Dry rhinitis treatment
The content of the article:
- Causes of the disease
- Dry rhinitis symptoms
- Diagnosis and treatment of dry rhinitis
- Prevention
- Video
What is dry rhinitis, and how is it different from other forms of the disease? For what reasons is it developing? What determines the choice of treatment for dry rhinitis? What preventive measures can be taken?
Dry runny nose is characterized by nasal congestion and lack of nasal mucus
Dry rhinitis is a runny nose that causes swelling of the nasal mucosa and breathing problems but does not produce nasal mucus.
Most often, the disease occurs as a result of inflammation that develops due to infection. In this case, vasodilation leads to severe edema, and the process of production and secretion of mucus is disrupted. The situation is aggravated by inhalation of dry air or toxic substances.
Causes of the disease
Dry runny nose in adults and children can develop for the following reasons:
- curvature of the nasal septum as a result of trauma or surgery, or birth defects;
- foreign object in the nasal cavity. In this case, nasal congestion occurs on one side only. In young children, the disease often occurs as a result of placing small objects in the nose while playing; in adults, it may be the remainder of a cotton swab. It is possible to assume the presence of a foreign body in the anterior part of the nasal cavity if, after changing the position of the body or head, the violation remains only on one side;
- dry air in the room in which the patient is for a long time. Inhalation of dry air during the introduction of an infectious agent is a trigger factor for the appearance of nasal congestion without discharge;
- changes in hormonal levels during pregnancy or with diseases of the thyroid gland, as a result of which the capillaries of the nose stop working correctly. At the same time, nasal congestion is not accompanied by an increase in body temperature, weakness and other symptoms that are characteristic of infectious diseases;
- allergic reaction. In this case, the symptoms of the disease appear upon contact with the allergen;
- the initial stage of a respiratory infection or residual effects after an acute form of the disease.
One of the possible causes of the development of the disease is an allergic reaction
Also, the development of the disease can be caused by adenoids or polyps in the nose, chronic sinusitis, prolonged uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictor drugs (decongestants), leading to the occurrence of medication rhinitis.
In very rare cases, the cause of nasal congestion is the pathology of the cardiovascular system.
Dry rhinitis symptoms
The following signs indicate the presence of the disease:
- dryness of the nasal mucosa, which gives the patient discomfort and may be accompanied by burning, itching, sneezing;
- constant nasal congestion, from which it is impossible to get rid of by blowing your nose;
- vascular damage with increased blowing out, which causes the development of bleeding;
- snoring and sleep disturbances as a result of worsening nasal breathing, also for this reason, it is possible to develop hypoxia and the appearance of a symptom such as headache;
- complete or partial loss of smell;
- the formation of crusts in the nose, with the elimination of which bleeding develops;
- change in voice, the appearance of nasalism.
With an exacerbation of chronic sinusitis or the development of a bacterial infection, body temperature may rise.
If treatment is not started on time, then atrophic rhinitis may occur. The lack of full secretion of secretions from the nose leads to the fact that pathogenic microorganisms multiply faster and penetrate into the nasopharyngeal mucosa.
Diagnosis and treatment of dry rhinitis
A dry runny nose is diagnosed by an otolaryngologist. When viewed with an endoscope, it can detect changes in the nasal mucosa. It takes on a pale pink hue, becomes dry and thin. If nasal congestion persists for a long time, elements of dystrophy may appear on the mucous membrane.
How is the disease treated? First of all, it is necessary to moisturize the nasal mucosa, eliminate dryness and symptoms of dystrophy. If the tissues are well moistened, the process of producing mucous secretions starts. This requires:
- rinse the nose with saline solutions (Humer, Aqua Maris, Marimer), you can also use 0.9% Sodium chloride solution for these purposes;
- observe the drinking regime: drink enough liquid in order to restore the water balance in the body;
- humidify the air in the apartment, which will make it possible to normalize the work of the nasal mucosa.
When treating rhinitis, it is important to keep the room humid by using a humidifier if necessary
Further treatment of rhinitis depends on the cause of its development.
If the nasal septum is deviated or adenoids are present, surgery may be required. If a foreign object is found, it must be removed and then treated.
If a dry runny nose develops as a result of exposure to infectious agents, antiviral drugs or antibiotics are prescribed for treatment. Depending on the severity of the disease, medications in the form of tablets or nasal drops may be used.
In the complex treatment of the disease, vasoconstrictor drops or sprays are used, they can reduce the swelling of the nasal mucosa and restore nasal breathing. The active component of such drugs can be oxymetazoline, xylometazoline or naphazoline. They should be used with caution over a short period.
If the cause of the disease is dependence on vasoconstrictor drugs, their use must be abandoned. If it is impossible to do this on your own, hormonal drugs are prescribed (Nasonex, Avamis). They are used for a month, during this period nasal breathing can usually be restored.
For allergic rhinitis, antihistamines are used to relieve symptoms.
One of the effective folk remedies for the treatment of dry rhinitis is the use of sea buckthorn oil in combination with vitamins A and E
At home, the following remedies can be used to treat dry rhinitis:
- sea buckthorn oil with vitamins: add 3 drops of vitamins A and E to one tablespoon of sea buckthorn oil. The nasal cavity is lubricated up to 5 times a day. It speeds up healing and helps to restore atrophied tissue;
- decoctions based on chamomile, sage or calendula: for their preparation, one teaspoon of raw materials is poured with a glass of water and boiled over low heat for 3 minutes, after cooling, they are filtered and used to rinse the nose;
- Aloe juice: The aloe leaf is cut and left in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, the plant is crushed and squeezed out of juice. Two drops are instilled into each nostril 3 times a day.
Prevention
In order to avoid the development of dry rhinitis, you must:
- humidify the air in the room, especially in winter when central heating is on. It is also shown carrying out regular wet cleaning and airing the room;
- periodically rinse your nose with saline solutions when working with toxic substances or when you are in a room with dry warm air for a long time;
- observe the daily regimen, play sports, eat right, which will strengthen the immune system;
- carefully study the instructions before using vasoconstrictor drugs. They cannot be used longer than the recommended period (5-7 days).
Regular wet cleaning is an effective method of preventing the development of dry rhinitis.
If nasal congestion does not disappear within 2-3 days and / or quickly returns after decongestant therapy, you should consult a doctor.
Video
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Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
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