Sneezing and coughing despite hot weather? Doctor reveals the cause as 5–7 patients visit daily with this issue

If your eyes are itchy, your nose keeps running, or you can’t stop sneezing, you’re not the only one. Hospitals across the city have seen a sharp rise in allergy cases recently, with many people rushing to outpatient departments (OPDs) for help, according to a TOI report.

Dr Ankit Singhal from Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute told TOI, “We’re seeing 5-7 patients daily with sneezing, blocked or runny noses, itchy or watery eyes, coughing, and even mild wheezing. Many confuse it with a viral infection. But viral infections usually come with fever and body aches, while allergies tend to last longer without causing fever.”

At Fortis Escorts, Okhla, Dr Avi Kumar said that 20–30% of OPD patients suffer from bronchial asthma, with around 5% needing hospital admission.


Dr Ritu Malani from Max Hospital pointed out that allergies are mostly caused by pollen and house dust mites. “Pollen from trees is common between February and April, while grass and weed pollen peak from August to October,” she said. She added that dust mites are worse in winter, and mould spores tend to grow in damp areas during monsoons or winter.

What causes these allergies?

As per a TOI report, Dr Akshay Budhraja from Aakash Healthcare explained that apart from pollen and dust, triggers also include certain foods, medicines, alcohol, stress, and even pigeon droppings. “Environmental factors and lifestyle habits matter. People should pay attention to when symptoms start and what they were doing just before,” he advised.

If you're not sure what’s causing your allergies, blood tests and skin prick tests can help find the exact allergen. However, standard tests may not detect pollution particles like PM10. Wearing masks and avoiding triggers can also help.

Dr Suranjit Chatterjee from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals explained that allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to normally harmless things like dust or pollen. This releases histamine, causing swelling and other symptoms.

Common Allergy Symptoms

• Sneezing
• Blocked or runny nose
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Throat irritation or dry cough
• Chest tightness and wheezing (especially in asthma patients)
• Hives, skin rashes or swelling in some cases

These symptoms can be confused with viral infections, but the key difference is that viral illnesses often come with fever and tiredness, while allergies don’t.

How are allergies diagnosed?

• Skin Prick Test: Small amounts of allergens are pricked into the skin to check for reactions.
• Blood Tests: May be less sensitive, but still useful.
• IgE Antibody Test (ImmunoCAP): Used when a skin prick test can’t be done.
• Component Resolved Diagnostic Test: A detailed test to detect specific allergens.

Treatment options

• Nasal sprays and oral antihistamines
• Bronchodilators and nebulisers for asthma
• Short-term use of steroids in severe cases
• Antibiotics or antivirals if there’s an infection involved

Doctors say it’s important to know what triggers your symptoms and avoid those allergens. With the right treatment and precautions, you can reduce flare-ups and live more comfortably.

Inputs from TOI