whats the difference between an allergy attack and simply inhaling an irritant?

Question

I am suddenly sneezing uncontrollably and it feels as if there's a big fuzzy thing tickling my nasal passages. Is this an allergy attack or could I just have inhaled an irritant like a lint ball that I simply have to eject by blowing my nose? (serious question, although I know it sounds odd)

Answer 1

An irritant and allergy attack can often look like the same thing especially if the allergy is a small one (aka doesn't send you to the hospital from exposure).

An irritant would cause sneezing, maybe a bit of discomfort, etc.

Allergy attack usually causes swelling in the nasal passages, sneezing, throat soreness, coughing, drainage, itchy inner ears.. can progress even more to difficulty breathing, throat swelling, fainting, puking, fever, body swelling, hives.

My guess is that unless it progresses into more than an irritated nose, that you just have something irritating up your nose and you just need to clear it out.

Answer 2

I would think that if it were simply an irritant, sneezing a couple of times would expel it and then you would feel better once it was expelled from your nose. Allergies tend to hang on (at least for me) a bit longer, even after I've removed them from where I am.

Answer 3

If you are not sure darling go to the doctor.