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Rhinitis: Non-Allergic Rhinitis
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Non-Allergic Rhinitis is not as well understood. Although it is not triggered by an allergy, the symptoms are often the same as seen with allergic rhinitis. A variety of factors may trigger symptoms of non-allergic rhinitis including:
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Some people with non-allergic rhinitis have inflammation in their nose and sinuses. In the most severe forms of this problem, patients have polyps, which are growths on the mucus membranes of the nose that block the air from moving in and out. Patients with these problems ... suffer from loss of the sense of smell. In other forms of non-allergic rhinitis there is very little if any inflammation in the nose and the symptoms are mostly triggered by strong smells, pollution, smoke and other irritants. Some doctors call this condition vasomotor rhinitis.
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There are other types of rhinitis that should not be confused with allergic rhinitis. All types of rhinitis affect nasal and sinus function. However, many other types of rhinitis respond to triggers that differ from those of allergic rhinitis (such as hormones, drugs or changes in weather). These fall into a general category of non-allergic rhinitis. Causes may include:
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Symptoms of non-allergic rhinitis can be caused by medications as side-effects. These include some blood pressure medicines, oral contraceptives, or medications used for erectile dysfunction. The most common form of this type of non-allergic rhinitis is caused by nasal decongestant sprays, when they are used by some people for long periods of time. This type of medication-induced rhinitis is ... called rhinitis medicamentosa .
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Nasal steroid sprays ... control non-allergic rhinitis and reduce the size of polyps in the nose. Occasionally they may cause local nasal irritation and nose bleeds. They do not relieve palate and eye itch, so antihistamine tablets may also need to be used. If significant nasal obstruction is present at commencement of treatment, then pre-treatment with a decongestant spray will be necessary for a few days.
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Allergic rhinitis symptoms often mimic those of a cold (non-allergic rhinitis). For this reason, diagnosing allergic rhinitis can be difficult. Generally, allergy symptoms persist for a longer period of time than cold symptoms (more than seven days), and the mucus produced in the nose during a cold is thicker than with rhinitis. Itching of the ears, nose and throat may be associated with allergic rhinitis, though usually not a cold.
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Non-Allergic Rhinitis