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Rhinitis Definition

Rhinitis is the swelling and inflammation of the mucous membranes inside the nose, eyes and throat. The swelling occurs in response to exposure to irritants or allergens that trigger histamine release within the body. This histamine also leads to secretion from the mucous membranes, resulting in fluid release in the nose, eyes and sinuses. This fluid results in fluid drainage down the throat, drainage out the nose or tearing in the eyes.

  1. Significance

    • Rhinitis is extremely common. In fact, rhinitis affects more than 50 million people in the United States alone. Rhinitis has one of the highest incidence rates of any illness.

    Types

    • There are two different types of rhinitis: allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis falls into two different classifications: seasonal and perennial. Perennial allergic rhinitis causes symptoms year-round. Seasonal allergic rhinitis occurs only during certain seasons, most commonly spring or fall. Nonallergic rhinitis types include irritant rhinitis, eosinophilic rhinitis, structural rhinitis, neutrophilic rhinosinusitis, rhinitis medicamentosa, nasal polyps or vasomotor instability.

    Causes

    • Both types of allergic rhinitis are due to allergen exposure. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is most likely due to outdoor allergies, while perennial rhinitis may be due to indoor and outdoor allergies. Nonallergic rhinitis has several causes, including viral infection, smoke, irritants, temperature change and atmospheric change.

    Identification

    • Usually doctors diagnose rhinitis based on symptoms. The doctor may also note dark circles under the eyes, inflamed and swollen tissues in the nose, and mouth breathing due to difficulty breathing through the nose.

    Symptoms

    • The most common symptoms of rhinitis include a runny nose, stuffy nose, congestion, sneezing and itching in the eyes, throat, nose or ears. The drainage from the nose is clear in rhinitis. Sometimes the swelling in the mucus membranes from rhinitis leads to nosebleeds, so this symptom may also appear with rhinitis inflammation.

    Considerations

    • Perennial rhinitis is a chronic, or ongoing, condition when untreated. It can lead to further health problems such as recurrent ear infections, mouth breathing, fatigue, snoring and concentration problems. In individuals with asthma, rhinitis tends to make the condition worse.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Proper hand washing and avoiding contact with individuals infected with the common cold significantly reduces the risk of developing acute nonallergic rhinitis. Identifying and avoiding allergens reduces the risk of rhinitis due to allergic response. Using air conditioning and air filters helps keep some outdoor allergens out of the home. If allergy avoidance is not possible, allergy medication, allergy shots or immunotherapy are all treatment options. For structural issues causing rhinitis, surgery may be necessary.

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