### instruction:
If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description.

### input:
I have had what I thought was a cold but may have been allergies.  it started with a sore throat, scratchy and tickleish cough, yellow mucus, runny nose.  This has been going on for over two weeks and now Im developing hives, which I can control by taking Benedryl.  It doesnt appear to be subsiding.  Is there something else I should be taking?

### output:

Hello Thanks for posting here. Your symptoms like runny nose, sore throat, cough, hives all point out that you may have allergic rhinitis. The upper airways i.e. your nose, throat are reacting unusually to some substance which can be present in the air, in your surroundings. Usually most common allergens are smoke, dust, pollen, pet hairs and some food products also etc. So get your house vacuum cleaned, stay away from pets and gardens. It can also be worsened due to climatic conditions. There are blood allergen tests and skin prick allergen tests which can determine what are you allergic to, so that you can take necessary precautions. For your symptoms you can take tablet montelukast FX 10MG once in the night for about 14 days. This tablet is a combination of montelukast and fexofenadine which will definitely take care of your hives, runny nose and other symptoms. Also do a spirometry which shows functional capacity of the lungs. Allergies can also involve the lower airways causing asthma. It is a test in which you are required to blow into a machine to test your lungs functional capacity. If spirometry shows reversible obstruction then you must be started on inhalers also. Wishing you good healthRegards