Sore throat due to allergy or cold- How can I tell the difference?
Sore throat caused by an allergy can have different accompanying symptoms, depending on the allergy. In the case of a pollen allergy, for example, itching of the nose, throat and eyes can also occur. The eyes can water and burn and the vision can be temporarily impaired.
Some people affected also report being afraid of light. Nasal breathing can also be difficult due to the swelling of the nasal mucosa. An accompanying rhinitis with glassy-watery nasal mucus is not rare.
Odor restriction or absence of odor can also occur. A dry cough or chesty cough can also occur, i.e. no mucus is expelled. In the case of a pollen allergy, for example, stomach pain and possibly diarrhoea can also occur if the inhaled pollen is swallowed.
Often skin rashes or swellings, especially on the face, can occur due to the pollen flight. Extreme sneezing attacks are also common. Some allergy sufferers report increased tiredness and a drop in performance.
Other factors such as dry air in the case of a house dust allergy can also irritate the mucous membranes and increase sore throats. In the case of a food allergy or an allergic reaction to an insect bite, severe difficulty swallowing can be added. In case of a food allergy or an allergic reaction to an insect bite, the throat can swell enormously.
This can result in severe difficulty swallowing. Furthermore, these allergies can cause shortness of breath, nausea and in extreme cases an allergic shock. This is an emergency and should be treated immediately.
Swallowing difficulties can also occur in the case of “asthma of the esophagus”, the so-called eosinophilic esophagitis. Here, certain components in the food or in the air cause a swelling of the esophagus. Coughing does not usually occur immediately in the case of an allergy.
Only when the allergy spreads to the level of the bronchi can cough occur in addition to the accompanying symptoms. Every third pollen allergy sufferer develops bronchial asthma. The first signs are coughing and shortness of breath.
In order to minimize the development of asthma, the allergy should be recognized as early as possible and treated adequately. In the case of a pollen allergy, pollen may also enter the ear and trigger an allergic reaction. Consequently, the mucous membrane of the ear swells.
This makes it more difficult for the mucus and fluid to drain off and leads to a blockage. This in turn increases the pressure in the ear and can cause discomfort. This can lead to a feeling of blocked ears and cause pain and hearing loss.
