What is an acute rhinitis

Acute rhinitis or just a common cold is an acute inflammatory or allergic process in the mucosa of the nasal cavity.

Causes of rhinitis

Rhinitis can be an independent disease, and also be a complication of acute or chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system of viral or bacterial etiology. In addition, acute rhinitis may occur with mechanical stimulation or exposure to chemical stimuli. Rhinitis is almost always two-sided.

Clinical manifestations of the disease

At the beginning of the illness a person can feel a slight malaise, a sore throat, an itch in the nasal passages, a blind eye. Sometimes coughing worries, the voice becomes husky. These symptoms are usually provoked by a stay in the cold. Then there are plentiful mucous branches from a nose, the sense of smell decreases. With aggravation of rhinitis, the discharge can be with an admixture of pus or veins of blood, nasal congestion arises . Blood appears due to constant smokying and violation of the integrity of the capillaries. Acute rhinitis can pass to the lower parts of the respiratory tract and then develops tracheitis or bronchitis. Often a complication of rhinitis is inflammation of the auditory tube or paranasal sinuses. On examination, the nasal mucosa is hyperemic and edematous. Disease in uncomplicated course is usually resolved within seven to ten days.

Rhinitis in children always proceeds as a rhinopharyngitis and very often the infection goes lower, up to the occurrence of bronchitis or even inflammation of the lungs. Manifestations of the disease in a child are very bright: a stuffy nose, intoxication, temperature can rise. If the child is breastfed, then sucking is difficult because of the stuffy nose. He becomes capricious, restless, breathes his mouth, because of what the mucous membrane dries up.

Diagnostics

Acute rhinitis is easy to diagnose. The examination and appointment of treatment is performed by an otolaryngologist or therapist. Nasal discharge, congestion, edema and hyperemia of the mucosa are the main criteria in the diagnosis.

Treatment of acute rhinitis

And for adults, and for children at elevated body temperature shows rest and bed rest. At the onset of the disease, distracting procedures can ease the situation: warm foot baths, mustard plasters on the chest, inhalation or ultraviolet irradiation of the nose. With nasal congestion prescribe nasal vasoconstrictive drugs (Sanorin, Nazol, Naphthyzin, Rhinostop and others). It is desirable that the nasal mucosa dry up, after the drops it is necessary to process the nasal passages with oil (peach, olive, vaseline) or apply the preparation "Pinosol", which is prepared on an oil base with essential oil of fir. It is not advisable to use vasoconstrictors for more than five days, as their prolonged use can lead to addiction, and permanent - to atrophy of the nasal mucosa. When complications are added and the disease spreads lower, antibiotics must be used. Simultaneously it is desirable to conduct soda alkaline inhalations with antibacterial drugs. To prepare a soda solution, take one teaspoon of baking soda and dissolve in 0.5 liters of warm boiled water. This solution is inhaled through an ultrasonic inhaler for five minutes. This procedure is desirable to be conducted up to six times a day. Soda solution creates an unfavorable alkaline environment for pathogenic microorganisms and simultaneously moisturizes the nasal mucosa.

Treatment of rhinitis in children includes similar measures in a dosage appropriate to the weight and age of the child. When rhinitis of allergic etiology requires the use of antihistamines and limiting contact with the allergen.