Allergy Symptoms

Sniffling
Nasal mucus due to allergies is thin and watery, at least at first. Sniffling is common in “hay fever” and related conditions.
Back to the Test

Sneezing
Allergens cause the release of histamine and other “chemical mediators” which provoke sneezing along with a number of other symptoms.
Back to the Test

Runny Nose
Mucus glands in the nose and sinuses (and in the lungs) increase their secretions in response to allergen exposure.
Back to the Test

Stuffy Nose
Histamine and other “chemical mediators” cause dilatation of blood vessels, perceived as “congestion” or stuffiness. Externally, the blood vessel dilatation results in redness.
Back to the Test

Itchy Nose
“Chemical mediators” released in allergic reactions make blood vessels “leaky.” Blood factors which are foreign to surrounding tissues ooze into them, causing itchiness.
Back to the Test

Drainage in Throat
Secretions originating in the sinuses typically drain into the throat. Associated symptoms can include hoarseness and a sensation of a lump in the throat.
Back to the Test

Difficulty Breathing
During a flare-up of asthma, it is more difficult to get air out of the lungs than into them. But patients usually cannot distinguish the difference--for them it's just hard to breathe.
Back to the Test

Coughing
A common symptom of asthma. Coughing during the night can be the only symptom of early asthma, particularly in a child. Sinusitis can also be responsible for chronic cough.
Back to the Test

Wheezing
A whistling noise characteristic of asthma, indicating obstruction of air movement in lungs. Causes include constriction and edema of bronchioles and thick secretions lodged within them.
Back to the Test

Watery Eyes
Results from the release of histamine and other “chemical messengers” of allergy. Can be helpful in that it serves as a protective mechanism to flush the eyes of airborne allergens.
Back to the Test

Itchy Eyes
Responsible mechanism same as citing above under Itchy Nose. Rubbing the eyes with dirty hands is an insidious cause of infection of the delicate tissues of the eyes.
Back to the Test

Bloodshot Eyes
Cosmetically disturbing visible evidence of dilatation of blood vessels citing above under Stuffy Nose.
Back to the Test

Puffy Eyes
Swelling of the eyelids and the easily distended tissue beneath the eyes results from fluid entering them as one consequence of leaky blood vessels citing above under Itchy Nose.
Back to the Test

Headaches
Headaches, facial pain, and pain perceived in the upper teeth are common symptoms of sinusitis. Contrary to common opinion, pain is not always present in sinusitis, especially if it is chronic.
Back to the Test

Facial Pain
Can be caused by abnormal pressure in sinuses due to obstruction of the normal communication between the sinuses and the nose, and from swelling and infection within the sinuses.
Back to the Test

Ear Popping
A common symptom of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, a frequently overlooked condition resulting from intermittent swelling of passageways between the throat and the middle ear.
Back to the Test

Ear Fullness
A sensation of fullness or stuffiness of the ears, often exacerbated by changes in altitude, can be due to inability to satisfactorily “clear” the ears in Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.
Back to the Test

Itchy Ear Canals
Caused by same mechanism citing above under Itchy Nose. Some allergy sufferers find itching of ear canals and area between the shoulder blades to be their most frustrating symptoms.
Back to the Test

Itchy Palate
Cause citing under Itchy Nose. A hard place to scratch in company or without gagging! Patients are sometimes heard clicking their tongue against their palate in an attempt to find relief.
Back to the Test

Hives
Localized swelling, redness, and itching caused by allergies and many other factors. If the swelling goes inward instead of toward the skin surface, the resultant condition is called “angioedema.”
Back to the Test