{"id":8712,"date":"2025-12-04T22:55:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T22:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/hmn-compare-causes-symptoms-treatments-more-in-2025-6\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T01:32:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T01:32:16","slug":"hmn-compare-causes-symptoms-treatments-more-in-2025-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/hmn-compare-causes-symptoms-treatments-more-in-2025-6\/","title":{"rendered":"HMN: Compare Allergies and sinus infections causes, symptoms, treatments &#038; more in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<br \/>Do you know:  Compare causes, symptoms, treatments &#038; more in 2025<\/p>\n<div id=\"main-content\">\n<div id=\"post-intro\">\n<div id=\"takeaways\">\n<h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Allergies and sinus infections have similar nasal symptoms but are caused by different factors: allergies by immune reactions to allergens and sinus infections by fluid congestion leading to bacterial or viral infections.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Over 50 million Americans suffer from allergies, while sinus infections affect over 30 million annually, indicating both conditions are highly prevalent but have distinct triggers and treatment approaches.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Diagnosing allergies may involve skin or blood tests by a specialist, whereas sinus infections are primarily diagnosed based on symptoms and, in chronic cases, may require CT scans or endoscopy.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Treatment for allergies can include over-the-counter antihistamines and immunotherapy, while sinus infection remedies might involve decongestants, pain relievers, and possibly antibiotics for bacterial infections.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"table-of-contents\">\n<div class=\"anchorLinks\">\n<div class=\"mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"dropdownLists\">\n<div tabindex=\"0\" class=\"dropdownBtn\"><span class=\"listsIcon\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/singlecare\/images\/union.svg\" width=\"14\" height=\"20\"\/><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label><\/label><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"downArrow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/singlecare\/images\/dropDownArrow.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are sneezing and congested you may be wondering, is it allergies<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or a sinus infection? These conditions have similar symptoms so it may be difficult to figure out which is making you miserable. With a little detective work, you should be able to get to the bottom of it\u2014and that\u2019s a good thing, because treatments for the conditions are different.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b> <\/b><b>Is it a sinus infection or COVID?<\/b><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"causes\">Causes<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though they both result in nasal symptoms, the triggers for allergies and sinus infections are distinct.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"allergies\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allergies<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An allergy occurs when your immune system overreacts to an irritant or allergen, such as dust mites or pet dander. Your body releases histamine and leukotrienes which can cause you to sneeze, experience congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes, hives, a rash, and\/or swelling. Some people may also experience<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">asthma<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"sinus-infection\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinus infection<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you have allergies or a viral or bacterial infection, your nose and sinuses become inflamed, meaning swollen and filled with fluid. When the fluid does not drain from your sinuses, you can have sinus congestion or blockage. When sinuses are blocked, that congested fluid can become infected by a virus or bacteria\u2014this is known as a <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sinus infection.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinus infection typically causes symptoms that last (without improvement) more than 10 days. These symptoms include nasal obstruction, purulent (thick yellow or green) nasal drainage, and facial pain or pressure. The symptoms may also include fever. When you have a suspected bacterial sinus infection, then you need treatment with antibiotics.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"prevalence\">Prevalence<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of these conditions is more common than the other.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heading-5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allergies<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allergies are common with over<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">50 million Americans<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> living with some type of allergy (food, environmental, seasonal, contact). Over<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/allergyasthmanetwork.org\/allergies\/allergy-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">19 million American adults<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are affected by hay fever or seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis). One in five Americans are diagnosed with environmental allergies. The annual cost of environmental allergies are over eight billion dollars every year. \u201cAllergies tend to have a waxing and waning occurrence throughout the year specifically when trees are blooming,\u201d says Javeed Siddiqui, MD, the chief medical officer at<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.telemed2u.com\/meet-our-team\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TeleMed2U<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heading-6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinus infection<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinus infections (also known as sinusitis or rhinosinusitis) are also common with over <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medscape.com\/answers\/232670-3598\/what-is-the-incidence-of-sinusitis-sinus-infection-in-the-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30 million<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Americans experiencing at least one per year. In the United States<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/fastats\/sinuses.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11.6% of Americans<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have been diagnosed with a sinus infection at some point in their lifetime. One<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK470383\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that 73 million Americans during a one-year period had to restrict their activities due to a sinus infection. The medical costs of sinus infections, not including surgeries, were almost <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK470383\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2.4 billion dollars<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"symptoms\">Symptoms<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The symptoms of allergies and sinus infections can be difficult to tell apart.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heading-8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allergies<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Environmental allergy (hay fever) symptoms usually are triggered by the changing seasons in the spring or fall or change in environment or climate. The most common symptoms are sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose and\/or eyes and nasal congestion. The congestion or postnasal drip may also cause coughing, headache, or fatigue from disrupted sleep, which can interfere with a person\u2019s quality of life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b> <\/b><b>How do allergies affect quality of life?<\/b><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heading-9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinus infection<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The symptoms of sinus infections are similar to the symptoms of allergies. But sinus infections are caused by bacterial or viral infections. There are different types of sinus infections\u2014acute or chronic sinusitis\u2014based on how long you have experienced symptoms. Acute sinus infections are when you have experienced symptoms for less than four weeks. Whereas chronic sinus infections are when you have had symptoms for more than 12 weeks. One main difference between allergy symptoms and symptoms of a sinus infection is with sinus infections you may experience pain such as facial, tooth, or ear pain along with a fever. Similar to allergies, you may also have sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, nasal congestion, coughing, headache and fatigue.