Welcome to the MedLibrary.org Wikipedia Supplement on Rhinitis -- Please Click to Return to Front Page

Rhinitis Classification and external resources
ICD-10	J00., J30., J31.0
ICD-9	472.0
DiseasesDB	26380
MeSH	D012220

Rhinitis is the medical term describing irritation and inflammation of some internal areas of the nose. The primary symptom of rhinitis is a runny nose. It is caused by chronic or acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose due to viruses, bacteria or irritants. The inflammation results in the generating of excessive amounts of mucus, commonly producing the aforementioned runny nose, as well as nasal congestion and post-nasal drip. According to recent studies completed in the United States, more than fifty million Americans are current sufferers. Rhinitis has also been found to adversely affect more than just the nose, throat, and eyes. It has been associated with sleeping problems, ear conditions, and even learning problems.^[1] Rhinitis is caused by an increase in histamine. This increase is likely caused by airborne allergens. These allergens may affect an individual's nose, throat, or eyes and cause an increase in fluid production within these areas.

Contents 1 Types 2 Common causes 3 Testing for rhinitis 4 Treatment 5 Other sources 6 References 7 External links

Types

There are two types of rhinitis that the general population may suffer from: allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis. Rhinitis is considered IgE-mediated when the sufferer is classified as having allergic rhinitis.

Common causes

Some of the most common causes that may bring about the presence of rhinitis include:

• Food reactions
• Emotional
• Occupational
• Hormonal
• Anatomic defects
• Immunodeficiency diseases
• Ciliary dyskinesia
• Animal interaction

Testing for rhinitis

For assessing the possibility of allergies, skin testing, when possible, is the preferred method in comparison with various in vitro tests because it is more sensitive and specific, simpler to use, and less expensive.^[2]

The typical method of diagnosis and monitoring of allergic rhinitis is skin testing, also known as "scratch testing" and "prick testing" due to the series of pricks and/or scratches made into the patient's skin. Small amounts of suspected allergens and/or their extracts (pollen, grass, mite proteins, peanut extract, etc.) are introduced to sites on the skin marked with pen or dye. The allergens are either injected intradermally or into small scratches made into the patient's skin, often with a small plastic device. Common areas for testing include the inside forearm and the back.

Testing can be either single antigen or multiple antigen testing. Both test the skin for effects of different substances.

Treatment

The management of rhinitis is mainly medical. Treatment for seasonal rhinitis is only needed during the appropriate time of the year. Current treatments include:

• Antihistamine pills and sprays

• Leukotriene antagonists

• Nasal corticosteroid sprays

• Decongestant pills or sprays

• Allergen immunotherapy

• Saline irrigation of sinus cavities through the use of a neti pot or by other means

• Nasal obstruction in perennial rhinitis may be treated by surgery.

Other sources

• Wein, M. (2006). Conn's Current Therapy 2006, 58th edition. Chapter on Allergic Rhinitis, Saunders, 932-939. ISBN 1416023763. 

References

External links

• Rhinitis additional details and information
• Rhinitis at Centers for Chronic Nasal and Sinus Dysfunction
• Rhinitis Presentation at American Academy of Family Physicians

