What is chronic rhinitis, commonly called chronic rhinitis?

The nose is an organ that performs many important functions in the human body.

In addition to breathing, it also acts as a filter, cleaning the air from pollutants and microorganisms. However, it does not always work efficiently, and one of the problems that may affect it is chronic rhinitis, also known as chronic runny nose.

What is the function of the nose?

The nose is not only the organ responsible for smell, but also for filtering and humidifying the inhaled air. It acts as a natural air purifier, retaining dust particles, pollen, viruses and bacteria that may be present in the environment. In addition, the nose helps warm and humidify the air before it enters the lungs, which prevents the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract from drying out.

What are the most common symptoms of chronic rhinitis?

Chronic rhinitis is characterized by various symptoms that can affect the patient’s quality of life. The most common of them are:

• A troublesome runny nose that lasts for a long time.
• Mucus discharge from the nose.
• Nasal congestion and difficulty breathing through the nose.
• Itchy nose and sneezing.
• Headaches and facial pain.
• Coughing, which may be the result of secretions dripping from the nose into the throat.

What are the causes of the development of chronic rhinitis?

There are many factors that can contribute to the development of chronic rhinitis. Some of the most common causes are:

• Allergies such as pollen, dust, animal dander.
• Air pollution that can irritate the nasal mucosa.
• Viral infections such as the common cold or flu.
• Genetic factors if chronic rhinitis runs in the family.
• Smoking cigarettes or exposure to tobacco smoke.
• Chronic sinusitis.

What are the different types of chronic rhinitis?

Chronic rhinitis may have various causes, which results in several types of this disease:

• Allergic rhinitis – caused by an allergic reaction to pollen, dust or other allergens.
• Non-allergic rhinitis – caused by factors unrelated to allergies, such as air pollution.
• Sinusitis – when chronic rhinitis is associated with chronic sinusitis.

What is the treatment for chronic rhinitis?

Treatment for chronic rhinitis depends on its cause and symptoms. In case of allergic rhinitis, antihistamines, nasal glucocorticosteroids, as well as allergen immunotherapy are often used to reduce allergic reactions.

In the case of non-allergic rhinitis, it is important to avoid irritants such as tobacco smoke and air pollution. Antihistamines and glucocorticoids may also help relieve symptoms.

In cases of chronic sinusitis, treatment with antibiotics and sometimes surgery may be necessary to improve sinus drainage.

Your suggestions

If you suspect that you suffer from chronic rhinitis, it is worth consulting a specialist who will help diagnose the cause and plan appropriate treatment. It is also important to take care of nasal hygiene, humidify the air in rooms and avoid factors that may worsen symptoms.

Recommended articles

If you want to learn more about chronic rhinitis, you may want to read the following articles:

• “Allergic rhinitis: causes, symptoms, treatment” – article about allergic rhinitis.
• “Non-allergic rhinitis: how to deal with the symptoms” – information about non-allergic rhinitis.
• “Sinusitis: symptoms and treatment” – article about chronic sinusitis.

It is worth gaining knowledge on this subject in order to effectively manage chronic rhinitis and improve the quality of your life.