Seasonal Allergies in Disguise - Dr. Anthony Ferrara

I have been seeing many patients who are coming in with their yearly sinus infection and leaving North Atlanta Urgent Care with a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (seasonal allergies). Most of these patients had no fever, sinus pain, or enlarged lymph nodes. While I was examining them, they all were sniffling and had clear nasal discharge. They also complained of watery eyes, and sneezing. These symptoms are indicative of allergic rhinitis. Antibiotics are not the answer for these symptoms since it's not an infection causing the problem but pollen in the air in the spring instead. Atlanta is notorious for seasonal allergies. I have noted that it takes someone who has moved into the Atlanta Metro area about 3 to 12 yrs to develop the allergies. The good news is that their allergy symptoms can easily be treated with prescription steroids, a good nasal spray (recently, a pharmaceutical company representative pointed out how we can get these free for our patients) and a good anti-allergy medication (many over the counter antihistamines don't help with this issue). I encourage everyone in the Atlanta area, who thinks they are having their yearly sinus infection, to talk to a Doctor about seasonal allergies.