Newswise — If your winter cold seems to have subsided just in time for spring allergies to hit, you may be hard-pressed to know exactly what is causing your stuffy nose and itchy eyes. Raymond Slavin, M.D., professor of internal medicine and molecular biology and immunology at Saint Louis University, can offer advice to tell the difference between a cold, sinus infection and an allergy, as well as ways to avoid and cope with the symptoms. In a Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology article, Slavin discusses when it's time to see a specialist for these symptoms.

Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the Mississippi River. The school educates physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health care on a local, national and international level. Research at the school seeks new cures and treatments in five key areas: cancer, liver disease, heart/lung disease, aging and brain disease, and infectious disease.