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Rhinitis
How to distinguish between rhinitis and a cold
The distinction between rhinitis and a cold primarily hinges on the following aspects: first and foremost, the specific onset time of the illness. Colds generally occur suddenly and last for a relatively short duration, about a week; whereas the duration of rhinitis may be longer, and some individuals might even experience chronic rhinitis, meaning the onset duration for rhinitis is relatively longer. The second aspect is the symptoms. Cold symptoms may include nasal congestion and a runny nose, but most patients will also exhibit other uncomfortable symptoms, such as sore throat, body aches, or fever. In the case of rhinitis, the primary symptoms are usually nasal, such as congestion, runny nose, and sneezing, and generally, there are rarely any whole-body symptoms. The third method is through an examination of the nasal cavity, which is primarily based on the doctor's experiential judgment. These three aspects essentially allow for the differentiation between rhinitis and a cold.
Can rhinitis cause coughing?
Rhinitis refers to the inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane, which can cause coughing. The rhinitis-induced cough primarily involves two aspects. One is allergic rhinitis, which can lead to allergic pharyngitis, resulting in symptoms of coughing. According to the medical approach to allergic pathophysiological reactions, this is considered 'one airway, one disease,' where the allergic condition starts from the nose and develops into an allergy in the throat. Another situation involves the abundant secretions in rhinitis. These secretions flow back to the nasopharyngeal area and then irritate the throat, which can cause coughing. Therefore, overall, rhinitis can lead to coughing, and it should be managed and treated according to its different causes.
Causes of Chronic Rhinitis
The causes of chronic rhinitis are quite complex and not due to a single factor. It often arises from multiple factors after prolonged and repeated acute attacks, leading to chronic inflammatory changes. These changes primarily affect the nasal mucosa, with the most common causes including: First, prolonged and repeated bouts of acute rhinitis that are not thoroughly treated can lead to chronic rhinitis. This also includes some chronic diseases of the nasal cavity and sinuses, such as congenital deviation of the nasal septum, meaning the middle part of the nose is crooked, which disrupts drainage and airflow in the nasal cavity. Thus, when there is an acute inflammation, the secretions cannot be drained timely, eventually causing chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Second, inflammation of nearby tissues and organs can lead to chronic rhinitis, such as chronic tonsillitis and adenoid hyperplasia during childhood. These chronic inflammations can cause secretions in the nasopharyngeal area to irritate and contribute to the chronic inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane, impacting each other. Third, occupational and environmental factors play a role. The living and working environment, along with lifestyle habits, greatly influence the incidence of chronic rhinitis. People who frequently smoke or drink alcohol are more susceptible to this condition. Additionally, if the work or living environment is polluted, dirty, dusty, or exposed to other harmful gases or chemicals, it may also lead to chronic rhinitis. Therefore, the formation of chronic rhinitis involves multifaceted and multiple causes, and the specific reasons should be analyzed based on different patients.
How to prevent seasonal rhinitis
Seasonal rhinitis, also known as allergic rhinitis with seasonal outbreaks, requires the identification of specific allergens for its prevention. This type of rhinitis is caused by allergies to seasonal factors, so it is necessary to visit an allergen testing center at an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) department of a hospital to determine the specific allergens. Then, prior to the season, preventative measures can be taken to avoid contact with these allergens. Medications can be started one or two weeks in advance to alleviate the symptoms of rhinitis. Common medications include anti-allergy nasal steroids and other anti-allergy drugs such as antihistamines and leukotriene antagonists. Nasal steroids are typically administered via nasal spray once or twice a day, and during the prevention period, it can be sprayed once a day.
Can people with chronic rhinitis smoke?
It is advised not to smoke for chronic rhinitis, as smoking can be irritating to the nasal mucosa, inferior nasal concha, and other structures in the nasal cavity. This is because cigarettes contain a lot of irritating substances that can directly stimulate the nasal mucosa. It can easily trigger an attack of rhinitis or exacerbate existing inflammation, hence smoking is not recommended. It is also suggested to avoid alcohol, keep the nose moist, avoid contact with irritants, and consider using physiological seawater or saline to rinse the nasal cavity. Additionally, treatments can include oral traditional Chinese medicine and nasal spray medications. Generally, it is a common disease that can be effectively controlled and managed with standard treatment. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a doctor.)