<\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\"singlecare-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>\n<h3 id=\"allergies-vs-sinus-infection-symptoms\">Allergies vs. sinus infection symptoms<\/h3>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sneezing\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Runny nose\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Itchy nose and eyes\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nasal congestion\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headache<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coughing<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sneezing\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stuffy nose\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Runny nose with yellow or green discharge<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nasal congestion\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headache<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coughing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sore throat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Facial pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ear pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tooth pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decreased smell or taste<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fever<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bad breath<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"diagnosis\">Diagnosis<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are tests to determine what\u2019s causing your symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heading-12\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allergies<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most allergies can be safely treated without testing, but based on your symptoms and when they occur, your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist who is able to diagnose environmental or other allergies. The allergy specialist will perform a skin test and\/or blood test.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAllergies are initially diagnosed from symptoms of nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy watery eyes, post-nasal drip, runny nose, nasal congestion around pollen, pets, dust, and mold. As an allergist, once we identify these symptoms after taking a clinical history, we then seek to confirm the information with skin testing and\/or IgE blood work,\u201d says<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.faaccares.com\/about-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nana Mireku<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, MD, a pediatric allergist at Family Allergy and Asthma Care in Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heading-13\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinus infection<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your health care provider can diagnose a sinus infection based on your symptoms and a physical exam. If you are experiencing chronic sinus infections your health care provider may order a CT scan or a sinus endoscopy, but these tests are typically not recommended for an acute sinus infection.<\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\" singlecare-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>\n<h3 id=\"allergies-vs-sinus-infection-diagnosis\">Allergies vs. sinus infection diagnosis<\/h3>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clinical diagnosis based on history and physical exam<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skin test<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blood test<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symptom assessment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CT Scan (chronic case)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Endoscopy (chronic case)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"treatments\">Treatments<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some medications can treat both allergies and sinus infections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heading-16\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allergies<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat I love most about being an allergist is that we have true treatments which can actually change your immune system and desensitize you to what you are allergic to,\u201d says Dr. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mireku.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cThese treatments are called immunotherapy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many different options for the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">treatment of environmental allergies<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Most allergies respond well to over-the-counter allergy medications. Antihistamine medications like <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zyrtec<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cetirizine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">),<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allegra<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fexofenadine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), or<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Claritin<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">loratadine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) can be helpful in relieving the symptoms of allergies. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinus rinses<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and nasal sprays like<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flonase Allergy Relief<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fluticasone<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) can help to clear up congestion and get rid of the allergens like pollen from your nasal passageways. You could also try decongestant medications like <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sudafed<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">phenylephrine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have a headache you can try using pain relievers like <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tylenol<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(acetaminophen<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advil<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ibuprofen<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aleve<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">naproxen<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). It is also important to drink water and use a humidifier at night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have persistent allergies that do not respond to the typical over-the-counter treatments, seek the advice of your medical provider. Some people require specialized allergy treatments or shots.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b> <\/b><b>Seasonal allergy meds Q&amp;A<\/b><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heading-17\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinus infection<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI have found that recommending use of steam in an appropriate manner several times a day can be a very effective tool in reducing nasal congestion,\u201d Dr. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Siddiqui says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are also many options for the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">treatment of sinus infections<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Sinus rinses, drinking water, and using a humidifier at night can also help to reduce congestion. Topical decongestants such as xylometazoline nasal spray can reduce congestion but should not be used for more than three days. If you have a headache or facial, ear or tooth pain then you might ease your discomfort with pain relievers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen. A warm washcloth may also soothe the pain. If your inflammation is severe your health care provider may also prescribe a steroid nasal spray. You should avoid taking antihistamines as they may dry out your nasal passages, and worsen congestion. If your sinus infection is caused by bacteria, then you would require a prescription of antibiotics to treat the infection.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cClinicians may use the duration of symptomatology greater than 7 to 10 days as a factor in determining whether an acute viral sinusitis now may have a component of a secondary bacterial infection,\u201d Dr. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Siddiqui says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b> <\/b><b>What is Sudafed and what is it used for?