Whenever the weather changes and people go in and out of air-conditioned places, adults and children are prone to sneezing and running noses. Is this just a common "cold" or is it an "allergic nose" attack? Dr. Chen Yijun, a pediatrician, said that the causes of the two are completely different, but the early symptoms are very similar. If parents or patients cannot accurately distinguish, there is a chance of delaying treatment.
Nasal sensitivity VS the first symptoms of a cold
Dr. Chan Yick Chun pointed out that patients can make preliminary identification based on the duration of symptoms and clinical symptoms:
Comparison items | Cold (cold) | Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) |
Cause of disease | Bacterial/viral infection | Induced by allergens (such as dust mites, pollen) |
Duration | It is short, with the first 2-3 days being the most serious, and usually heals within 1 to 2 weeks. | Symptoms will persist as long as the allergen is present. |
Nasal secretions | It will be clear at first, but will become sticky and even turn into yellow-green pus after 2-3 days. | 長期保持清澈和水狀。 |
Systemic symptoms | Accompanied by throat inflammation, cough, fever or general muscle aches. | No fever, but accompanied by "allergic conjunctivitis" and local itching (such as red eyes, eye marks, watery eyes, nose marks and itchy palate). |
Accompanying symptoms | Usually a single acute respiratory infection. | Patients may also suffer from other physical allergies, such as eczema and asthma. |
Nasal allergies can be divided into "seasonal" and "year-round" based on different allergens. If you find that symptoms persist for more than two weeks without any reason, and are accompanied by itchy eyes and nose, there is a high chance that nasal allergy is to blame.
There is a cure for a sensitive nose! When is the opportunity for treatment?
Dr. Chen pointed out that if the symptoms are mild clinically, you can usually rinse your nose with saline first. But when it affects your daily life and sleep quality, you should start receiving drug treatment. "Especially for children with seasonal nasal allergies, you can consider using appropriate drugs at the early stage of the disease. There is no need to wait until the symptoms become severe before starting to use them. Otherwise, it is easy to induce complications such as sinusitis and otitis media."
However, many parents have different concerns about taking medication for nasal allergy. Dr. Chen dispels the following 3 major myths for everyone!
Myth 1: Oral medications vs.nasal sprays?
In terms of drug selection, oral drugs and nasal spray drugs are mainly available on the market. Dr. Chen pointed out that current international guidelines recognize the efficacy and safety of nasal spray drugs and regard them as one of the first-line drug treatment options. "Nasal spray medicines directly act on the inflamed parts of the nasal mucosa, and are more effective than oral medicines in treating severe nasal congestion caused by blood vessel dilation. Clinical data shows that nasal spray medicines can more effectively help relieve nasal and eye symptoms, and significantly improve the patient's quality of life and schooling."
Myth 2: Use a single steroid versus a 2-in-1 steroid and antihistamine nasal spray for nasal sprays
Nasal sprays on the market are mainly divided into two types: "single steroid" and "two-in-one". Dr. Chen said that "single steroid" generally has a slower onset of action, and its overall clinical effect is not as good as "two-in-one nasal spray". "Two-in-one nasal spray" contains both antihistamine and steroid ingredients, combining the "quick onset" of antihistamine and the "deep anti-inflammatory and long-lasting control" of corticosteroids.
"Clinical data confirms that the '2-in-1 Nasal Spray' takes effect in as fast as 5 minutes. Up to 90% of patients can achieve good or partial control of nasal allergy symptoms within the third day of treatment. It can also effectively relieve eye discomfort and can significantly improve asthma symptoms for patients with both nasal allergy and asthma."
Myth 3: Does it contain steroids and have side effects on children or adults?
The word "steroids" often frightens parents, and they even resist allowing their school-going children to take medication. Dr. Chen said that because nasal spray drugs act directly on the nasal mucosa locally, they have far fewer side effects than oral corticosteroids. As long as they are used correctly in accordance with the doctor's instructions, the unique design of the nasal spray can greatly reduce systemic absorption (commonly known as "blood entry").
"Most patients will only experience mild and short-lived local side effects in the early stages of use, such as temporary local dryness of the nasal mucosa and occasional bloodshot nasal secretions. These are within the normal range. If parents still have concerns about the medication for children, they can check with a trusted pediatrician."
How to prevent and relieve nasal allergies in daily life?
In addition to relying on drugs, if you want to achieve long-term and stable disease control, Dr. Chen Yijun recommends that you must combine the two major life directions of "avoiding contact with allergens" and "enhancing immunity":
First of all, if it is confirmed that the allergen of a child is dust mites, parents should regularly wash the sheets and quilt covers with hot water at 60°C. They can also use anti-dust mite bedding. If the allergy is serious, desensitization treatment can be considered under the evaluation of a doctor.
In addition, Dr. Chen recommends developing a good lifestyle, a balanced diet, and moderate aerobic exercise. Research has proven that regular exercise can help reduce inflammatory factors in the body, thereby effectively relieving the symptoms of nasal sensitivity and comprehensively improving physical fitness and quality of life.
The information is provided by doctors and is fully supported by Viatris HK.
HK-AZE-2026-00003 (AUG 2026)
Source: [Oh! Parents] https://www.ohpama.com/1040893/
