Rhinitis: symptoms and treatment in adults and children
The content of the article:
- Causes
-
Rhinitis symptoms
- Catarrhal rhinitis
- Hypertrophic rhinitis
- Chronic atrophic rhinitis
- Vasomotor rhinitis
- Treatment
- Rhinitis in children
- Possible complications
- Video
Rhinitis, what is it? Rhinitis, or runny nose, is swelling of the nasal mucosa resulting from infection or allergic components entering its cavity or hypothermia. Most often, it is an independent disease, but in some cases it develops as a symptom of another disease, such as measles, influenza, acute respiratory viral infection.
A runny nose may be a sign of another illness, therefore, if symptoms persist for a long time, you should seek the advice of an ENT doctor
Depending on the causes of its occurrence, rhinitis is divided into several types:
- infectious: acute, chronic, hypertrophic, catarrhal, atrophic, ozena (fetid rhinitis);
- vasomotor (non-infectious): neurovegetative, allergic.
Causes
The reasons for the development of the disease include:
- infection (viruses or bacteria) into the nasal mucosa;
- congenital disorders of the structure of the nasal bones;
- curvature of the nasal septum;
- Kartagener's syndrome (stagnation of mucus in the nasal cavity as a result of improper functioning of the ciliated epithelium);
- allergy;
- the use of drugs that increase blood pressure;
- long-term use of vasoconstrictor drugs;
- adenoids;
- polyps of the nasal mucosa;
- foreign bodies entering the nose;
- violation of the vascular tone of the nose;
- thinning of the nasal mucosa as a result of the inflammatory process;
- autoimmune diseases (systemic scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Wegener's granulomatosis).
Allergies are one of the common causes of a cold.
The following factors influence the development of the disease:
- air pollution with toxic substances or dust that irritate the mucous membrane;
- active or passive smoking;
- sudden changes in air temperature;
- neoplasms in the nose;
- work with chemicals.
Rhinitis symptoms
In an acute process, both nasal cavities are affected, the patient's breathing is impaired and other clinical manifestations occur, which depend on the stage of the disease:
- It can last from several hours to two days. There are discomfort in the nose, most often - burning and dryness. General symptoms of intoxication in the form of weakness, malaise and a slight increase in body temperature can also be observed.
- It is characterized by the appearance of profuse serous discharge from the nasal cavity. Nasal congestion becomes maximal, nasal breathing is absent. Due to the fact that the discharge greatly irritates the skin near the nose, maceration appears (the skin turns red, becomes swollen, sometimes cracks, and pain occurs).
- It is observed 4–5 days after the onset of the disease. Nasal breathing is restored, and the patient's condition improves. The color and consistency of the discharge changes. They become cloudy and thick, and may acquire a yellowish or greenish tint.
Prolonged irritation of the skin near the nose leads to maceration
The duration of the disease can vary from three days to 4 weeks. Sometimes the disease becomes chronic. In this case, chronic catarrhal rhinitis develops.
Catarrhal rhinitis
This disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- violation of nasal breathing, while nasal congestion increases in the supine position, lays down that half of the nose that is below;
- mucous discharge from the nose, in some cases with an admixture of pus;
- increased symptoms of rhinitis in the cold;
- decreased sense of smell;
- the transition of the inflammatory process to the Eustachian tube, which connects the cavity of the middle ear and nose.
Hypertrophic rhinitis
The main difference between chronic hypertrophic rhinitis and catarrhal rhinitis is the lack of reaction of the nasal mucosa to vasoconstrictor drops.
The disease manifests itself in the form of the following symptoms:
- violation of nasal breathing, it is not restored either with the use of vasoconstrictor drops, or in a horizontal position;
- change in the timbre of the voice and the appearance of nasalness;
- discharge of mucus mixed with pus;
- watery eyes or stuffy ears (in some cases).
Chronic atrophic rhinitis
The disease manifests itself in the form of symptoms such as:
- dry nose and crusting;
- difficulty in nasal breathing;
- itching, due to which patients often damage the mucous membrane, resulting in ulcers and bleeding;
- an unpleasant odor from the nasal cavity, which is not perceived by the patient himself, but is clearly heard by others (in severe cases).
Vasomotor rhinitis
This type of disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- sneezing (often repeated);
- profuse watery discharge from the nose;
- itching and tickling in the nose;
- breathing disorder.
In the event that the cause of the disease is the prolonged use of vasoconstrictor drops, the so-called ricochet rhinitis appears. In this case, the symptoms of the disease intensify, swelling increases, and the susceptibility of the mucous membrane to vasoconstrictor drugs decreases. The patient persists in nasal congestion at night, he cannot sleep without the use of drops.
