What are the symptoms of chronic rhinitis

The symptoms of chronic rhinitis need to be taken seriously, because many people are affected by rhinitis nowadays. Especially when you find increased secretions, olfactory impairment, nasal speech, or even symptoms of headache and dizziness, you should pay attention to whether it is caused by rhinitis.

1. Increased nasal secretions

Both simple and hypertrophic rhinitis are characterized by increased secretions, and in most patients, the increase in secretions is more obvious when nasal congestion occurs. The main symptoms are a small amount of nasal mucus, which is mostly sticky, white or slightly yellow, or a small amount of clear mucus. The main reason for increased secretions is due to chronic inflammatory stimulation. For some patients, secretions do not flow forward or are blown out, but tend to flow backward, that is, flow to the nasopharynx, which is more obvious when lying down. This is medically called "postnasal leakage", and they are prone to "respiratory spitting" symptoms at other times.

2. Olfactory impairment

It is mainly due to swollen nasal concha and blocked nasal cavity. The odorous substances (microparticles) in the air cannot reach or cannot fully reach the top of the nasal cavity (mucosa of the olfactory area), which causes hyposmia. This lesion belongs to respiratory obstructive olfactory disorder. Once the nasal cavity is unobstructed, the sense of smell can quickly return to normal. If it is due to long-term chronic inflammation, it will further lead to swelling and necrosis of the mucosal epithelium of the olfactory area, thereby leading to olfactory nerve dysfunction.

3. Nasal speech

It is mainly caused by the enlargement of the nasal concha, which makes the nasal cavity obstructed, affecting the normal resonance function of the nasal cavity. It is mild in simple rhinitis and more obvious or severe in hypertrophic rhinitis.

4. Headache and dizziness

When nasal congestion symptoms are severe or obvious, unilateral or bilateral headache may occur. Chronic rhinitis causes headaches mainly due to the enlarged nasal conchae, which compresses the sensory nerves of the nasal cavity. It is a neuroreflex headache. Since the secretions are inflammatory and contain irritants that are harmful to the body and brain, when the secretions in the nose are present for a long time, these toxins are absorbed and can easily cause a groggy feeling in the head.

5. Swelling of nasal conchae (physical examination signs)

Enlarged nasal conchae is not a symptom, but a sign seen during examination. The submucosal tissue of the nasal concha is a spongy tissue. Under normal circumstances, the nasal concha mucosa and submucosal tissue are very sensitive to air stimulation, gas stimulation, and drug liquid stimulation, and can quickly cause the nasal concha to enlarge or shrink.