Is It Allergies or Something More? How to Spot and Treat Seasonal Symptoms

Every spring, millions of Americans expect sneezing, itchy eyes and a few days of discomfort. For many, a daily pill and closed windows are enough to keep allergy symptoms in check.  

But what if those symptoms start feeling more like illness, the usual tricks stop working or you suddenly develop allergies later in life?  

You’re not alone.

With longer growing seasons and rising pollen levels, spring allergies are lasting longer and hitting harder than ever before. Even people who once had mild or manageable symptoms are finding it harder to cope each year.

Alpen Patel, MD, a board-certified otolaryngologist and allergist at LifeBridge Health ENT Sinus & Allergy Center, helps patients find clarity and long-term relief. He recently discussed these issues on WJZ’s ASK A DOC.

What Are Seasonal Allergies, and When Should You Be Concerned?

Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever, occur when your immune system reacts to airborne allergens like pollen. Symptoms can sometimes mimic sinus infections or stubborn colds, so knowing the difference helps you avoid unnecessary antibiotics and get the right treatment faster.

Signs of Seasonal Allergies

• Stuffy or runny nose with thin, clear mucus
• Sneezing
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Itchy nose, throat or roof of mouth
• Symptoms that last weeks or even months without big changes
• No fever

Signs of an Infection

• Thick, yellow or green mucus that may smell or taste bad
• Sinus pressure or facial pain
• Body aches  
• Low-grade fever

“Even as physicians, we’re always wondering: Is this infectious or is this allergic?” Dr. Patel says. But itching and clear mucus usually point to allergies. Pain, fever and thick, colored mucus suggest infection.

When to See a Specialist

If your allergy symptoms are mild and occasional, a text-based eVisit or a trip to an ExpressCare Urgent Care Center may be all you need.

But you should consider seeing a specialist like Dr. Patel if you experience:

• Symptoms that last more than a few weeks
• Trouble breathing through your nose
• Frequent sinus infections
• Poor sleep or low energy
• Little to no relief from over-the-counter medications

Dr. Patel’s dual training in ENT–head and neck surgery and allergy care allows him to treat everything from spring allergies to complex nasal, sinus and airway conditions.

Advanced Allergy Diagnosis

“Allergies are often a quality-of-life issue,” Dr. Patel says. “But sometimes they’re associated with a more life-threatening condition like asthma.” In any case, your provider wants you to find relief.  

Diagnosis begins with a complete health history, followed by testing to uncover the exact allergens causing your symptoms.

At LifeBridge Health ENT Sinus & Allergy Center, testing may include:

• Allergy Skin Testing: Also called prick testing, this involves placing small amounts of allergens on the skin to check for a reaction.
• Allergy Blood Testing: A helpful alternative for those who cannot undergo skin testing. A small blood sample is used to detect immune response to allergens.

Knowing whether you’re reacting to pollens like grass, dust or another trigger helps your allergist develop a smarter, more effective treatment plan.

How to Treat Allergies: Three Paths to Relief

Most care plans fall into three categories: avoiding allergens, managing symptoms or retraining the immune system. Dr. Patel helps each patient create a plan based on their lifestyle and level of discomfort.

Option One: Environmental Adjustments
The simplest way to feel better is to avoid what’s triggering your allergies. We know that’s often easier said than done, but a few smart choices can make a noticeable difference: stay indoors on high-pollen days, keep windows closed, shower after outdoor activities and use saline rinses to flush allergens from your nose.  

Tip: Tree pollen peaks in early spring, grass pollen in summer and weed pollen in fall. Different seasons may trigger different symptoms.  

Option Two: Medications to Manage Symptoms
When avoidance isn’t enough, medications can help. Antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays and short-term decongestants effectively reduce sneezing, congestion and itching.  

Tip: A pollen count above 90 grains per cubic meter is considered high. When counts rise, even mild allergies can quickly worsen.

Option Three: Immune System Retraining
The only real cure for allergies is immunotherapy, which retrains your immune system to respond less to allergens. This long-term solution includes allergy shots or daily sublingual drops (SLIT) taken under the tongue at home. Both typically require a commitment of three to five years.

Emerging Treatment: Posterior nasal nerve ablation uses low temperature radiofrequency to deactivate the nerves that trigger excessive mucus production, offering relief for patients with chronic runny noses.

You Don’t Have to Tough It Out

If your allergy symptoms have changed, or you’ve developed new ones for the first time, it’s not just you. And you don’t have to suffer through another season.  

Relief is possible.