Chronic Rhinits Flashcards
Chronic nonspecific inflammations of nose include:
- Chronic simple rhinitis.
- Hypertrophic rhinitis
- Atrophic rhinitis.
- Rhinitis sicca.
- Rhinitis caseosa
AETIOLOGY of chronic simple rhinitis
Recurrent attacks of acute rhinitis in the presence of predisposing factors leads to chronicity
The predisposing factors of chronic rhinitis
- Persistence of nasal infection due to sinusitis, tonsillitis and adenoids.
- Chronic irritation from dust, smoke, cigarette smoking, snuff, etc.
- Nasal obstruction due to deviated nasal septum, synechia leading to persistence of discharge in the nose.
- Vasomotor rhinitis
- Endocrinal or metabolic factors, e.g. hypothyroidism, excessive intake of carbohydrates and lack of exercise.
Pathogenesis of chronic simple rhinitis
Etiology ➡️ hyperaemia and Edema of mucous membrane with hypertrophy of seromucinous glands and increase in goblet cells. Blood sinusoids particularly those over the turbinates are distended.
Clinical features of chronic simple rhinitis
- nasal obstruction
- nasal discharge
- headache
- swollen turbinates
- post nasal discharge
Mech of headache in chronic simple rhinitis
is due to swollen turbinates impinging on the nasal septum
How to differentiate the condition from hypertrophic rhinitis and chronic simple rhinitis from swollen turbinate ?
In chronic simple rhinitis they pit on pressure and shrink with application of vasoconstrictor drops
Rx for chronic simple rhinitis
Treat the cause
Nasal irrigations with alkaline solution Nasal decongestants
Antibiotics
How does nasal irrigation help chronic simple rhinitis
Nasal irrigations with alkaline solution help to keep the nose free from viscid secretions and also remove superficial infection
Excessive use of nasal drops and sprays can lead to
rhinitis medicamentosa
HYPERTROPHIC RHINITIS
It is characterized by thickening of mucosa, submucosa, seromucinous glands, periosteum and bone.
AETIOLOGY of HYPERTROPHIC RHINITIS
- recurrent nasal infections,
- chronic sinusitis,
- chronic irritation of nasal mucosa due to smoking, industrial irritants, prolonged use of nasal drops and vasomotor and allergic rhinitis.
SYMPTOMS of HYPERTROPHIC RHINITIS
- Nasal obstruction (predominant)
- Nasal discharge is thick and sticky.
- headache, heaviness of head or transient anosmia.
SIGNS of hypertrophic rhinitis
- hypertrophy of turbinates.
- Turbinal mucosa is thick and does not pit on pressure. It shows little shrinkage with vasoconstrictor drugs due to presence of underlying fibrosis.
What happens to inf turbinate in hypertrophic rhinitis
Maximum changes are seen in the inferior turbinate.
It may be hypertrophied in its entirety or only at the anterior end, posterior end or along the inferior border giving it a mulberry appearance.
Rx for hypertrophic rhinitis
- Treat the cause
- Nasal obstruction can be relieved by reduction in size of turbinates.
Etiopathogenesis of COMPENSATORY HYPERTROPHIC RHINITIS
marked deviation of septum to one side ➡️to reduce the wide space of the roomier side ➡️ hypertrophy of inferior and middle turbinates ➡️ to prevent ill effects of drying and crusting
ATROPHIC RHINITIS (OZAENA)
It is a chronic inflammation of nose characterized by atrophy of nasal mucosa and turbinate bones. The nasal cavities are roomy and full of foul-smelling crusts.