<\/b><\/p>\n<table class=\" singlecare-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>\n<h3 id=\"allergies-vs-sinus-infection-treatments\">Allergies vs. sinus infection treatments<\/h3>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antihistamines<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decongestants<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinus rinse<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nasal spray<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pain reliever<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drink water<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Humidifier<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Immunotherapy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Topical decongestants<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinus rinse<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pain reliever<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Warm compress<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drink water<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Humidifier<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antibiotics<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Steroid nasal sprays<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"risk-factors\">Risk factors<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn what predisposes you to experience allergies or sinus infections.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heading-20\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allergies<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most common risk factor for allergies is genetics or if a family member has allergies. If you have asthma, you may also experience allergies. Also, there are many environmental factors that can trigger allergies such as pet dander, smoke, dust, pollen, fungus, mold, spores, chemicals, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heading-21\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinus infection<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have environmental allergies or asthma, then that is considered a risk factor for sinus infections. Another risk factor is a weakened immune system from genetic conditions, cancer or other conditions. Dry air or cigarette smoke can also cause inflammation of the sinuses leading to infections. Nasal polyps also increase the risk of sinus infection.<\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\" singlecare-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>\n<h3 id=\"allergies-vs-sinus-infection-risk-factors\">Allergies vs. sinus infection risk factors<\/h3>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Environmental allergies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weakened immune system<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dry air<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cigarette smoke<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"prevention\">Prevention<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best treatment is to avoid symptoms with the following strategies.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heading-24\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allergies<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe always educate our patients on how they can decrease their exposure to their environmental allergens,\u201d says <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mireku. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can prevent allergies by avoiding the environmental triggers that cause your allergies. One way to avoid allergens is to sleep with your windows closed and use an air conditioner in the summer, making sure to change the filter regularly. Avoid having pets or having pets on furniture and in bedrooms.Taking your medication can prevent an allergic reaction. Staying hydrated, using a humidifier and nasal rinse can flush out the allergens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMany individuals have noticed that when they\u2019ve relocated to different parts of the country that they have had either a waxing or waning of their allergic symptomatology and this can be attributed to a decreased exposure to the specific allergy,\u201d says Dr. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Siddiqui.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heading-25\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinus infection<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you can manage your allergies or other chronic health conditions, then your nasal passages will not become inflamed and cause a sinus infection. You can also prevent inflammation by having a moist nasal passage by using nasal rinses or a humidifier and staying hydrated. You should also wash your hands to prevent bacteria or viruses from entering your nasal passages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\" singlecare-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>\n<h3 id=\"how-to-prevent-allergies-vs-sinus-infection\">How to prevent allergies vs. sinus infection<\/h3>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid allergens<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take medication<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use nasal rises<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a humidifier<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stay hydrated<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manage allergies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use nasal rises<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a humidifier<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stay hydrated<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wash hands<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"when-to-see-a-doctor-for-allergies-or-sinus-infection\">When to see a doctor for allergies or sinus infection<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If over the counter medications are not relieving your symptoms and you have a fever you should see a healthcare provider to discuss alternative treatment or prescription medications to help alleviate your symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"singlecare-dynamic-newsletter-wrapper sin-newsletter-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"heading\">Get our allergies newsletter<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"frequently-asked-questions-about-allergies-and-sinus-infection\">Frequently asked questions about allergies and sinus infection<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"how-do-you-know-if-you-have-allergies-or-a-sinus-infection\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do you know if you have allergies or a sinus infection?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One main difference between allergies and sinus infections is with sinus infections you may experience pain like facial, tooth or ear pain along with a fever. Another difference that may be harder to determine is the nasal discharge with allergies is usually clear whereas with sinus infections it is usually green or yellow in color.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"can-allergies-feel-like-a-sinus-infection\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can allergies feel like a sinus infection?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allergies can feel similar to a sinus infection since in both conditions you might experience sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, coughing, headache and fatigue. But with a sinus infection you will probably feel \u201csick\u201d or under the weather.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"what-can-mimic-a-sinus-infection\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What can mimic a sinus infection?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many disorders that are similar to a sinus infection such as allergies, a cold, the flu or COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b> <\/b><b>Is it a sinus infection or COVID-19?<\/b><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"can-allergies-cause-sinus-pressure\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can allergies cause sinus pressure?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allergies can cause sinus pressure from the congestion but typically don\u2019t cause facial, ear or tooth pain.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"can-sinusitis-cause-skin-problems\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can sinusitis cause skin problems?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo, sinusitis does not cause skin problems,\u201d says Dr. 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Over 50 million Americans suffer from allergies, while sinus infections [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8712"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8818,"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8712\/revisions\/8818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}