Everyone has experienced a runny nose and knows that it can turn into a real torment if treatment is not started in time. First, there is a slight nasal congestion, which can be eliminated with the help of suitable drugs. However, the problem can get worse and instead of a harmless cold, which usually disappears after a week, a person gets a chronic runny nose. The reason for this – inadequate treatment of the common cold. To finally get rid of the condition when the nose is constantly flowing, you should find out the cause of chronic rhinitis and only then take measures to treat it.
Types of chronic rhinitis and causes of their development
Like other chronic forms of the disease, chronic rhinitis also quite often makes itself felt. Its manifestations are no different from the common cold, however, during the period of remission, this ailment may not be noticed at all. So, in total, there are 5 types of chronic rhinitis:
- Chronic catarrhal rhinitis. As a rule, this type of chronic rhinitis develops when the acute form of the common cold has not been cured to the end. In this case, nasal discharge is rather scanty, nasal congestion is more pronounced in one half of the nose. At the same time, the nasal congestion is not permanent, congestion can manifest itself in certain situations, for example, when inhaling cold air.
- Chronic hypertrophic rhinitis is a consequence of chronic catarrhal rhinitis. In this case, there is an overgrowth and thickening of the nasal mucosa. For this reason, breathing through the nose is very difficult, and sometimes it becomes completely impossible. In this case, the discharge is abundant, mucopurulent, the sense of smell and taste are disturbed, and headaches occur.
- Chronic atrophic rhinitis. Viscous mucus is discharged from the nose, which, when dried, forms crusts in the nose. Accompanied by dryness in the nose and throat, itching. When you try to remove the formed crusts, you can damage the mucosa. When these wounds become infected, a fetid runny nose may appear – dirty gray crusts form in the nasal cavity and a sharp unpleasant odor occurs.
- Chronic vasomotor rhinitis. With this disease, paroxysmal sneezing occurs. Nasal breathing is difficult, there are abundant watery mucous discharge from the nose. Such symptoms do not haunt a person constantly and appear only in certain situations – immediately after waking up, with a sharp change in air temperature, after experienced stress and with an increase in pressure. This type of chronic rhinitis is associated with dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.
- Chronic allergic rhinitis. This chronic runny nose is accompanied by a burning sensation and itching, watery discharge from the nose, which provokes continuous sneezing. Allergic rhinitis can occur all year round (allergy to dust, pet hair, tobacco smoke, etc.) or only in certain seasons during the flowering period of plants.
Treatment of chronic rhinitis: medical and surgical methods
To avoid the development of complications, the treatment of the common cold should be started at the first symptoms. When nasal congestion occurs, the following measures should be taken immediately:
- dip your feet in a hot tub;
- perform inhalation with the addition of pine essential oils;
- put on warm socks, go to bed and cover yourself with a blanket;
- eat foods rich in vitamin C.
As for the treatment of chronic rhinitis, in this case, you need to coordinate all actions with the doctor. The specialist will be able to identify the cause of the disease and only after that prescribe adequate treatment. Basically, antiviral drugs are prescribed, narrowing and moisturizing, depending on the characteristics of the course of the disease.
In chronic catarrhal rhinitis, drops are prescribed that have an astringent and antibacterial effect. In case of an exacerbation caused by an infection, for the treatment of chronic rhinitis, antibacterial drugs in the form of ointments are applied topically. In addition, nasal sprays containing antibiotics are prescribed.
Chronic hypertrophic sinusitis is not treated with medication. In this case, more radical methods are used:
- moxibustion (lapis, trichloroacetic or chromic acid);
- destruction of overgrown mucosa by electrocoagulation or radio wave surgery, cryotherapy, ultrasound or laser.
In the treatment of chronic atrophic sinusitis, great attention is paid to the constant moisturizing of the nasal mucosa. For these purposes, the following are used:
- saline solutions;
- special oil-based drops and sprays.
If pathogenic microflora is present, antibiotic therapy is prescribed.
For the treatment of chronic vasomotor rhinitis, hormonal preparations are used, which are used either in the form of sprays or injections. Thanks to such drugs, it is possible to achieve the removal of edema and chronic inflammation, but not to eliminate the cause of the disease. In order to treat chronic vasomotor rhinitis, surgical methods are also used - submucosal vasotomy, destruction of submucosal blood vessels by electric or radio wave coagulation, laser radiation or photodestruction.
Allergic rhinitis is treated with special sprays, which are selected by an allergist.
Treatment of chronic rhinitis should be carried out in strict accordance with the doctor's recommendations, because this way you will get rid of the disease much faster and easier.
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