Is it a harmless sniffle from seasonal allergies, or something more serious lurking? That tickle in your throat, the persistent cough – are they signs of an infection, or just your immune system overreacting to pollen? Figuring out the difference between allergies and infections can be tricky, especially when symptoms overlap. But understanding the root cause is crucial, not just for your own comfort, but also to prevent the spread of illness.
With allergy season coming in quickly, it’s best to refresh our memories and be prepared for what to look out for when our immune system turns on. COVID-19 significantly altered baseline infection rates and led to fluctuations in other respiratory viruses. For example, common cold viruses, influenza and RSV which heavily impacted children. In Maryland alone, RSV causes more than 30 deaths per year in children, mostly infants. CDC reports 100-300 children worldwide.
I remember being on the bus in high school and always hearing one of my colleagues snorting and making scratching noises with her throat. She’d often sneeze and would blow her nose so much that I was convinced she had infinite snot. I take after my mom, so I am a bit of a germaphobe, and I couldn’t help or hide the twisted faces I would make when noticing her tendencies. However, she always had the same response…. “It’s allergies.” Back then, I didn’t understand fully what that meant, but now, I do.
Allergies are the immune system’s response to harmless substances. They are not caused by pathogens and therefore, are not contagious. On the other hand, infections are caused by pathogens like viruses and bacteria. These pathogens are transmissible and can spread through airborne droplets, direct contact, indirect contact (like touching contaminated surfaces) and bodily fluids.
One of the main symptoms people use to differentiate allergies and infections is the color of the mucus being clear, yellow or green. While this may give you a decent self-diagnosis, it is important to understand that allergies can also take on a yellow hue. This is due to the presence of inflammatory cells that are present in the mucus. Also important, if your allergies cause a sinus congestion, this allows your body an environment and opportunity for bacteria to grow, thus causing a secondary infection and… yellow mucus. Now, if you have yellow or green mucus accompanied with other symptoms such as fever and pain, your scale is unfortunately tipping over to the infection side.
In general, the best way to understand your body is to know what it needs beforehand. It’s important to take preventative measures so that you and your family have the best shields against both allergies and infections.
While allergy pills aren’t ideal for your runny-nose toddler, foods with anti-inflammatory properties are. Look for and cook foods with Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Turmeric and Ginger. You can also weaponize your body with Vitamin C and Quercetin-Rich Foods like Onions, Apples and Berries to defend against viruses.
Lastly, being aware of your environment is a huge factor. If you find yourself heading to a high foot-traffic area, prepare yourself with a mask. Just like the body, places with poor ventilation and filtration can also create an environment for bacterial growth. To be aware of what’s inside of your body is to be aware of what is outside of your body.
That’s why Cosmos Air will always be there to back you, your family, friends and coworkers up. Life is a delicacy and when we realize that we have full control over ourselves, we can then understand that we have full control over everything else. Allergy season may always be there, but your allergies do not have to be. There may always be an environment that is armed against your health, but with the right preparation and a Cosmos call away, that battle is already won.
