Hay fever and sinusitis are two medical disorders influencing the respiratory tract. The significant difference between hay fever and sinusitis is that hay fever is the allergic response to specific things, which includes cats, pollen, ragweed, etc. In contrast, sinusitis has to do with the inflammation of the tissues available in the sinuses. They are two connected disorders. This is due to the prolonged sinus congestion as a result of hay fever may enhance the threat of acquiring sinusitis. As such, inflammation of the sinuses is a typical intricacy of hay fever.
What is Hay Fever?
Hay fever can also be described as allergic rhinitis. It is an allergic response to specific things, including cats, ragweed, and pollen. Hay fever occurs when the human immune system notices non-toxic inhaled pollen and other allergens as hazardous substances taking control of the body. As such, the immune system overreacts to this by overflowing the bloodstream with chemicals like leukotrienes and histamine, which results in inflammation of nasal tracts, eyelids, and sinuses. The common indication of this disorder has to do with a runny or blocked nose, itchy throat, ears, and mouth, coughing, sneezing, dark lines below the eyes, wet eyes, and postnasal drip. However, hay fever is usually a genetic characteristic. Many individuals who suffer from hay fever have a family member who also has allergic allergies. Adding to this, individuals with asthma or eczema are more likely to formulate this disorder than others.
The hay fever diagnosis can be made through allergy tests, physical tests, and medical history. Also, the treatment choices for hay fever may involve saline rinses, herbal remedies, preventing the triggers, antihistamines, decongestants, nasal ipratropium, corticosteroids nasal spray, cromolyn sodium, and bioelectronic sinus equipment.
What is Sinusitis?
Sinusitis is described as the inflammation and disease of the tissues in the sinuses. Sinuses have to do with the gaps in the forehead, nose, and cheeks, usually crammed with air. This triggers sinuses to get obstructed and filled with fluid, eventually resulting in sinusitis. Bacterial diseases such as streptococcal pneumonia, Haemophilus influenza, Moraxella catarrhalis, viral diseases such as influenza, and allergic responses such as seasonal allergies can aggravate them. However, the regular signs of sinusitis may have to do with postnasal drip, facial pressure, blocked nose, fatigue, headaches, halitosis, fever, runny nose, and pressure in the ear. The threat characteristics of this disorder may have to do with poor immunity, nasal polyps, asthma, smoking, nasal allergies, and deviated septum.
The diagnosis of sinusitis can be carried out through imaging examination, nasal endoscopy, nasal swaps, and allergy examination. Also, the treatment choices for sinusitis involve over-the-counter cold and allergy drugs, decongestants, enough water intake, surgery to treat structural conditions, intranasal steroid sprays, antibiotics, and topical antihistamine sprays, leukotriene antagonists and oral pills.
Difference Between Hay Fever and Sinusitis
- Hay fever is the allergic response to specific things such as cats, ragweed, and pollen. In contrast, sinusitis has to do with the inflammation or disease of the tissues in the sinuses.
- Hay fever is due to seasonal allergies, while sinusitis is due to bacterial disease, allergies, and viral disease.
