Does nasal irrigation work for chronic rhinitis?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on January 15, 2025
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Patients with chronic rhinitis can benefit from nasal irrigation as it is effective in treatment, and some patients may experience particularly good results. Nasal irrigation helps reduce the retention of secretions in the nasal cavity, improves clinical symptoms, and can also help reduce the likelihood of acute flare-ups of chronic rhinitis. However, the specific treatment outcomes can vary among individuals, and some patients may still need to combine the treatment with medications. Common medications include oral drugs and nasal spray medications. Following this comprehensive treatment approach, most patients will gradually see their condition controlled and alleviated. However, it is currently difficult to completely cure chronic rhinitis, as it tends to recur. (Please take medications under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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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.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How should chronic rhinitis be treated?

Chronic rhinitis is a relatively common otolaryngological disease with various clinical symptoms. The common manifestations include nasal congestion, runny nose, reduced sense of smell, headache, and dizziness. In terms of treatment, it initially requires some nasopharyngoscopic and sinus CT examinations, which help to clarify the specific degree of chronic rhinitis and rule out any sinusitis. Generally, oral medications and nasal sprays should be considered, including traditional Chinese patent medicines orally, corticosteroid nasal sprays, and nasal irrigation with saline solution. The general treatment period is about one to two weeks. After medication, regular follow-up checks are necessary to observe the recovery process. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Does cold medicine treat rhinitis?

Colds are mainly caused by the infection of our upper respiratory tract by various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, etc. Rhinitis is usually related to infections, and a cold can trigger rhinitis. However, other factors, such as allergies or temperature changes, can also produce symptoms similar to a cold. Therefore, cold medicines often contain medications for treating rhinitis, so some patients experiencing rhinitis may find cold medicines to be effective. However, besides containing rhinitis medications, cold medicines also include fever reducers and vasoconstrictive cough suppressants. Thus, to treat rhinitis, it is still better to use proper rhinitis medications instead of substituting them with cold medicines. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor to avoid self-medication.)

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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.