One of the reasons for the appearance of a runny nose, especially in children, is a foreign object in the nose
If a runny nose develops as a result of foreign objects entering the nose, then the release of fluid occurs from only one nostril.
Treatment
The diagnosis is established by an otolaryngologist (ENT) after taking an anamnesis and performing a rhinoscopy. Based on the severity of the symptoms, he prescribes treatment.
With a runny nose, it is important to learn how to properly cleanse the nose in order to avoid mucus getting into the Eustachian tube and the development of otitis media. This should be done carefully, pinching one nostril and closing the mouth, which allows to reduce the pressure in the nasal cavity.
Vasoconstrictor agents help to eliminate swelling of the nasal cavity
In order to reduce swelling of the mucous membrane and restore nasal breathing, vasoconstrictor agents are used in the form of drops or sprays based on naphazoline, oxymetazoline, phenylephrine or xylometazoline. The action of such funds lasts from 4 to 12 hours. The course of treatment should not exceed 7 days, as they are quickly addictive.
In the complex treatment of the disease, preparations are used in the form of powder or effervescent tablets containing vasoconstrictor components (Fervex, Coldrex, Teraflu). They also relieve general symptoms such as high body temperature, chills.
If the cause of the common cold is an allergy, antihistamines based on cetirizine, levocetirizine, loratadine are used for treatment. They are taken once a day. Additionally, you can use drugs in the form of drops or sprays (Kromofarm, Kromoglin, Edem Rino).
In the presence of a bacterial infection, local antibiotics are prescribed (Isofra, Polydex with phenylephrine). In a severe form of the disease, antibacterial agents are used that have a systemic effect on the body.
A runny nose at the initial stage can be cured with folk remedies. Hot foot baths work well. The limbs are immersed in water at a temperature of about 45 ° C. You can add mustard or sea salt to it. The procedure is carried out for 10-15 minutes. Then you need to wipe your feet dry, put on wool socks and go to bed. Before that, you can drink tea with raspberries, currants or rosehip broth.
At home, you can do inhalations with the addition of essential oils, in particular, eucalyptus oil.
Inhalation with essential oils (eucalyptus, tea tree) can relieve rhinitis symptoms. They can be added to hot water and inhaled or used in an aroma lamp.
The use of the Vietnamese Golden Star balm, which contains essential oils, is effective. It is used for inhalation, applied to the wings of the nose, or rubbed on toes to relieve rhinitis symptoms in adults and children.
Rhinitis in children
Rhinitis is often diagnosed in pediatric patients. In most cases, the cause of its development is infectious diseases that are quickly transmitted from child to child in children's groups. Also, a small object placed in the nose can provoke the disease.
A runny nose often appears in children of different ages, especially attending children's groups
To cure a runny nose in a child, it is necessary to maintain a comfortable temperature in the house (no higher than 22 ° C) and optimal air humidity. Too dry indoor air (especially in winter) irritates the nasal mucosa. Therefore, it is necessary to use humidifiers and regularly ventilate the room.
Children under 3 years old cannot blow out mucus on their own, therefore, to cleanse the nasal cavity, they need to use special devices (syringes, aspirators).
To remove dry crusts, rinsing the nose with saline solutions
Crusts and thickened mucus are removed by rinsing with saline solutions. After this procedure, you can use vasoconstrictor drops, and, if necessary, antibiotics.
For the treatment of rhinitis in children, as well as in adults, drops based on oxymetazoline or xylometazoline are used. It is possible to use products with herbal ingredients - Pinosol, Euphorbium compositum, Delufen, Sinupret, Asinis, Cinnabsin.
Newborns also experience nasal congestion. In most cases, this is the so-called physiological rhinitis. It can develop in a child from birth to three months. It is characterized by a watery, slightly frothy discharge from the nose and a slight grunting. At the same time, the baby feels well, eats with appetite, and sleeps normally. He has no edema of the mucous membrane, and his body temperature is normal.
Such a runny nose does not require special treatment, it is enough to create comfortable conditions for the baby, normalize the air temperature and make it moist enough so that no crusts form in the nose. Some pediatricians advise to rinse the nose with saline solutions in case of physiological rhinitis in infants.
Possible complications
If you do not start treatment of the disease on time, complications may develop:
- inflammatory processes in the upper and lower respiratory tract;
- sinusitis;
- otitis;
- inflammation in the ear area;
- adenoids.
With inadequate treatment, complications may develop, in particular, otitis media
Despite the fact that a runny nose is considered a minor disease that does not require special treatment, it can cause complications or become chronic. Therefore, when symptoms appear, therapy should be initiated. If the signs of rhinitis do not disappear in one week, you need to consult an otolaryngologist.
Video
We offer for viewing a video on the topic of the article.
Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
