Allergy or cold? Reocurring Rhinitis

Hi everyone, sorry in advance for potential language problems, English is not my first language. I am 42, female and the issue is more annoying than harmful I guess. Two months ago, one morning I got sneezing attacks out of the blue and my nose ran like a waterfall. Only clear, very fluid stuff. No fever, but felt slightly sick. I took nose spray to help with the runny nose, took it easy and rested where possible and two days later felt fine again.

Only, I got the exact same symptoms again in October.

And this morning it starts again. Exact same thing and feeling for the third time.

I have seasonal allergies causing sneezing and a runny nose, but now is not the time for that where I live. On the other hand, the discharge from my nose is always clear and so I would rule out a bacterial sinus infection.

I cannot figure out if it is allergic or a cold. I always feel a little off and tired, like it is a cold, but is that possible with clear discharge? And should my body not know the virus by now and not get it again?

Or do cold viruses exist that present like this? A pediatrician once told me that there a enteroviruses which can cause symptoms over 12 weeks, while feeling fine in between. Could that be the case here with my runny nose?

Thank you all in advance.

Posted Nov 14, 2025, 1:57 PM UTC

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