Chronic Rhinitis (cont.)
Terminology
Acute rhinitis: Inflammation of the nose that occurs for only a few days.
Typically this is caused by a virus ("a cold"); if it goes on beyond a week then
it is probably a bacterial infection.
Allergens: Normally harmless substances which cause an exaggerated allergic
reaction (inflammatory response) in sensitive people.
Allergic rhinitis: Medical term for hay fever, a condition due to allergy
that mimics a chronic cold. (Hay fever is a misnomer since hay is not a usual
cause of this problem and there is no fever). Many substances cause the allergic
symptoms in hay fever. Allergic rhinitis is the correct term for this allergic
reaction. (Rhinitis means "irritation of the nose" and is a derivative of Rhino,
meaning "nose.") Symptoms include nasal congestion, a clear runny nose,
sneezing, nose and eye itching, eye redness, and tearing of the eyes. Post-nasal
dripping of clear mucus frequently causes a cough. Loss of smell is common, and
loss of taste occurs occasionally. Nose bleeding may occur if the condition is
severe.
Chronic rhinitis: inflammation of the nose that goes on for weeks to months
which is different from "a cold", and may be caused by allergy, nasal irritants,
or structural or physiological problems.
Hay fever: A seasonal allergy to airborne particles characterized by
runny/itchy nose and eyes, sneezing, itchy throat, excess mucus, and nasal
congestion. It is a misnomer because it is not caused by hay and it does not
produce a fever.
Non-allergic rhinitis: Inflammatory condition of the nose without an obvious
allergy as the cause.
Post nasal drip: Mucous accumulation in the back of the nose and throat
leading to or giving the sensation of mucus dripping downward from the back of
the nose.
Summer cold: Similar to hay fever. Summer cold is also a misnomer because it
is not caused by a virus.
Vasomotor rhinitis: Similar to non-allergic rhinitis, thought to be mediated
by an abnormal neuronal control of the blood vessels supplying the nose.
Next: Chronic Rhinitis & Post-Nasal Drip At A Glance »
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