It's not the common cold, but it's more common than you think!

It's not the common cold, but it's more common than you think!

And you can be one of his victims and not even know it. Allergist discusses the little-known but highly annoying phenomenon of the allergic cold.

Do you often have a runny sneeze, frequent bouts of sneezing at a certain time of the day, which can sometimes reach up to 400-500 sneezes and a stuffy nose almost all year round? And have you resigned yourself to being stuck with this “cold” that doesn’t seem to leave you?

If you have these symptoms and get a cold more than three times a year, you probably don't have a cold caused by an allergen. Medically called allergic rhinitis, this type of cold is often confused with a cold.

How do you tell the difference?

• Firstly, the common cold is a viral infection, i.e. caused by a virus, while an allergic cold is an allergic reaction.

• The cold lasts about a week. Within this period, the body's immunity was usually able to overcome the virus, while the allergic attack is more persistent.

• A person may get a cold about once or twice a year. If the allergen stays around, the allergies can be perennial.

• A cold has many other generalized symptoms – body aches, fever and headache. These are missing in allergies. However, sneezing and a watery, itchy nose are common to both.

How is an allergic cold caused?

Although the underlying cause is still unknown, scientists suspect a genetic defect or susceptibility. The immediate cause is usually a trigger factor such as:

Pollen:Because they are light, these small flower particles float in the air and are easily carried by the wind. Some types of pollen are more allergic (i.e. allergenic) due to their chemical composition (amino acid and protein content). Beautiful, fragrant flowers that are pollinated by insects are usually harmless. Inconspicuous wildflowers that grow among grasses (like Cynodon, the tiny white flowers of turfgrass) are the main culprits. Many children come home from playing in the grass sniffing with a cold.

Insects:Of the 50,000 species of mites, D. farinae, a house mite, is the main culprit. It thrives in the hot, humid climate and is commonly found in wool rugs, carpets and old cotton mattresses. An average mattress can have 50,000 to 100,000 mites. Not only inhaling the mite, but also inhaling parts of the body and faces can cause an allergic cold.

When cockroaches die, instead of decaying, they turn into powder and mix with the dust in the air, contributing to the allergens in the air.

Shapes:They usually thrive in garbage dumps in cities. Because they are extremely light, they are easily carried by air currents into damp areas such as leaky old buildings. They can even be found on the casing of refrigerators (the tiny black dots we mistake for dirt).

Animals:The tiny particles in the hair of animals (dandruff) and birds are a common cause of allergic colds. The hairy Pomeranian, parrots and pigeons are the main offenders.

Dangers in the workplace:Grain traders are affected by grain dust and cotton factory employees can develop allergic colds in response to the cotton fibers.

Eat:Children are usually allergic to milk, adults to gram and seafood.

What does the typical allergic cold patient look like?

A person suffering from an allergic cold has a worried expression. This is because his eyes may be sore during a conjunctivitis attack, and the tip of his nose is often red and bulbous due to the constant rubbing and swelling. He may also have a nasal twang, dry mouth, and become breathless. He may have a wrinkle over the tip of his nose because he performs the “allergic greeting” by rubbing his nose upward to relieve irritation in the nasal passage. This irritation is caused by histamines, one of the main chemicals released by the nasal mucous cells in response to the allergy. It is histamine that is responsible for sneezing and nasal watering.

Who is more susceptible to allergic colds?

Children from the age of three until puberty are most susceptible because their immunity is not yet mature enough to fight the allergens at this point. The number of children suffering from allergic colds is 15 percent higher than adults. In childhood, the body's ability to produce the antibody IgE (and thus trigger an allergic reaction) is high. With increasing age, IgE production decreases favorably. Asthmatics, those with gastrointestinal allergies or eczema are also more susceptible to allergic colds because IgE is also high in these patients.

On the other hand, 30 percent of allergic cold patients can develop asthma after five to ten years.

Does climate play a role in the occurrence of allergic colds?

In North India, allergic colds are common in winter when the air is dry as humidity drops, nasal mucus dries up and infections are caught. (Normally, the mucous and cilia - brush-like structures in the nose prevent bacteria, viruses or allergens from entering).

Allergic colds are high during the rainy season when humidity is high. This moisture in the air hinders the movement of the cilia, making them sluggish and increasing the likelihood of infection. In comparison, summer is the least disruptive time, apart from the danger posed by pollen from flowers that bloom at this time of year.

However, a person who has an allergic cold year-round is usually in constant contact with an allergen – such as food, mites, or animal dander.

What is the frequency of allergic colds in the general population?

Of the 20 percent of the allergy-sensitive population, half, i.e. 10 percent, suffer from allergic colds.

How do you get relief?

A doctor usually prescribes nasal drops, antihistamines, and steam inhalations for symptoms such as sneezing and a watery nose. If the patient develops tiny tumors, so-called polyps, in the mucous membrane (nasal skin) (usually due to an allergic cold lasting several years), these can be removed through surgery.

A doctor may perform an allergy test (RAST Radio Allegro Sorbent Test) along with a blood test to detect the allergen. Depending on the type of allergy, he may prescribe medications such as cromolyn, ipratropium or beclometazne.

Can allergic colds be prevented?

Exercises such as pranayama (yogic breathing), walking or jogging are recommended as the improved respiratory circulation makes the cilia more effective at expelling the allergens. Allergy vaccines can be given to desensitize a person to a specific allergen.

Inspired by Sarah Wayne