"If Your Eyes Are Itchy, Suspect It Immediately"...The Autumn Illness Often Mistaken for a Cold [Kok! Health]

Persistent Clear Nasal Discharge and Sneezing Without Fever
If Symptoms Last More Than Two Weeks, Accurate Diagnosis Is Needed

As the temperatures drop significantly in the mornings and evenings, many people immediately think of a cold when they start experiencing a runny nose and sneezing. However, if you have persistent clear nasal discharge and sneezing without a fever, or if these symptoms recur around the same time every year, you should suspect allergic rhinitis.

According to the medical community on October 3, more patients visit hospitals for allergic rhinitis in the autumn. Data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service show that last year, the number of patients receiving treatment for allergic rhinitis increased from about 680,000 in August to about 1.15 million in both September and October. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, in 2024, the proportion of adults aged 19 and older with allergic rhinitis indicators was about 20.9%—roughly one in five adults.

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If clear nasal discharge recurs without fever, suspect 'rhinitis'

Allergic rhinitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the nasal mucosa due to hypersensitivity to specific allergens. The main symptoms are clear nasal discharge, paroxysmal sneezing, nasal congestion, and itching of the nose. It can also be accompanied by itching in the eyes or throat, or postnasal drip where nasal mucus goes down the back of the throat.

The early symptoms are similar to those of a cold. A cold may present with fever, sore throat, and systemic symptoms such as body aches, and usually improves within one to two weeks. In contrast, allergic rhinitis typically features recurrent clear nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal congestion, or itching without fever. Symptoms can be particularly severe in the morning or in certain locations or environments.

Professor Shin Jae Min, an otolaryngologist at Korea University Anam Hospital, stated, "Because the symptoms of allergic rhinitis are similar to those of a cold, some people do not take it seriously and repeatedly take cold medicine. If you experience repeated sneezing, clear nasal discharge, nasal congestion, or itching without any significant fever, and the symptoms worsen in certain seasons or environments, it is advisable to check for allergic rhinitis."

The main triggers for allergic rhinitis include house dust mites, pollen, mold, and pet dander. The disease is classified as either perennial rhinitis—which occurs regardless of season—or seasonal rhinitis, which becomes severe during specific times of the year. In autumn, the likelihood of exposure to seasonal pollen such as mugwort or ragweed increases. Furthermore, when there are large differences between day and night temperatures and the air becomes dry, the nasal mucosa can be irritated, worsening existing rhinitis symptoms.

If nasal congestion is left untreated, it may even disrupt sleep

While allergic rhinitis is not a life-threatening disease in itself, neglecting the recurring symptoms can significantly reduce quality of life. Sleep can be disrupted by nasal congestion, which may result in daytime fatigue or impaired concentration. In some cases, sinusitis or otitis media may occur concurrently.

The foundation of treatment is to identify and reduce exposure to the substances that trigger your symptoms. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, antihistamines or intranasal steroids may be used. For patients who have been identified with a specific allergen and continue to experience symptoms or need long-term management, allergen immunotherapy may be considered.

If house dust mites are the cause, bedding should be kept clean, and the indoor environment should be cleaned regularly to prevent dust accumulation. Those sensitive to pollen should avoid spending long hours outdoors on days with high pollen counts and should wear a mask. After going outside, washing hands and face and removing dust or pollen from clothes is also recommended.

Professor Shin added, "Because allergic rhinitis symptoms tend to repeatedly improve and worsen, it is more important to continuously manage the environment and identify the allergens that aggravate your symptoms than to simply treat the symptoms as they arise. If you repeatedly experience sleep or daily life disturbances due to nasal congestion or sneezing, you should seek professional medical advice and, if necessary, undergo allergy tests to identify the cause."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.