Chronic rhinitis

For a lay person:

Chronic rhinitis is long-lasting inflammation of the lining of the nose, causing a blocked or runny nose for weeks or months. It can be allergic or non-allergic and is triggered by things such as irritants, temperature changes, medicines or overuse of decongestant sprays.

For a trained medical person:

Encompasses allergic rhinitis and non-allergic forms, including chronic simple and hypertrophic rhinitis with turbinate enlargement, vasomotor rhinitis and rhinitis medicamentosa from decongestant overuse. Assessment includes history, anterior rhinoscopy or endoscopy and allergy testing. Management is trigger avoidance, saline irrigation, intranasal corticosteroids or antihistamines, stopping topical decongestants, and turbinate reduction for refractory hypertrophy.

In Chinese medicine:

Liu and Tseng's textbook differentiates this condition into these patterns: Chronic Simple Rhinitis; Chronic Hypertrophic Rhinitis. Treatment follows the pattern a patient presents with, not the Western diagnosis alone.

When to get help: See a doctor for blockage on one side only, bloody discharge, facial pain or swelling, or symptoms that do not improve with treatment.