Rhinitis

Rhinitis

If spring is synonymous with revival, of beautiful days to come, it is for certain people the one rather difficult period beginning which rhyme with hay cold. The rhinitis can be a seasonal disease, but it can also prevail throughout the year according to the allergic mechanism (acarina, hairs of animals…). The allergic rhinitides become increasingly frequent.
In addition to this card, lira our file: Hay cold: all solutions.

Beside an allergic origin, it can also occur a rhinitis vasomotrice, with thick nasal mucous membranes for various reasons (medicamentous, professional because of inhalation of irritating substances…). The infectious rhinitis, generally of viral origin is often associated with an attack of the throat (rhinopharyngitis).
In fact rhinitis means: ignition of the mucous membranes of the nose.

The rhinitis can be acute (to last a few days) or chronicle (nose stopped during one more or less long period). The attending physician can possibly address the patient in a doctor ORL or an allergist.

An allergic disease

The allergic rhinitis can be associated with other allergic pathologies like asthma. In France, one considers that it affects approximately 25% of the population. She generally begins with adolescence, especially if she is related to pollens. If not it touches the young adults, between 18 and 30 years, and concerns more readily of the “domestic” allergies (acarina, hairs of animals…). If it is about an affection a priori benign, she should not be neglected because of her repercussion on quality of life, her chronic nature and the risk related to asthma. The number of cases of rhinitides has been in continuous increase for twenty years. Several factors were accused like pollution or antibiotics without there being final certainty.

Easily identifiable

The symptoms of the allergic rhinitis are easily locatable, it acts of traditional “the hay cold”. The nose runs abundantly or is completely blocked, the person present of the sneezes in salvos and it can exist “tinglings” of the eyes, associated in a whimpering, and sometimes the red eyes. These demonstrations are particularly characteristic of the seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by pollens. But these pollens are not the only culprits, he exists other allergens (substances involving the allergic reaction) in our environment. Acarina, moulds, pets, produced D `maintenance… can be at the origin of a rhinitis. The cold is present as soon as the person is in contact with the allergen, independently of the seasons.

In certain cases, the rhinitis can occur in the absence of any infectious or allergic cause. It can be a question of a rhinitis vasomotrice, the starting factors can be very diverse, like the abusive use of drugs vasoconstricteurs. Or of professional origin.

To find the culprit

The doctor poses the diagnosis of rhinitis by questioning the patient. The doctor seeks the periodicity, the intensity, the transitory or permanent character of the symptoms and the importance of the felt embarrassment, to determine the gravity of pathology. Exceptionally, it can ask a radiography or a scanner of the face to visualize the sines. What imports, once the diagnosis posed, is to identify the factor responsible for the allergy. For that, it is necessary to consult a specialist who will carry out cutaneous tests allowing to locate the substance allergisante. Sometimes also a blood test.

In the other cases, the doctor will seek the reasons of a possible hypertrophic rhinitis: a medicamentous, professional cause… The hypertrophy of the nasal mucous membrane, even the presence of a polyp are at the origin of a quasi-permanent nasal obstruction. It happens that the only treatment is then surgical.

Short treatment or desensitizing in the event of allergy

In the event of allergic rhinitis, it is initially necessary to avoid the contact with the allergen. Difficult when they are pollens, generally easier if one is allergic to certain animals.

The treatment itself is symptomatic. It generally associates anti-inflammatory drugs managed by local way (drops or spray) with an antihistamine, drug which is opposed to the mechanism of the allergy, taken in form oral examination. If the crisis is particularly severe, the doctor can prescribe corticoids by general way in short cure.

The basic treatment is that of the allergy. It is desensitizing, still called immunothérapie specific. It is a long effective cure but, generally over several months, which is recommended for the patients having intense symptoms or associated pathologies like asthma. It should be known that desensitizing is not effective (and thus possible) for all the allergens.

Treatments of the other types of rhinitides

For the infectious rhinitides, generally of viral origin, best is moucher regularly and in the infant to wash the nose well to him.

In the event of rhinitis vasomotor, or hypertrophic, local treatments containing corticoid can be prescribed. A local treatment by laser, even an surgical operation can be indicated. Doctors propose sometimes in more the local application of trace elements to the virtues anti-inflammatory drugs.

Practical advices

> In the event of hay cold due to pollens which returns each year, try to consult before the arrival of the symptoms so that you precautionary measures are given.

> If one proposes an operation of the nose to you to remove possible polyps, will know that at the end of a certain time, the problems are likely to reappear. The operation is not effective to 100%.

> If you permanently have – or almost – the stopped nose, use only the drugs prescribed by doctor ORL. Certain drugs misused or used too a long time are likely to support or maintain the problems of nasal obstruction.

> To read our files:
> Cold, cough, influenza… the solutions homéo.
> To look after his/her child with homeopathy.