v • d • e Pathology of respiratory system (J, 460-519), respiratory diseases Upper RT (including URTIs, Common cold) Head sinuses: Sinusitis nose: Rhinitis (Vasomotor rhinitis, Atrophic rhinitis, Hay fever) - Nasal polyp - Deviated septum tonsil: Tonsillitis - Adenoid hypertrophy - Peritonsillar abscess Neck pharynx: Pharyngitis (Strep throat) larynx: Laryngitis - Croup - Laryngospasm - vocal folds: Vocal fold nodule - epiglottis: Epiglottitis trachea: Tracheitis - Tracheal stenosis Lower RT/lung disease (including LRTIs) Pneumonia Viral - Bacterial/Atypical pneumonia (Mycoplasma) - Fungal pneumonia (Pneumocystis pneumonia) - Parasitic pneumonia - Bronchopneumonia - Chemical pneumonia (Mendelson's syndrome) Bronchial/ obstructive Acute: Bronchitis (Acute, Chronic) - Bronchiolitis Chronic: Emphysema - COPD - Asthma (Status asthmaticus) - Diffuse panbronchiolitis - Bronchiectasis Interstitial/ restrictive External agents/ occupational lung disease Pneumoconiosis (Asbestosis, Baritosis, Bauxite fibrosis, Berylliosis, Caplan's syndrome, Chalicosis, Coalworker's pneumoconiosis, Siderosis, Silicosis, Byssinosis) Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (Bagassosis, Bird fancier's lung, Farmer's lung) Other ARDS - Pulmonary edema - Löffler's syndrome/Eosinophilic pneumonia - Respiratory hypersensitivity (Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis) Hamman-Rich syndrome - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Obstructive or restrictive Atelectasis - Bronchiolitis obliterans Pleural cavity/mediastinum Suppuration Empyema - Lung abscess Pleural disease/pleural effusion Hemothorax - Pneumothorax (Tension pneumothorax) - Hemopneumothorax - Hydrothorax - Chylothorax - Pleurisy Mediastinal disease Mediastinal emphysema - Mediastinitis Other/general Respiratory failure - Influenza - SARS - Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis see also congenital, neoplasia

v • d • e Inflammation Acute Plasma derived mediators Bradykinin - complement (C3, C5a, MAC) - coagulation (Factor XII, Plasmin, Thrombin) Cell derived mediators preformed: Lysosome granules - vasoactive amines (Histamine, Serotonin) synthesized on demand: cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-1) - eicosanoids (Leukotriene B4, Prostaglandins) - Nitric oxide - Kinins Chronic Macrophage - Epithelioid cell - Giant cell - Granuloma Processes Traditional: Rubor - Calor - Tumor - Dolor (pain) - Functio laesa Modern: Acute-phase reaction/Fever - Vasodilation - Increased vascular permeability - Exudate - Leukocyte extravasation - Chemotaxis Specific types Cardiovascular Endocarditis - Myocarditis - Pericarditis - Vasculitis (Arteritis, Phlebitis) Digestive mouth (Stomatitis, Gingivitis, Gingivostomatitis, Glossitis, Tonsillitis, Sialadenitis/Parotitis) - tract (Esophagitis, Gastritis, Gastroenteritis, Enteritis, Colitis, Enterocolitis, Duodenitis, Ileitis, Caecitis, Appendicitis, Proctitis) - accessory (Hepatitis, Cholangitis, Cholecystitis, Pancreatitis) - Peritonitis Musculoskeletal Arthritis - Dermatomyositis - soft tissue (Myositis, Synovitis/Tenosynovitis, Bursitis, Enthesitis, Fasciitis, Capsulitis, Epicondylitis, Tendinitis, Panniculitis) - Osteochondritis (Osteitis, Chondritis) Integumentary Dermatitis (Folliculitis) - Hidradenitis - Mastitis Nervous Encephalitis - Meningitis - Myelitis - Neuritis - Otitis - eye (Dacryoadenitis, Scleritis, Keratitis, Choroiditis, Retinitis, Chorioretinitis, Blepharitis, Conjunctivitis, Iritis, Uveitis) Respiratory upper (Sinusitis, Rhinitis, Pharyngitis, Laryngitis) - lower (Tracheitis, Bronchitis, Bronchiolitis, Pneumonitis, Pleuritis) Reproductive female: Oophoritis - Salpingitis - Endometritis - Parametritis - Cervicitis - Vaginitis - Vulvitis male: Orchitis - Epididymitis - Prostatitis - Balanitis - Balanoposthitis pregnancy/newborn: Chorioamnionitis - Omphalitis Urinary Nephritis (Glomerulonephritis, Pyelonephritis) - Ureteritis - Cystitis - Urethritis

Wikipedia content modification information:

• This page was last modified on 5 August 2008, at 16:34.

Wikipedia Authorship and Review

Wikipedia content provided here is not reviewed directly by MedLibrary.org. Wikipedia content is authored by an open community of volunteers and is not produced by or in any way affiliated with MedLibrary.org.

Wikipedia Usage Guidelines

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on "Rhinitis".

The URL for this specific entry is:

• http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/Rhinitis

All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.