What You Should Know About
Rhinitis
If your nose is stuffy or runny much of the time, you may have a very common condition known as rhinitis, which actually is a general term that covers several similar disorders. About 40 million Americans have this bothersome but usually harmless condition.
The most common form of rhinitis is hay fever, formally known as seasonal allergic rhinitis. It's triggered by an allergy to pollens. Symptoms include sneezing, itching, and tickling in the nose, a runny or stuffy nose, and watery or itchy eyes.
Another type is called perennial rhinitis. It causes symptoms all year long rather than during a certain season. It may result from such indoor allergens as mold, dust mites, cockroaches, and animal dander. Or it may not result from an allergy at all.
A person with vasomotor rhinitis develops symptoms in response to temperature and humidity changes, smoke, odors, and emotional upsets. Usually, the symptoms include nasal congestion and postnasal drip. |
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Some people develop infectious rhinitis after a cold. This happens when drainage from the sinuses becomes blocked and then infected, usually shortly after a cold seems to clear up. The infection may be acute or chronic; either way, it produces nasal congestion and thick, yellowish-green nasal discharge.
Rhinitis also may develop from long-term use of decongestant sprays, cocaine use, obstruction from a deviated septum or enlarged adenoids, or hormone changes caused by pregnancy or untreated hypothyroidism.
Diagnosing rhinitis
To diagnose rhinitis, your doctor will consider your symptoms, the history of allergies in your family, a physical examination, and possibly an examination of your nasal discharge under a microscope.
If you have recurrent symptoms, you may need skin tests to help identify substances to which you're allergic. A positive skin test indicates the presence of IgE antibody, which may produce rhinitis symptoms when it detects an allergen in your environment. Most allergic people react to more than one substance.
If you have constant symptoms, your doctor may want you to have a sinus X-ray to look for sinus inflammation and nasal polyps.
Treatment and tips
The best way to minimize allergic forms of rhinitis is to minimize your exposure to allergens. Here are some suggestions.
Pollens and molds
Keep your doors and windows closed during allergy season, and consider limiting your outdoor activities during times of peak pollen and mold counts. Using central air conditioning dramatically reduces indoor pollens and can also lessen indoor humidity, which reduces mold and dust mite allergens.
Mold tends to grow in damp areas, such as the kitchen, bathroom, and basement. If you are allergic to mold, take measures to reduce its growth. For example:
- Ventilate damp areas well.
- Clean damp areas frequently using a weak chlorine bleach solution.
- Limit your use of humidifiers because they encourage mold growth in your home. If you use a humidifier, clean it regularly.
- Use a dehumidifier if your basement is damp or you live in a very humid climate.
Dust mites
If you're allergic to house dust mites and live in a humid area, try these steps to help reduce their numbers:
- Cover your mattress and box spring in zippered, dustproof encasings.
- Wash your pillows, sheets, and blankets each week in hot water. Mites can survive lukewarm water.
- Limit your use of humidifiers.
- Use a dehumidifier if your basement is damp or you live in a very humid climate.
Pet dander
Skin cells shed from animals, particularly cats and dogs, provide a major year-round allergen. If you're allergic to your pet, consider finding it another loving home. If you choose to keep it, exclude the animal from the allergic person's bedroom, and keep the doors and heating ducts closed in that room. Also, consider restricting the animal to certain areas of the home. The more restricted the area in which the pet can roam, the fewer allergens will circulate in your home.
Irritants
Many substances to which you're not allergic can nevertheless causes rhinitis symptoms. Thus, reducing your exposure to these irritants can help reduce your symptoms, even if you have allergic rhinitis. For example, cigarette smoke is a strong respiratory irritant, and it's important that no one smoke in your home. Your home may abound with other irritants as well (even substances that you think are keeping the house clean), such as aerosol sprays, perfumes, dust, pollution, strong cleaning products, and other sources of strong odors. No matter what type of rhinitis you have, reducing your exposure to these irritants may help you feel better.
Where to Get More Information
For more information, try these online resources.
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