CAUTION - There are other illnesses that have nasal symptoms similar to hay fever

• Viral rhinitis - Also known as the common cold. Runny or stuffy nose is the main symptom. The nasal discharge may be clear, cloudy, yellow or green. The patient usually has other symptoms of a cold: fever, muscle aches, sore throat and headache.
• Bacterial and viral sinusitis - Yellow or green nasal secretions suggest the possibility of bacterial sinus infection (sinusitis) if they occur in combination with [1] sinus pain OR [2] the return of a fever after it has been gone for over 24 hours OR [3] secretions lasting longer than 10 days without improvement.
• Rhinitis medicamentosa - Prolonged continuous use (longer than 5 days) of over-the-counter decongestant nose drops can lead to "rebound" congestion where the nose becomes even stuffier.
• Occupational exposure - Airborne irritants in the workplace can cause nasal problems.