The key difference between hay fever and sinusitis is that hay fever is the allergic reaction to certain things, such as pollen, ragweed, and cats, while sinusitis is the inflammation of the tissues in the sinuses.
Hay fever and sinusitis are two medical conditions affecting the respiratory tract. They are two associated conditions. This is because prolonged sinus congestion due to hay fever may increase the risk of getting sinusitis. Therefore, inflammation of the sinuses is a common complication of hay fever.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hay Fever
3. What is Sinusitis
4. Similarities – Hay Fever and Sinusitis
5. Hay Fever vs Sinusitis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Hay Fever vs Sinusitis
What is Hay Fever?
Hay fever is also known as allergic rhinitis. It is an allergic reaction to certain things, such as pollen, ragweed, and cats. Hay fever occurs when the human immune system detects harmless inhaled pollen and other allergens as dangerous substances invading the body. Therefore, the immune system overreacts to this by flooding the bloodstream with chemicals such as histamine and leukotrienes, which lead to inflammation of nasal passages, sinuses, and eyelids. The common symptoms of this condition include stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, coughing, itchy, watery eyes, itchy mouth, throat, ears, postnasal drip, and dark circles under the eyes. Moreover, hay fever is often an inherited trait. Most people who suffer from hay fever have a parent or sibling who also has allergic allergies. In addition, people with asthma or eczema are also more likely than others to develop this condition.
Hay fever can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and allergy tests. Furthermore, treatment options for hay fever may include medications corticosteroid nasal sprays, antihistamines, decongestants, cromolyn sodium, leukotriene modifier, nasal ipratropium, nasal ipratropium, stay away from triggers, saline rinses, bioelectronic sinus device, and herbal remedies (a shrub called butterbur).
What is Sinusitis?
Sinusitis is the inflammation and infection of the tissues in the sinuses. Sinuses are the spaces in the forehead, cheeks, and nose which are normally filled with air. Bacterial infections (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, and Moraxella catarrhalis), viral infections (influenza), and allergic reactions (seasonal allergies) can irritate them. This causes sinuses to get blocked and filled with fluid, which ultimately leads to sinusitis. Moreover, the common symptoms of sinusitis may include postnasal drip, runny nose with thick yellow mucus, stuffy nose, facial pressure, pressure in the teeth, ear pressure, fever, halitosis, cough, headache, and tiredness. The risk factors for this condition may include nasal allergies, asthma, nasal polyps, deviated septum, weakened immunity, and smoking.
Sinusitis can be diagnosed through nasal endoscopy, nasal swabs, imaging tests (CT scan), allergy tests, and biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for sinusitis may include decongestants, over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, nasal saline rinses, drinking plenty of water, antibiotics, intranasal steroid sprays, topical antihistamine sprays or oral pills, leukotriene antagonists (montelukast), and surgery to treat structural issues like nasal polyps.
What are the Similarities Between Hay Fever and Sinusitis?
- Hay fever and sinusitis are two medical conditions in the respiratory tract.
- They are two related conditions.
- In fact, sinusitis is a common complication of hay fever.
- Both these conditions may have similar symptoms like postnasal drip, coughing, sneezing, and headache.
- They can be diagnosed through physical examinations and allergy tests.
- Both these conditions can be treated through specific medications such as decongestants, nasal sprays, and antihistamines.
What is the Difference Between Hay Fever and Sinusitis?
Hay fever is the allergic reaction to certain things, such as pollen, ragweed, and cats, while sinusitis is the inflammation of the tissues in the sinuses. Thus, this is the key difference between hay fever and sinusitis. Furthermore, hay fever is a result of seasonal allergies, while sinusitis is a result of bacterial infection, viral infection, and allergies.
The below infographic presents the differences between hay fever and sinusitis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Hay Fever vs Sinusitis
Hay fever and sinusitis are two associated respiratory conditions. Hay fever can lead to complications such as sinusitis. Moreover, both these conditions can also be caused by allergies. Hay fever is the allergic reaction to certain things, such as pollen, ragweed, and cats, while sinusitis is the inflammation of the tissues in the sinuses. So, this summarizes the difference between hay fever and sinusitis.
Reference:
1. “Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis): Causes of Seasonal Allergies.” WebMD.
2.“Sinus Infection: Common Causes & How to Treat It.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Sneezing, handkerchief, Woman, Blow, Nose, blowing, hand chief, grey, blond, female” By McBeth (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Sinuses and Sinusitis” By NIAID (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr