Rhinitis refers to inflammation of the nasal mucosa, manifested by congestion or edema. Patients often experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, nasal itching, throat discomfort, cough and other symptoms.

The thin liquid-like substance secreted by the nasal cavity is called nasal mucus or nasal secretions. Its function is to help remove dust and bacteria to keep the lungs healthy. Normally, nasal mucus mixed with bacteria and dust is sucked into the throat and eventually enters the stomach. Because the amount of secretion is very small, it generally does not attract people's attention.

When inflammation occurs in the nose, a large amount of nasal mucus can be secreted in the nasal cavity, and it can turn yellow due to infection. When it flows through the throat, it can cause coughing. When the amount of nasal mucus is very large, it can also flow out through the front nostril.

Allergic rhinitis is a type of rhinitis, which also includes chronic rhinitis and acute rhinitis, the latter usually refers to a cold. Chronic rhinitis includes simple rhinitis with mild symptoms and hypertrophic rhinitis with obvious nasal congestion. Both types of chronic rhinitis can reduce symptoms through different treatments.

Rhinitis caused by the body's allergy to a certain substance is called allergic rhinitis (Allergic Rhinitis), and can cause a series of allergic symptoms. Allergic rhinitis is also called allergic rhinitis.

As mentioned above, various factors that cause allergic rhinitis are called allergens or allergens. Common allergens include:

(1) Inhalation Sexual allergens: such as indoor and outdoor dust, dust mites, fungi, animal fur, feathers, cotton wool, etc., often cause perennial attacks; those caused by plant pollen mostly cause seasonal attacks.

(2) Food allergens: such as fish, shrimp, eggs, milk, flour, peanuts, soybeans, etc. In particular, certain drugs, such as sulfa drugs, quinine, antibiotics, etc., can cause illness.

(3) Contact objects such as cosmetics, gasoline, paint, alcohol, etc.

Other causes may be certain bacteria and their toxins, physical factors (such as hot and cold changes, temperature irregularities), endocrine disorders or imbalance of acid-base balance of body fluids. It can also be due to multiple factors existing at the same time or one after another.

Now let’s talk about the hospital’s method of checking rhinitis:

Rhinoscopy: After patients with allergic rhinitis go to the hospital, they can see that the nasal mucosa is pale, pale, gray or lavender, and the turbinates are edema. , (picture on the right, click to enlarge the picture) Clear or sticky mucus can be seen in the common nasal passage and the bottom of the nasal cavity. If combined with infection, the mucosa will be congested, the inferior turbinates on both sides will be dark red, and the secretions will be mucopurulent or purulent. Those with a long history and recurring symptoms may see polypoid changes in the middle nose or hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate. About 30% of patients have allergic asthma, and nasal polyps can be found in some patients. Patients with hay fever may be accompanied by conjunctival congestion during the attack period.

Nasal secretion smear examination: During an allergic reaction, eosinophils can be seen in nasal secretions, and more eosinophils or mast cells can also be found.

Allergy challenge test: Generally, skin test (scratch, intradermal and contact methods, etc.) is used. The principle is that there are a variety of putative allergenic substances, and after contact with the body, it is judged whether there is any reaction. appears and can assist in diagnosis.

Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis:

Based on the above typical symptoms and examination results, the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis can be made, which generally needs to be distinguished from the following diseases:

1. Vasomotor rhinitis

Patients sometimes have a lightning attack caused by touching their nose, which attacks suddenly and disappears quickly. The symptoms are similar to those of allergic rhinitis, but there is no itching in the nose, and the symptoms can be relieved by taking cold medicines orally. This disease can be induced by changes in cold or heat, changes in body position (getting up), or emotional agitation.

2. Eosinophilic polyrhinorrhea

The symptoms are similar to those of perennial allergic rhinitis. Although the cause is unknown, it is not related to allergies. Patients often experience intermittent nasal congestion with continuous sneezing, large amounts of serous and mucus nasal discharge, and often have systemic symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, fatigue, and chronic cough.

3. Cold

Patients with allergic rhinitis often think they have a cold. The difference between the two is that the latter may be accompanied by fever and other general discomfort, and the nasal mucosa may be very red and swollen.

Drug treatment of allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis usually cannot achieve a complete cure (cure) effect, and the best way is prevention.

The purpose of treatment is to prevent, relieve symptoms and reduce the onset time of allergic rhinitis.

1. Drug treatment

The mechanisms of different drug treatments may be different, including local medication and systemic medication. The following is a list of commonly used clinical treatment drugs.

Antihistamine drugs

Chlorpheniramine, Xinminle, etc.

Antihistamine, the body's response to allergies Histamine is released under the stimulation of irritants, causing a series of allergic symptoms.

Prevention and Treatment

Chlorpheniramine can cause drowsiness and is contraindicated by drivers and pilots. The new generation of antihistamines has no drowsiness effect. However, astamine has side effects, so use it with caution.

Mast cell stabilizer

Sodium cromoglycate eye solution and oral medicine, Tranilast

Prevents the release of tissue from body tissues in the presence of allergens amine.

Prevention

Can cause drowsiness.

Decongestants

Ephedrine, Biton, epinephrine, furosemide mixture

Relieve nasal obstruction.

Short-term treatment

Use no more than 3 days, up to a week. Long-term use can cause drug-induced rhinitis.

Bromide

Reduces the symptoms of polyhedony caused by histamine.

Treatment

Not commonly used clinically.

Hormonal drugs

Dexamethasone eye solution, Burke sodium, Renacote

Reduce the reaction to allergens and inhibit the inflammatory reaction.

Treatment

Long-term use may cause systemic side effects of hormones, but side effects are generally mild, especially with drugs recently used clinically.

Nasal humidifier

Help relieve thick secretions and crusts in the nasal cavity.

2. Other treatment methods for allergic rhinitis

General drug treatment can have a better therapeutic effect on allergic rhinitis, but for severe allergic rhinitis, you can use Other related treatments.

Obvious symptoms of nasal congestion can be treated with laser, microwave or plasma radio frequency to achieve satisfactory results, and have certain benefits in sneezing and runny nose by reducing the sensitivity of the nerves in the nasal cavity. The low-temperature plasma system recently used clinically has been reported to have obvious effects on allergic rhinitis, especially severe allergic rhinitis. Since it causes little damage to the mucosa and has no obvious side effects, its clinical significance has begun to be valued by some doctors. It can be done It is the best alternative to laser and microwave in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, but its disadvantage is that it is more expensive. The first domestically developed plasma treatment for allergic rhinitis (including other types of rhinitis) and has a certain reputation are: Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology, Nanjing Bayi Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology, Beijing 304 Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical College, etc. In addition, many doctors and patients in the China Otolaryngology Forum have commented on low-temperature plasma treatment of rhinitis. You can also enter the China Otolaryngology Forum to view them.

Desensitization therapy uses identified allergens as desensitizers. Initially, a small dose is used for subcutaneous injection, and the dose is gradually increased. When the maximum tolerated dose is reached, it is changed to a maintenance dose until the symptoms disappear. until. Patients treated with this method can produce a large amount of specific IgG blocking antibodies in their bodies, which can block the combination of antigens and IgE antibodies, reduce the sensitivity of mediator cells, and thus play a therapeutic role. However, because there may be many allergens, it is often limited. its effect. For details, please see the immunotherapy of allergic rhinitis in this topic

Patients with nasal polyps should undergo endoscopic surgery for nasal polyps; in order to reduce the excitability of the parasympathetic nerves in the nasal cavity, a wing surgery can be performed Canal neurotomy or petrosal superficial neurotomy is reported to have certain therapeutic effects, but due to the greater pain and certain risks, we do not advocate the use of this surgery.

Recipe

Method 1 Recipe: 10 grams of chrysanthemum, 10 grams of gardenia, 3 grams of mint, 3 grams of green onion, appropriate amount of honey. Preparation method: Brew the above medicines with boiling water , take the juice and add honey and mix thoroughly. Usage: Drink frequently instead of tea, 1 dose per day, for 3-5 days. Adaptation: Acute rhinitis.

Method 2 Recipe: 20 grams of green onion, 6 grams of mint and vine. 15 grams of Jingzi. Preparation method: Add the above medicines to boil in water and take the juice. Usage: Drink instead of tea, 1 dose per day. Suitable for: acute and chronic rhinitis.

Method 3 Recipe: 9 grams of ginger , 9 grams of jujube, 70 grams of brown sugar. Preparation method: Add the above medicines to boil in water and take the juice. Usage: Drink instead of tea, 1 dose per day, for 3-5 days. Suitable for: acute rhinitis.

< p>Method 4 Recipe: 10 grams of Paojiang, 20 grams of Zhigancao. Preparation method: Add the above medicines to boil in water and take the juice. Usage: Take in the morning and evening, 1 dose per day. Suitable for: acute rhinitis.

< p>Method 5 Recipe: Appropriate amount of green onions. Preparation method: Mash the green onions to extract juice. Usage: Use cotton wool dipped in green onion juice every night and stuff it into rhinitis in turn. Suitable for: rhinitis.