What is the best treatment for chronic rhinitis?
There are quite a few treatment options for chronic rhinitis, which are mainly divided into two categories clinically. The first category is conservative medicinal treatment, and the second is surgical treatment. Based on existing clinical experience, the preferred approach is to primarily use conservative treatment, most commonly oral medications, generally focusing on traditional Chinese medicines. It is also recommended to use nasal sprays alongside, and consider using saline or seawater for nasal washes, which need to be performed regularly. If standardized medication treatment proves ineffective, surgery is considered, mainly for cases where the enlargement of the nasal turbinates is particularly significant. Surgical options may include turbinate ablation or a partial excision of the moved portion of the inferior turbinate. Overall, with standardized treatment, most patients can effectively control and alleviate their symptoms.
Can chronic rhinitis be cured?
Chronic rhinitis refers to a chronic inflammatory disease occurring in the nasal mucosa, and it is certainly treatable. The main treatments include the following: Firstly, medication treatments, such as rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution, using nasal corticosteroids like mometasone furoate nasal spray, and even using drugs that constrict the mucosal blood vessels to clear the nasal passages. Secondly, some oral traditional Chinese medicines can also be used, such as Biyuan Tongqiao granules and Danxiang rhinitis tablets. For chronic rhinitis with hypertrophic inferior turbinates that block the nasal cavity and do not improve with medication, some invasive treatments like plasma ablation of the inferior turbinates can be considered. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a clinician, according to the specific situation.)
Difference between Allergic Rhinitis and Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis and rhinitis are issues of a specific concept versus a broader concept. Allergic rhinitis is a type of rhinitis caused by a hypersensitivity reaction, which is an allergic response of the body leading to inflammation of the nasal passages. Rhinitis, however, includes allergic rhinitis as well as chronic rhinitis, hypertrophic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, atrophic rhinitis, etc. Thus, it's a matter of differentiating between a more specific and a general concept. Clinically, it is particularly important to differentiate their diagnosis and treatment. For example, the primary treatment for allergic rhinitis is anti-allergy medication, whereas treatments for conditions like chronic and atrophic rhinitis are completely different. Therefore, it is crucial to differentiate these accurately in clinical practice to ensure the correct medication is used.
The difference between sinusitis and rhinitis
Rhinitis and sinusitis are common inflammations in our nasal area, frequently occurring and widely prevalent. Rhinitis primarily involves inflammation of the nasal mucosa, while sinusitis specifically refers to inflammation in the sinus cavities and their mucous membranes. These two have different locations of onset. Furthermore, rhinitis is more commonly seen clinically compared to sinusitis, which is less common relative to rhinitis. Moreover, rhinitis is generally treated with medication and seldom requires surgical intervention. In contrast, sinusitis may also require surgical treatment besides medication. Thus, the main differences between them primarily include these aspects. Overall, the fundamental difference between rhinitis and sinusitis lies in their different locations of onset.
The difference between chronic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis
The differences between chronic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis are quite significant. Firstly, we need to consider the causes of the diseases. Allergic rhinitis is mainly caused by the body's own immune response, primarily due to allergens the body encounters externally, which trigger this immune response. Chronic rhinitis, on the other hand, is primarily associated with local inflammation of the nasal mucosa and turbinates, and generally, it is not directly related to the body's own immune system. Another difference lies in the symptoms. The main symptoms of chronic rhinitis include nasal congestion and runny nose, with some patients possibly experiencing headaches or dizziness. In contrast, symptoms of allergic rhinitis mainly include itchy nose, sneezing, and clear nasal discharge, with some patients possibly experiencing nasal congestion. In such cases, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngologist, allowing an experienced doctor to make a diagnosis, supplemented by additional diagnostic tests.