Allergic rhinitis or a common cold?

Symptoms alone may overlap, so consider what started them, whether close contacts are ill and whether the same pattern returns around dust, pollen, mould or animals.

Allergic rhinitis is an immune reaction within the nose. It often brings bouts of sneezing, clear watery discharge, nasal or eye itching, and watery eyes soon after exposure to a familiar trigger.

A cold is a viral infection and may include a sore throat, tiredness, aches or fever before nasal symptoms settle. Nasal mucus can thicken or change colour during either condition; colour alone does not show that antibiotics are needed.

For likely allergy, reduce exposure where practical, use saline nasal spray and ask a pharmacist about an antihistamine or nasal steroid. Correct technique matters: aim a nasal spray slightly outward, away from the middle wall of the nose.

For a cold, rest, drink fluids and use simple symptom relief that is safe with your health conditions and current medicines. Handwashing, covering coughs and avoiding close contact while unwell reduce spread to others. Antibiotics do not treat cold viruses.

Get urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, blue or grey lips, confusion, collapse, or swelling of the mouth or throat. Sudden swelling after an exposure can signal a serious allergic reaction rather than nasal allergy alone.

Arrange a consultation if symptoms are severe, keep returning without a clear trigger, do not improve as expected, or occur with wheezing, persistent fever, significant facial pain or ear pain. Young children, older adults and people with long-term illness may need earlier advice when generally unwell.

Ask which details favour allergy or infection and whether your home, work or seasonal exposures reveal a pattern. Note the onset, associated itching, fever, wheeze and response to medicines.

Discuss whether regular preventive nasal treatment is appropriate, whether allergy testing would change management, and which cold remedies are compatible with blood pressure or other medicines.