Rhinitis
Rhinitis (runny nose) is one of the most common diseases of the upper respiratory tract, as a result of which the nasopharynx becomes irritated and inflamed. At first glance, rhinitis is a frivolous ailment that does not need to be treated, it will pass by itself. However, modern medicine distinguishes various types of rhinitis, which can lead to such serious complications as acute rhinitis or fetid atrophic rhinitis “ozena”. Symptoms of rhinitis (sneezing, runny nose, stuffiness, nasal discharge) are characteristic of all rhinitis, but the causes may be completely different. Most often, the appearance of rhinitis is affected by hypothermia, vasoconstrictive drugs, allergens, bacteria and viruses. Even prolonged exposure to the sun can cause a runny nose. Until now, medicine does not know the factors that cause a runny nose and sneezing in the morning. This is not treatable and can manifest for a long time.
The content of the article:
Acute rhinitis
Chronic rhinitis
Catarrhal rhinitis
Vasomotor rhinitis
Medical rhinitis
Treatment of acute rhinitis
Prevention of rhinitis
Rhinitis
The nasal cavity warms and filters the inhaled air, performs a protective function for the lower respiratory tract. Therefore, if the nose is blocked, the pathogenic microflora is activated, the body’s stability decreases.
Acute rhinitis
Acute rhinitis develops in the form of several successive stages with their own characteristics, which determine the stage of development of the disease. The first stage, lasting only from a few hours to two days, is characterized by a burning sensation, dryness in the nose, an increasing headache, the temperature rises to 37.5 degrees. In the second stage, the symptoms of rhinitis increase, they are manifested by nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, the sense of smell may decrease, a lot of liquid mucus flows out of the nose. Since the nasal cavity is connected to the mucous membrane of the eyes, lacrimation begins. How the body’s immune system reacts to the invasion of harmful microorganisms is shown by the third stage, which begins 4-5 days after the onset of the disease. During this period, nasal discharge becomes yellowish-greenish in color, thick, mucopurulent, often with an unpleasant odor. The reason for such manifestations is the struggle of protective cells (phagocytes, neutrophils) with pathogenic bacteria and the excretion of recycled material — pus. The duration of inflammatory processes depends on the stability of the body, its ability to resist the effects of various factors.
In children, especially very young, rhinitis is much more serious than in adults and sometimes leads to inflammation of the middle ear, pharynx or larynx. This circumstance is facilitated by the weakness of local immunity, which is why it is not possible to develop a sufficient amount of class A immunoglobulins in the mucous membrane. Narrow nasal passages prevent insufficient release from purulent masses and are difficult to access for medicines. In children, the adenoids that protect against infection inside the body are too large, they block the nasal passages, and any inflammatory processes pass with complications. Wide short auditory tubes are the cause of infection in the ear, resulting in inflammation — otitis media.
Newborns do not have rhinitis, because both the nose and pharynx immediately become inflamed — rhinopharyngitis begins. Symptoms such as high, up to 38-39 degrees, body temperature, convulsions, refusal of the baby from sucking (the nose is blocked), loss of appetite, flatulence, diarrhea, vomiting, are hard to tolerate by young children.
Chronic rhinitis
During the year, every person suffers from colds about six times. Rhinitis, sore throats, bronchitis, often recurring or untreated, contribute to the flow of diseases into a chronic form. The cause of chronic rhinitis may be a curvature of the nasal septum of both traumatic and congenital nature, chronic diseases of the heart and vascular system, decreased immunity. Polyps or overgrown adenoids also contribute to the inflammatory process becoming chronic.
Catarrhal rhinitis
One of the clinical forms of chronic rhinitis is chronic catarrhal rhinitis, as a consequence of complications of acute rhinitis. The constant presence of pathogenic bacteria in the nose leads to redness, swelling of the mucous membrane, incessant mucopurulent discharge. In the cold, the nose is completely blocked. With the removal of factors that provoke a chronic course of the disease, a complete recovery is possible.
