Rhinitis


Can people with chronic rhinitis smoke?
It is advised not to smoke for chronic rhinitis, as smoking can be irritating to the nasal mucosa, inferior nasal concha, and other structures in the nasal cavity. This is because cigarettes contain a lot of irritating substances that can directly stimulate the nasal mucosa. It can easily trigger an attack of rhinitis or exacerbate existing inflammation, hence smoking is not recommended. It is also suggested to avoid alcohol, keep the nose moist, avoid contact with irritants, and consider using physiological seawater or saline to rinse the nasal cavity. Additionally, treatments can include oral traditional Chinese medicine and nasal spray medications. Generally, it is a common disease that can be effectively controlled and managed with standard treatment. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a doctor.)


What is the best treatment for chronic rhinitis?
There are quite a few treatment options for chronic rhinitis, which are mainly divided into two categories clinically. The first category is conservative medicinal treatment, and the second is surgical treatment. Based on existing clinical experience, the preferred approach is to primarily use conservative treatment, most commonly oral medications, generally focusing on traditional Chinese medicines. It is also recommended to use nasal sprays alongside, and consider using saline or seawater for nasal washes, which need to be performed regularly. If standardized medication treatment proves ineffective, surgery is considered, mainly for cases where the enlargement of the nasal turbinates is particularly significant. Surgical options may include turbinate ablation or a partial excision of the moved portion of the inferior turbinate. Overall, with standardized treatment, most patients can effectively control and alleviate their symptoms.


Can chronic rhinitis be cured?
Chronic rhinitis refers to a chronic inflammatory disease occurring in the nasal mucosa, and it is certainly treatable. The main treatments include the following: Firstly, medication treatments, such as rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution, using nasal corticosteroids like mometasone furoate nasal spray, and even using drugs that constrict the mucosal blood vessels to clear the nasal passages. Secondly, some oral traditional Chinese medicines can also be used, such as Biyuan Tongqiao granules and Danxiang rhinitis tablets. For chronic rhinitis with hypertrophic inferior turbinates that block the nasal cavity and do not improve with medication, some invasive treatments like plasma ablation of the inferior turbinates can be considered. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a clinician, according to the specific situation.)


Difference between Allergic Rhinitis and Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis and rhinitis are issues of a specific concept versus a broader concept. Allergic rhinitis is a type of rhinitis caused by a hypersensitivity reaction, which is an allergic response of the body leading to inflammation of the nasal passages. Rhinitis, however, includes allergic rhinitis as well as chronic rhinitis, hypertrophic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, atrophic rhinitis, etc. Thus, it's a matter of differentiating between a more specific and a general concept. Clinically, it is particularly important to differentiate their diagnosis and treatment. For example, the primary treatment for allergic rhinitis is anti-allergy medication, whereas treatments for conditions like chronic and atrophic rhinitis are completely different. Therefore, it is crucial to differentiate these accurately in clinical practice to ensure the correct medication is used.


The difference between sinusitis and rhinitis
Rhinitis and sinusitis are common inflammations in our nasal area, frequently occurring and widely prevalent. Rhinitis primarily involves inflammation of the nasal mucosa, while sinusitis specifically refers to inflammation in the sinus cavities and their mucous membranes. These two have different locations of onset. Furthermore, rhinitis is more commonly seen clinically compared to sinusitis, which is less common relative to rhinitis. Moreover, rhinitis is generally treated with medication and seldom requires surgical intervention. In contrast, sinusitis may also require surgical treatment besides medication. Thus, the main differences between them primarily include these aspects. Overall, the fundamental difference between rhinitis and sinusitis lies in their different locations of onset.


The difference between chronic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis
The differences between chronic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis are quite significant. Firstly, we need to consider the causes of the diseases. Allergic rhinitis is mainly caused by the body's own immune response, primarily due to allergens the body encounters externally, which trigger this immune response. Chronic rhinitis, on the other hand, is primarily associated with local inflammation of the nasal mucosa and turbinates, and generally, it is not directly related to the body's own immune system. Another difference lies in the symptoms. The main symptoms of chronic rhinitis include nasal congestion and runny nose, with some patients possibly experiencing headaches or dizziness. In contrast, symptoms of allergic rhinitis mainly include itchy nose, sneezing, and clear nasal discharge, with some patients possibly experiencing nasal congestion. In such cases, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngologist, allowing an experienced doctor to make a diagnosis, supplemented by additional diagnostic tests.


How to relieve chronic rhinitis
Chronic rhinitis mainly refers to the inflammation of the nasal mucosa and submucosa, which may be related to allergic states, bacterial infections, viral infections, and environmental factors, as well as the patient's diet and lifestyle habits. Traditional Chinese medicine considers this a manifestation of excessive heat or internal heat. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid catching a cold, smoking, drinking alcohol, staying up late, and consuming spicy or stimulating food. Drinking plenty of water and eating foods that are cooling and slightly bitter may help. Under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist, the use of antihistamines and traditional Chinese medicines for clearing heat and detoxifying can be beneficial. Applying glucocorticoid nasal sprays may also help. Generally, such treatments can alleviate or cure the condition.


What anti-inflammatory medication should be taken for rhinitis?
Rhinitis refers to the inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Currently, nasal mucosa inflammation can be acute, chronic, allergic, or atrophic. These inflammations require appropriate treatment, but do not require the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, as current anti-inflammatory drugs mainly refer to antibiotics, which are not necessary for these types of rhinitis. Clinically, some nasal spray medications are primarily used, such as some corticosteroid hormones, which have anti-inflammatory effects; saline solutions with high osmolarity can also be used to cleanse and rinse the nasal cavity. Oral medications can include some traditional Chinese medicine preparations, such as Biyan Tongqiao granules and Xiangju tablets, etc. For allergic rhinitis, some antiallergic drugs such as loratadine can be used for antiallergic treatment. In summary, there is no need to use antibiotic anti-inflammatory drugs. (Please use medicine under the guidance of a doctor to avoid indiscriminate use.)


What are the symptoms of rhinitis?
The symptoms of rhinitis are quite varied, and different types of rhinitis have different symptoms. For example, common symptoms of allergic rhinitis include repeated itching of the nose, clear nasal discharge, sneezing, and a certain correlation with seasons or exposure to external allergens. If it is chronic rhinitis, the main symptoms are repeated poor nasal ventilation, accompanied by a runny nose, but generally there is rarely sneezing. In the case of acute rhinitis, the main symptoms are sudden nasal congestion and nasal discharge, which generally consists of viscous mucus, and may also be accompanied by headaches and dizziness. However, acute rhinitis generally has a short duration of illness, with most recoveries occurring around one week.


Can rhinitis cause yellow nasal discharge?
Rhinits can cause the discharge of yellow nasal mucus. Rhinits is due to the symptoms in the nasal cavity and overall body caused by bacterial or viral infections when the body's immunity and resistance are low. The patient may experience sudden high fever, with body temperatures above 38.5 degrees Celsius, bilateral nasal congestion that alternates, and yellow purulent discharge from the nasal passages. Upon examination, significant congestion of the bilateral inferior turbinates can be detected, and yellow purulent discharge adhering inside the nasal cavity can be found. In terms of treatment, patients first need to undergo a routine blood test. If there is an increase in white blood cells, bacterial infection should be considered, and oral antibiotics should be administered. If there is an increase in lymphocytes, a viral infection should be considered, and antiviral medications should be taken orally. Additionally, patients should adhere to a light diet, abstain from smoking and alcohol, avoid spicy and irritating foods, drink plenty of water, and rest well for gradual recovery. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)