Rhinitis: symptoms and treatment in adults, types of rhinitis, causes of the disease

Rhinitis - inflammation of the nasal mucosa is one of the most common diseases of the upper respiratory tract. In fact, rhinitis is a common cold, which is a natural reaction of the body to infection. At first glance, the disease is very harmless and easily treatable. However, the usual, it would seem, runny nose can be a harbinger of bronchial asthma, sinusitis, frontalitis, etmoiditis and other, no less serious complications.

In this publication you will find all the necessary information about rhinitis (symptoms and treatment in adults, features of pediatric rhinitis and prophylaxis).

Why does the cold appear?

Rhinitis is the response of the body to any stimuli. When the nasal cavity enters the mucous membranes of viruses, pathogens, chemical dust, rhinitis occurs. The causes of this ailment may also be a general decrease in immunity or hypothermia of the body.

In general, we can identify several factors that trigger inflammation of the nasal mucosa:

• Viral infection;
• Getting into the nasal cavity of pathogenic bacteria;
• Decreased local immunity;
• Hypothermia of the organism, which creates favorable conditions for the multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms in the nasal cavity;
• allergic reaction;
• Hit on the mucous membrane of harmful substances and particles (chemical or metallic dust, contaminated steam or gas);
• Long-term exposure to dry hot air;
• Violation of blood microcirculation in the nasal mucosa;
• Long-term use of vasoconstrictive or vasodilating drugs of local action.

What is a common cold?

Depending on the duration and nature of the disease, there are 2 forms of rhinitis: acute and chronic.

Acute rhinitis occurs as a reaction to hypothermia or ingestion of the virus. With timely diagnosis and proper treatment, pathological discharge of mucus from the nose stops for 3-4 days. However, with an unfavorable combination of circumstances, the disease can go into a chronic form.

Depending on the nature of the causative agents of the disease, there are 2 types of acute rhinitis:

• infectious;
• allergic.

Next, we will talk in detail about acute rhinitis (symptoms and treatment in adults and children will also be considered in the review).

Infectious cold: how to recognize?

In most cases, a runny nose occurs due to the ingress of viruses to the surface of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity or a general decrease in immunity. Acute rhinitis is always bilateral, i.e., both nasal passages become inflamed.

The course of the disease is characterized by 3 stages:

1. Dry stage. At this stage, abnormal dryness, sensation of itching and burning in the nasal cavity are noted. The patient is worried about stuffy nose and frequent headaches. There may be a slight increase in body temperature.
2. Wet stage. At the next stage there is a disturbance of nasal breathing, caused by abundant mucous secretions. Runny nose can be accompanied by sneezing, tearing. Such symptoms are observed in the patient for 3-5 days.
3. Muco-purulent. The third stage is characterized by cessation of the virus multiplication and a gradual decrease in mucopurulent discharge.

What should I do if my nose is stuffed, than how to cure a cold? Read more about this.

Features of treatment of an infectious cold

Depending on the age and individual characteristics of the patient, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictive or antiseptic agents. Consider the features of treatment of rhinitis at different stages of the disease.

When the first symptoms of a cold or a viral infection appear, so-called "distraction therapy" is recommended. If there is no high temperature, the patient is prescribed hot foot baths in combination with a plentiful drink. To treat a cold at the first stage of the disease prescribe vasoconstrictive and restorative preparations of local action.

If the patient increases the amount of mucus-serous discharge, this indicates a progression of the inflammatory process. In this regard, the use of antibiotics. In the second stage, therapy with vasoconstrictive and antiseptic drugs of local action is also necessary.

Treatment of rhinitis should be under the supervision of a therapist or pediatrician. Prescribe drugs for the treatment of this disease can only the doctor on the basis of anamnesis and the results of the examination of the patient.

Next, consider the drugs of local action (drops, solutions and sprays), which can be prescribed to treat the common cold in adults.

Acute rhinitis: treatment, topical preparations

• "Naphthyzine" is a vasoconstrictive and anti-inflammatory solution of local action. It is used for rhinitis, sinusitis, sinusitis.
• "Galazolin" - vasoconstrictor drops in the nose. Remove the swelling of the mucous membrane and reduce the amount of mucous discharge. "Galazolin" is used for acute rhinitis, otitis and sinusitis.
• "Ephedrine hydrochloride" is a vasoconstrictor solution. Used to eliminate inflammation and remove the swelling of the mucous membrane in rhinitis.
• "Sanorin" is an emulsion to reduce edema and the amount of mucous secretions in rhinitis. The active substance of the drug is naphthysine.
• "Farmazolin" - vasoconstrictive and anti-inflammatory nasal drops. It is used for rhinitis of infectious and allergic origin, with sinusitis, laryngitis and other diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
• "Otryvin" - vasoconstrictor nasal drops (spray). Used to relieve swelling and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and paranasal sinuses. The main active substance of the drug is xylometazoline.
• "Lekonil" is a vasoconstrictive nasal spray. The active substance of the drug is oxymetazoline.

How to cure acute rhinitis in a child?

