What is the best treatment for chronic rhinitis?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 16, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
1min 6sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
58sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 4sec home-news-image

Is chronic rhinitis serious?

Chronic rhinitis is very serious and can cause diffuse congestion, edema, and hyperplasia of the bilateral inferior turbinate mucosa in patients, leading to persistent bilateral nasal congestion. The condition progressively worsens, and the nasal cavity will also have mucous secretions. Prolonged hypoxia in patients can lead to dizziness, headaches, a decrease in the sense of smell, memory decline, and in severe cases, depression and irritability among other clinical symptoms. When examined with an electronic nasal endoscope, the surface of the bilateral turbinate mucosa may show mulberry-like changes, and the effect of vasoconstrictors is poor. In treating chronic rhinitis, conservative treatment can be adopted first, and nebulized inhalation treatment is effective. However, if conservative treatment is ineffective, bilateral partial inferior turbinate resection may be needed. After surgery, patients need to exercise and boost their immunity to avoid recurrent episodes.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
46sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of rhinitis?

The symptoms of rhinitis are quite varied, and different types of rhinitis have different symptoms. For example, common symptoms of allergic rhinitis include repeated itching of the nose, clear nasal discharge, sneezing, and a certain correlation with seasons or exposure to external allergens. If it is chronic rhinitis, the main symptoms are repeated poor nasal ventilation, accompanied by a runny nose, but generally there is rarely sneezing. In the case of acute rhinitis, the main symptoms are sudden nasal congestion and nasal discharge, which generally consists of viscous mucus, and may also be accompanied by headaches and dizziness. However, acute rhinitis generally has a short duration of illness, with most recoveries occurring around one week.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
56sec home-news-image

Can chronic rhinitis be controlled?

Chronic rhinitis can be controlled with medication. It is a common and frequently occurring disease in otolaryngology. The causes include chronic inflammation of the nasal cavity and viral infections, leading to swelling and congestion of the nasal mucosa and turbinates. Patients primarily exhibit symptoms such as alternating nasal congestion, nasal itching, sneezing, and headaches. In the routine treatment of chronic rhinitis, the following points should be noted: First, it is necessary to keep warm, avoiding exposure to cold wind or air conditioning. Second, maintain a dry air environment and avoid pollution and prolonged exposure to smoking environments. Additionally, glucocorticoid nasal sprays can be used to reduce inflammation and swelling of the nasal mucosa. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)