Rhinitis is defined as inflammation of the lining of the nose. It is characterized by sneezing, itching, runny nose, and/or nasal congestion. Rhinitis is classified as allergic or nonallergic and further described as infectious, occupational, drug-related or hormonal, according to the Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. These definitions are important, as they are used in clinical studies to determine how may people have a certain type of rhinitis and how they respond to treatment.
Identification
Allergic rhinitis is that caused by allergens such as pollens, molds, animal dander and dust, while nonallergic rhinitis does not involve an allergic reaction, reports MayoClinic.com. The diagnosis is made through tests that react to or rule out allergens. Triggers for nonallergic rhinitis vary from person to person and include odors, weather changes, hormones and medications. Rarely, nonallergic rhinitis is caused by response to food or alcohol.
Types
Infectious rhinitis, a type of nonallergic rhinitis, is caused by infection with a virus or a bacteria, explains the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma workshop, or ARIA, a group of international experts. Most commonly, it is related to a cold or the flu. Occupational rhinitis is caused by airborne agents in the workplace. These can include allergens or irritants such as a dust or chemicals. Drug-induced rhinitis, also called aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, is caused by medication, most commonly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen, reports the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Hormonal rhinitis is caused changes in hormones. These may be linked to pregnancy, menstruation, puberty or specific conditions such as hypothyroidism, reports MayoClinic.com.
Time Frame
Rhinitis may be intermittent--with symptoms present for less than four days a week or less than four weeks in a row--or persistent, with symptoms lasting more than four days a week and more than four weeks in a row.
Treatment
The international experts of ARIA recommend a three-pronged strategy for management of rhinitis: avoidance, medication and allergy shots. Preventive measures include remaining indoors when pollen counts are high and removing causative agents, such as dust or a pet. ARIA recommends antihistamines and nasal steroids as the first agents to use for both allergic and nonallergic rhinitis. Allergy shots, also called immunotherapy, have an increasingly important role in treating allergic rhinitis.
Expert Insight
According to ARIA, the incidence of job-related rhinitis is underestimated because workers often do not report it and many doctors are simply unaware of it.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Nonallergic Rhinitis
- "Allergy": Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008 Update"; J. Bousquet et al.; 2008
- "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology": Clinical and Pathologic Perspectives on Aspirin Sensitivity and Asthma; D.D. Stevenson et al.; 2006
- "Rhinitis: Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology"; 1998
