Treatment of posterior rhinitis in adults and children
The content of the article:
- Posterior rhinitis symptoms
- Treatment of posterior rhinitis in adults
- How to treat posterior rhinitis in a child
- Video
What is posterior rhinitis and what are the main symptoms of it? What leads to the development of the disease? What is the difference between the treatment of posterior rhinitis in adults and children?
The disease is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and drainage of discharge along the posterior wall of the nasopharynx
Posterior rhinitis (posterior wall rhinitis, nasopharyngitis, or rhinopharyngitis) is called catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx. Pathology is accompanied by their edema, swelling and redness, as well as the formation and release of an exudate of a serous, mucous or purulent nature, flowing mainly along the back wall of the nasopharynx.
Most often, ENT diseases of viral or bacterial origin (for example, laryngitis, pharyngitis) lead to the development of this form of rhinitis. This pathology also includes rhinorrhea, infectious and acute rhinitis.
Rhinopharyngitis can be acute or chronic. The cause of the acute course of the disease is usually viral infections, less often bacterial ones. Chronic rhinitis is usually bacterial in nature (typical pathogens are staphylococci, streptococci) and only sometimes fungal. However, in both cases, almost always the starting point for the appearance of pathology is a viral infection (rhinoviruses).
Chronic rhinitis most often has a bacterial etiology, its causative agent is streptococci and staphylococci
Chronic rhinopharyngitis can also be caused by:
- regular inflammation, anomalies in the structure of the nasopharynx;
- untreated acute form of the disease;
- allergy;
- frequent hypothermia;
- stagnant processes in the nasal cavity against the background of infections, pathologies of the kidneys, liver or heart;
- frequent inhalation of gas and dust;
- alcohol abuse;
- smoking;
- non-observance of hygiene of the nasopharynx and oropharynx.
There are two forms of chronic posterior rhinitis - atrophic and hypertrophic. The first leads to a thinning of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, which causes bad breath, problems with swallowing and dry throat. As a result, the patient has a desire to take a sip of water during a conversation. In the hypertrophic form, on the contrary, there is edema and thickening of both the mucous and submucous layers of the nasopharynx. Patients complain of a sore throat and sore throat, tickling in the nasal passages, discharge of a clear transparent liquid and lacrimation, which increases in the morning.
Posterior rhinitis symptoms
Typical signs of posterior wall rhinitis in children and adults are:
- increase in body temperature, ranging from 37.5 to 38 ° C;
- headache;
- cough caused by pathological mucus flowing down the back wall of the nasopharynx;
- sore throat;
- painful sensations when swallowing;
- nasal congestion and, as a result, difficulty breathing;
- discomfort in the nasopharynx - dryness, tingling, burning, accumulation of difficult mucus, in some cases acquiring a bloody appearance;
- back pain;
- nausea and vomiting;
- nasalness (especially in children);
- lack of appetite, tearfulness, sleep disturbance.
The disease is characterized by hyperemia and edema of the mucous tissues of the nasopharynx.
With the spread of the inflammatory process to the mucous membrane of the auditory tubes, eustachitis can develop. The symptoms of the disease in such cases are accompanied by hearing loss, pain, clicking and tinnitus. In patients during the examination, catarrhal inflammation, edema, hyperemia and granularity of the posterior pharyngeal wall caused by hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles, swelling of the lateral ridges, pallor of the skin, weakness and lethargy are revealed.
In adults, the disease can be almost asymptomatic - without an increase in body temperature, with normal health and with moderately pronounced catarrhal symptoms in the nasopharynx. In children, the increase in body temperature is often significant; on examination, there is swelling and hyperemia of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, viscous discharge on the back of the pharynx and palatine tonsils.
Treatment of posterior rhinitis in adults
There is no specific therapy for rhinitis of the posterior wall, and therefore symptomatic treatment is prescribed to alleviate the patient's condition.
Recommendations for mitigating disease include the following drugs:
- antipyretics, analgesics and anticongestants (ibuprofen, paracetamol, pseudoephedrine);
- antitussives;
- first generation antihistamines (to relieve rhinorrhea symptoms).
Other therapies:
- warming rubbing and applying cold ointments for external use;
- compliance with the drinking regime (in order to avoid dehydration of the body);
- gargling with furatsilin solution, warm saline or soda solution;
- exclusion of contact with an allergen and taking antihistamines (if allergy led to the development of pathology).
How to treat posterior rhinitis in a child
Therapy for posterior wall rhinitis in children differs from that in adults due to differences in the symptoms of the disease and age restrictions on the use of certain drugs.
In children, the disease is more often than in adults, accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
In children much more often than in adults, an increase in body temperature is noted, therefore it becomes necessary to use antipyretic drugs. For this, Nurofen for children can be used, produced in the form of rectal suppositories and oral suspensions. It is important to strictly follow your doctor's orders and not exceed the recommended dosage.
Dr. Komarovsky recommends avoiding nasal lavages with persistent edema of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, as they will contribute to the development of a complication - otitis media. In such cases, it is better to instill saline solutions into the nasal passages.
One of the possible complications of posterior wall rhinitis in the absence of adequate treatment is otitis media
If nasal breathing is impaired in a child, external ointments may be used. A small amount is applied to the area under the nostrils and on the wings of the nose.
To remove the accumulated exudate, ready-made pharmacy saline solutions (for example, Aqualor) can be used. After complete cleansing of the nose and elimination of swelling of the mucous membrane, nasal drops may be used. According to reviews, after clearing the nasal passages, it is effective to lubricate them with petroleum jelly or almond oil using cotton swabs.
Gargling with a saline or soda solution may be used to soften the cough.
In order to eliminate allergens that provoke inflammation, and to soften cough, gargle with soda or saline solutions. With a strong cough in children, unlike adults, the use of antitussive drugs is not recommended.
During therapy, it is important to drink as much warm liquid as possible. If a baby has a stuffy nose and cannot naturally drink breast milk, it should be drunk with a teaspoon. This will avoid drying out the nasopharynx and the development of a sore throat.
In the absence of hyperemia, it is possible to conduct steam inhalations using a decoction of elecampane roots. To prepare it, you need to grind 1 tablespoon of the dried roots of the plant, pour the raw materials with two glasses of boiling water and cook over low heat for 20 minutes. Next, the broth should be filtered and poured into a deep container, previously wrapped in a towel (to prevent accidental burns). You need to breathe in pairs for 5-10 minutes with your head covered with a warm cloth. It is better to carry out the procedure before going to bed, since after its completion it is recommended to rest in bed for at least 30 minutes.
Also, during the period of treatment of posterior rhinitis in a child, regular ventilation and wet cleaning of the premises in which he is most often located, exclusion of contact with street animals and the use of foods that can cause allergies are important.
Video
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Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
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