Rhinitis

Rhinitis, also known as coryza, is irritation and <a href="/facts/Inflammation/Ura86MIy">inflammation</a> of the <a href="/facts/Mucous_membrane_of_nose/ndEF4os6">mucous membrane</a> inside the <a href="/facts/Nose/Kv0lv34S">nose</a>. Common symptoms are a <a href="/facts/Nasal_congestion/xClWzxrg">stuffy nose</a>, <a href="/facts/Rhinorrhea/DJxxlKqs">runny nose</a>, <a href="/facts/Sneeze/Nxj3dJbc">sneezing</a>, and <a href="/facts/Post-nasal_drip/krbnMM0H">post-nasal drip</a>.
The inflammation is caused by <a href="/facts/Virus/mf88Bcbl">viruses</a>, <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacteria</a>, irritants or <a href="/facts/Allergen/bnM4cttq">allergens</a>. The most common kind of rhinitis is <a href="/facts/Allergic_rhinitis/ukE6bkIs">allergic rhinitis</a>, which is usually triggered by airborne <a href="/facts/Allergen/bnM4cttq">allergens</a> such as <a href="/facts/Pollen/eqRP052I">pollen</a> and <a href="/facts/Dander/TsUU6J9y">dander</a>. Allergic rhinitis may cause additional symptoms, such as sneezing and nasal itching, <a href="/facts/Cough/mqyhR6zj">coughing</a>, <a href="/facts/Headache/mdmmC9DP">headache</a>, <a href="/facts/Fatigue_(medical)/C2oo4Hvg">fatigue</a>, <a href="/facts/Malaise/vdb5DxAU">malaise</a>, and <a href="/facts/Cognitive_deficit/VhJVfJ8a">cognitive impairment</a>. The allergens may also affect the eyes, causing watery, reddened, or itchy eyes and puffiness around the eyes. The inflammation results in the generation of large amounts of <a href="/facts/Mucus/hnlBuHAy">mucus</a>, commonly producing a runny nose, as well as a stuffy nose and post-nasal drip. In the case of allergic rhinitis, the inflammation is caused by the <a href="/facts/Degranulation/0KMNbq2p">degranulation</a> of <a href="/facts/Mast_cell/szfXss5q">mast cells</a> in the nose. When mast cells degranulate, they release <a href="/facts/Histamine/Vfjda665">histamine</a> and other chemicals, starting an inflammatory process that can cause symptoms outside the nose, such as fatigue and malaise. In the case of infectious rhinitis, it may occasionally lead to <a href="/facts/Pneumonia/Jw0KquTA">pneumonia</a>, either <a href="/facts/Viral_pneumonia/58PXWwnr">viral</a> or <a href="/facts/Bacterial_pneumonia/HAKRLf76">bacterial</a>. Sneezing also occurs in infectious rhinitis to expel bacteria and viruses from the respiratory tract.
Rhinitis is very common. Allergic rhinitis is more common in some countries than others; in the United States, about 10–30% of adults are affected annually. Mixed rhinitis (MR) refers to patients with nonallergic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis. MR is a specific rhinitis subtype. It may represent between 50 and 70% of all AR patients. However, true prevalence of MR has not been confirmed yet.

Rhinitis open-in-new

Rhinitis