• Your stuffy nose is accompanied by swelling of the forehead, eyes, side of the nose, or cheek.
• You also have blurred vision.
• You have increased throat pain, or white or yellow spots on the tonsils or other parts of the throat.
• Coughing episodes last longer that 10 days.
• The cough produces yellow-green or gray sputum.
• A stuffy nose lasts longer than 2 weeks and significantly interferes with your life.

Your doctor may perform a physical examination, focusing on the upper respiratory system, ears, nose, and throat.

Text Continues Below

---

Your doctor will ask medical history questions, such as:

• When did it develop? Is it always present?
• What have you done to try to relieve the congestion? How well has it worked?
• What other symptoms are also present -- nasal drainage, loss of sense of smell, watery or itching eyes, sneezing, fever, cough, headache, facial pain?

The following diagnostic tests may be performed:

• allergy skin tests (performed only by allergists)
• blood tests (such as CBC or blood differential)
• sputum culture and throat culture
• x-rays of the sinuses and chest x-ray
• serum total IgE (the allergy-related immunoglobin)

Over-the-counter medications may be recommended. Stronger, prescription medications may be advised. For severe hay fever cases, desensitization injections (allergy shots) for known allergens may be administered. Other treatment, including surgery, may be advised depending on the cause.