What should I do if my child has a stuffy nose? Than to treat a rhinitis at children? Answers to all these questions parents can get only from a pediatrician. It is important to remember, the development of rhinitis in newborns and babies has its own characteristics. In children under 2 years of nasal passages are very narrow, so even a small swelling of the mucosa leads to a violation of breathing. When the kids have the first symptoms of a viral infection or a cold, parents should immediately contact the pediatrician who will prescribe the correct therapy. Self-medication and the use of folk remedies to eliminate the common cold without consulting a doctor can lead to serious complications.

For rhinitis therapy, children are prescribed topical vasoconstrictors. There are children's forms of all popular nasal drugs, which differ in the lower content of the active substance. To alleviate the symptoms of the common cold, children are prescribed "Naftizine", "Otryvin", "Briisolin" in the form of drops or spray.

Why does chronic rhinitis occur?

Chronic rhinitis is a fairly common problem faced by people of all age groups. Among the reasons contributing to the development and progression of this disease, we can distinguish the following:

• Prolonged regular exposure to harmful mucous membranes of the nose, chemical dust, mechanical particles;
• Congenital or acquired as a result of trauma pathology of the anatomical structure of the nasal cavity (for example, curvature of the septum);
• Diseases of the paranasal sinuses;
• Allergies;
• Domestic or operating injuries in the nasal cavity.

There are several types of chronic colds. Each of them is characterized by a special course and symptoms.

Next, we will talk in detail about chronic rhinitis (symptoms and treatment in adults of various forms of the common cold).

Catarrhal rhinitis

The catarrhal form of rhinitis arises and develops against the background of infectious diseases, chronic diseases of the ENT organs and a general decrease in immunity. In addition, this ailment is often the result of inadequate catarrhal cold cure.

Catarrhal rhinitis is accompanied by a periodically occuring nasal congestion. The patient is troubled by itching and unpleasant burning, perhaps a sensation of the flow of mucus along the walls of the nasopharynx, a decrease in the sense of smell and difficulty in breathing.

Disease of rhinitis is accompanied by edema of the paranasal sinuses, which can be clearly seen on the roentgenogram.

Therapy of catarrhal rhinitis is aimed at elucidating and eliminating the factors that provoke its development. One of the most effective ways to treat this form of chronic rhinitis are physiotherapy. Patients are shown UHF (ultrahigh-frequency therapy), sollyx (use of visible and infrared rays), laser therapy, thermal installations of vasoconstrictive solutions.

Hypertrophic rhinitis

The hypertrophic form of the disease progression is accompanied by hyperplasia-the increase and proliferation of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and the submucosal layer. In this pathological process, a small part of the tissue or the entire surface of the nasal sinuses may be involved. Such a defect leads to difficulty breathing and a violation of smell. In most cases, there is a narrowing of the tear ducts as a result of their squeezing. Hypertrophic rhinitis is accompanied by increased tear, conjunctivitis and dacryocystitis (inflammation of the lacrimal sac). The patient is disturbed by mucopurulent discharge. Conservative methods of treatment help to get rid of the cold for a while, but a long-term improvement does not occur. When hyperplasia apply cauterization of chemicals and physiotherapy (including UHF-therapy and ultraviolet irradiation). With a strong proliferation and damage to the mucous membranes, minimally invasive surgical operations are effective. If bone tissue is involved in the affected area, radical methods of treatment are used.

Another form of rhinitis is atrophic. Unlike hypertrophic, it is characterized by thinning of the mucous membrane. The most necessary information about atrophic rhinitis (symptoms and treatment in adults) you will find further.

Atrophic rhinitis

The disease in this case is accompanied by thinning of the mucous membrane in the respiratory cavity. This pathology leads to the expansion and increase of nasal passages. Atrophic rhinitis of the patient is disturbed by mucous discharge of yellow-green hue, a feeling of dryness, itching and burning sensation in the nose. A characteristic feature of this disease is the formation of crusts. They are dried clots of mucus that can block the nasal passages and impede breathing. When removing crusts, there may be a slight bleeding.

Treatment of atrophic rhinitis includes the use of topical drugs that improve the condition of the mucosa, and fortifying vitamin therapy.

Purulent form of the disease

Purulent rhinitis develops against a bacterial infection that affects the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity. In most cases, this disease is the result of incorrect and untimely therapy of cold or infectious cold. With this form of rhinitis, the patient suffers from purulent discharge. This symptom can be accompanied by an unpleasant smell from the nose and mouth, headache and toothache, fever, loss of smell. For the treatment of the disease, antibiotics, antihistamines and vasoconstrictors are used.

Allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis in adults is a reaction of the body to any irritants (dust, pollen, domestic animals). This runny nose may appear from time to time (seasonally) or year-round. The main symptom of the disease is transparent mucus discharge - in this case it is accompanied by itching, tearing, headache.

Vasomotor rhinitis

The disease occurs due to the expansion of blood vessels. Such pathology can be provoked by various factors: hormonal failures, stress, exposure to negative environmental factors, bad habits. Chronic rhinitis often worries people suffering from endocrine diseases, hypertension, nervous system disorders. Vasomotor rhinitis is always accompanied by 3 symptoms: mucous discharge from the nose, difficulty breathing and sneezing attacks.