Chronic hypertrophic rhinitis occurs as a result of the proliferation of bone tissue and cartilage mucosa in the nose after chronic inflammation. The development of the disease is facilitated by work at chemical enterprises, in dusty rooms, endocrine, allergic, cardiovascular diseases, as well as the use of vasoconstrictive drugs of local action. This process is slow, imperceptible, but steadily progressing. Increasing in the size of the formation in the nose, lead to constant nasal congestion, nasal voice. Infection and pus are constantly present in the pockets of overgrown nasal conchs. Chronic hypertrophic rhinitis is often the cause of sinus complications — sinusitis (sinusitis, frontitis). This disease is diagnosed by endoscopic examination. Rhinitis is treated by surgical intervention under local anesthesia, during the operation the overgrown tissues are removed and nasal breathing improves.
Atrophic rhinitis is the most serious complication due to frequent, long—lasting inflammatory processes in the nose, the negative effects of environmental factors, genetic factors. Violation of the anatomical structure of the nose, atrophy of the mucous membranes and walls of the nose, violation of the performance of physiological functions are characteristic signs of atrophic rhinitis. Patients complain of nasal discharge of purulent secretions with a very unpleasant odor, drying crusts, complete loss of sense of smell. Such a runny nose is called “the fetid smell of ozone.” Modern medicine will not completely cure atrophic rhinitis, but it can ease the course of the disease. The doctor prescribes an individual therapy regimen, including procedures for cleansing and moistening the nasal cavity, deodorizing the nasal passages and taking antibacterial drugs. It will be useful to prescribe a multivitamin complex to strengthen immunity, inhalations with sea salt, and tempering procedures.
Vasomotor rhinitis
Vasomotor rhinitis is most often found in patients with neurocirculatory dystonia, with asthenovegetative syndrome, with endocrine diseases, in hypotonics. Frequent sneezing, stuffiness of the half of the nose on which the person is lying, mucous discharge are clinical symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis. Do not confuse vasomotor rhinitis with allergic rhinitis, in which redness of the eyes, conjunctivitis, and itching in the nose are added to the symptoms. Allergic rhinitis is a reaction of the vessels of the nasal mucosa to irritants — allergens, which can be dust, pet hair, poplar fluff, pollen of some plants, etc. Due to the internal characteristics of the body, a large amount of bio—substances is released as a result of the penetration of allergens and the influence of environmental factors – exhaust gases, road dust, toxic waste from the chemical industry.
Vasomotor rhinitis is divided into the following forms of the course of the disease: seasonal and year-round or permanent. If the symptoms of rhinitis appear in the spring-autumn period and are associated with the flowering of some plants, then this form is called seasonal. But long-lasting inflammatory processes can transform the disease into a year-round form. The year-round or permanent form of the course of the disease manifests itself regardless of the time of year and is caused by the patient’s contact with the allergen. By eliminating the influence of the allergen and using anti-allergic drugs, you can significantly improve the patient’s condition. Independent or erroneous treatment of rhinitis can lead to bronchial asthma.
Medical rhinitis
Abuse of vasoconstrictive drugs is the cause of drug rhinitis, drug dependence appears. Without another dose of drops or sprays, the vessels of the nasal mucosa do not want to work independently. Edema becomes chronic, the use of medications is required more and more often. As a result of a violation of the nutrition of the mucosa, it begins to die off. Especially it is impossible to use vasoconstrictor drops in the nose for a long time for elderly people and those suffering from heart and vascular diseases, these drugs cause tachycardia and increase blood pressure. Medical rhinitis can be treated with great difficulty.
Treatment of acute rhinitis
Acute rhinitis is treated at home without complications, taking into account the stage of the course. At the first stage in the treatment of rhinitis, it will be useful to use hot foot baths, applying mustard plasters, drinking hot tea with raspberries and lemon. From medicines, antiseptics, antiallergic, immunostimulating drugs are used locally, analgesics are used for headaches. At the second and third stages of the course of acute rhinitis, it is possible to prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics, antimicrobials. As a result of taking topical medications, the symptoms of nasal congestion decrease, swelling and spasm of the mucous membrane decrease.
Prevention of rhinitis
Prevention of rhinitis consists in the prevention of colds, tempering procedures, sports, proper nutrition with vitamin C, ventilation of the room and periodic wet cleaning, hygiene measures, all this helps to avoid infection in the mouth or nose. Getting rid of incipient rhinitis is much easier than treating a purulent runny nose. But since the symptoms are often similar, only a doctor will determine the form of rhinitis and prescribe the correct treatment of rhinitis.
