Chronic rhinitis

Chronic rhinitis – a runny nose that occurs in a chronic form, is characterized by frequent exacerbation of the clinical picture with a short period of remission. Symptoms of chronic rhinitis are identical to the symptoms of a runny nose, proceeding in an acute form.

Causes of Chronic Rhinitis

The main factors of occurrence are:

• contact with an allergen (signs of chronic rhinitis have a seasonal tendency);
• prolonged use of nasal drops, which have a vasoconstrictive effect;
• hormonal disbalance;
• disruption of the endocrine system;
• consumption of food that is too spicy, or too hot (acute chronic rhinitis);
• prolonged exposure to cold air;
• abnormalities in the structure of the nasopharynx;
• dryness in the room (this cause of chronic rhinitis occurs mainly in children);
• complications of bronchial asthma.

Signs of the disease

Chronic rhinitis of the nose has the following manifestations:

• difficulty in nasal breathing;
• discharge from the sinuses;
• headache;
• dry mouth
• swelling of the mucous membrane in the sinuses;
• frequent sneezing
• dull sense of smell;
• snuffling voice;
• paroxysmal cough;
• soreness

Symptoms of chronic rhinitis in adults and children are the same, with the only difference that children are more likely to tolerate the disease less, due to the incompletely formed immune system. Symptoms of chronic rhinitis and treatment are determined by the doctor.

Forms of the disease

Depending on the symptoms of chronic rhinitis and the causes of its occurrence, chronic rhinitis is divided into the following types:

• hypertrophic – enlargement of the wings of the nasal sinus, narrowing of the passages;
• atrophic – dryness of mucous membrane, expansion of the nasal passages, formation of crusts;
• allergic – sneezing, cough, severe nasal congestion (diagnosed both in adults and children);
• professional – occurs in adults who work in hazardous industries. Symptoms of chronic rhinitis, in this case, discharge from the nose, nasal congestion;
• chronic catarrhal rhinitis;
• vasomotor – dysfunctional microcirculation of the mucous membrane of the nasal sinuses. Symptoms – nasal congestion, severe swelling, dryness;
• alimentary – occurs when eating food that is too hot, drinking alcoholic beverages, more often manifested in adults.

Therapeutic measures

If chronic rhinitis is diagnosed, what should I do? Treatment of chronic rhinitis is selected individually, depending on the causes of the disease. In adults, hormonal treatment is often practised if other drugs do not give positive dynamics. Chronic rhinitis in children does not involve the use of hormones.

Treatment of chronic rhinitis, the symptoms of which are manifested in contact with an allergen, is aimed at stopping signs. Treatment of chronic rhinitis with deviation of the nasal septum requires surgical intervention. With such chronic rhinitis, the operation is performed using a minimally invasive method.

Treatment of vasomotor chronic rhinitis in adults is symptomatic. To facilitate breathing, vasoconstrictive drops are used, but due to the quick addiction to them, they can be used no longer than 7 days. Often the treatment of chronic rhinitis, in addition to drug therapy, involves physiotherapy, especially if the symptoms of chronic rhinitis appear after using nasal drops.

With severe symptoms of chronic rhinitis, treatment is performed surgically. In adults, treatment of chronic rhinitis involves the narrowing or expansion of the nasal passages, depending on the causes of the disease. At the first manifestations of symptoms of chronic rhinitis, treatment in adults and children should be urgent.