts or in children, the often enlarged pharyngeal tonsils, called polyps, are present. (Pm)