Almost every cold causes a runny nose. Ordinary rhinitis should resolve within a week. But if after a few weeks it does not stop, such an ailment is called chronic. How to cure chronic runny nose? This will be discussed further.
What is a disease?
Chronic runny nose is the most common disease of the upper respiratory tract. In chronic rhinitis, the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed. This inflammation makes it difficult to breathe and provokes nasal discharge of a diverse plan: liquid, like water, similar to mucus, and even purulent. With such inflammation, a person constantly sneezes, his sense of smell is partially or completely disturbed.
Types of chronic rhinitis
There are several types of this disease. And in order to find out how to cure a chronic runny nose, you need to determine itvariety. Rhinitis happens:
- Catarrhal. Often recurring severe runny nose leads to a chronic form of this disease. It occurs due to negative factors: drafts, temperature changes, air pollution.
- Hypertrophic. This type of chronic rhinitis occurs under the influence of the same factors as catarrhal. The development of hypertrophic rhinitis occurs due to individual reactions of the body.
- Atrophic. In this case, the disease often affects other organs of the upper respiratory tract.
- Ozena. This type of runny nose entails atrophy of all the mucous membranes of the nose, nasal cavity and shells. This produces a thick discharge that dries up in the form of a crust and has an unpleasant odor.
- False, or vasomotor runny nose. In this case, rhinitis passes without inflammation of the mucous membranes. This form of chronic rhinitis occurs as a result of changes in the central or autonomic nervous system, as well as the endocrine. In people leading an inactive lifestyle, taking drugs to dilate blood vessels, the development of vasomotor rhinitis takes place in more severe forms. In addition, such rhinitis can be observed in people with morphological features of the structure of the nasal septum (thorns, ridges).
- Allergic rhinitis. This is the most common type of chronic rhinitis. It occurs under the influence of allergens (dust, animal hair, plant pollen, etc.).
Why does rhinitis occur
There are many reasonschronic runny nose. Here are the most common ones:
- Repeated and systematic runny nose.
- Anatomical changes in the nasal cavity. For example, a deviated septum or birth defects.
- Long-term impact of adverse factors on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract (dust particles, pungent odor and toxic fumes).
- Various allergic reactions.
- Unfavorable environment. For example, too dry and hot air dries out the mucous membranes of the nose and damages the epithelium.
- Protracted, persistent runny nose can occur under the influence of other diseases (sinusitis, sinusitis, etc.)
- Changes in hormonal background (pregnancy, etc.)
- Provoking factors can be diseases such as alcoholism, kidney failure, disorders of the endocrine or nervous system. All this entails circulatory disorders and, as a result, rhinitis.
- Drugs that affect blood vessels can also lead to chronic rhinitis. For example, drops that constrict blood vessels, with long-term use, irritate the nasal mucosa and provoke rhinitis.
Chronic rhinitis symptoms
The most common symptom of a persistent runny nose is one-sided congestion. At the same time, there may be no mucous discharge from the nose or they will be insignificant. Chronic runny nose in adults and children is often accompanied by symptoms such as:
- Frequent headaches.
- Sleep disorders.
- The appearance of a viscousmucus and crusts in the nasal cavity.
- Disorder of taste and smell.
- Failed nasal breathing.
- Swelling of the nose and feeling of mucus running down the airways.
- Discomfort, itching and burning in the nasal cavity.
- Increased secretion of mucous glands.
Diagnosis
Depending on the underlying causes of rhinitis, there are various methods of its treatment. In order to find out how to get rid of chronic rhinitis, it is necessary to conduct an examination. Qualitative diagnosis of chronic rhinitis is carried out by an ENT doctor. At the first stage, rhinoscopy is performed. This is a thorough examination of the entire region of the nasopharynx and paranasal voids. If a runny nose is accompanied by purulent discharge, an x-ray or computed tomography of the sinuses is prescribed by a specialist. In addition, it is necessary to pass a general analysis of blood and urine. If the disease is allergic in nature, the patient is tested for a variety of allergens. When a runny nose is caused by a bacterial infection, mucus is cultured from the nose. This will help determine not only the type of pathogen that caused the rhinitis, but also allow you to prescribe the right antibiotic.
Chronic runny nose often doctors suggest treating with the following drugs:
- "Erythromycin".
- "Clarithromycin".
- "Midecamycin".
- "Novoimanin".
- "Framicetin".
Sometimes a histological analysis of the mucosa is prescribednasal cavity.
Treatment
In our time, chronic runny nose and nasal congestion occurs in 18% of the population. Moreover, both adults and children are exposed to pathology. Therefore, the question of whether chronic rhinitis can be cured worries many. When there is a suspicion of the development of such a pathology, it is necessary to seek medical help. Only a specialist will be able to determine the cause of the development of the disease and the form of rhinitis. Only a correct diagnosis, high-quality therapy and a serious approach will help a person find the answer to the question of how to cure a chronic runny nose.
Treatment of catarrhal rhinitis
In the treatment of this type of disease, drops from chronic rhinitis are used, they reduce the amount of mucus formed and have antibacterial properties. These drops include Protargol. If the disease is severe, aggressive, then local antibacterial agents are used. These include special ointments (sulfanilamide, salicylic, etc.) or nasal sprays (Polydex, Isofra), which include antibiotics and vasoconstrictors. Varieties of drugs, methods of their application and doses are determined by the doctor. Chronic runny nose is not recommended to be self-treated with antibiotics.
Treatment of hypertrophic rhinitis
In the treatment of hypertrophic rhinitis, a complex of different methods of treatment is used. The patient is first prescribed a diet that prohibits the use ofsweets, fatty and spicy foods. After that, breathing exercises are prescribed, it improves the function of the mucous membranes of the nose. They use physiotherapy (UHF, UVI), laser therapy, etc.
Sclerotherapy is used to treat mild hypertrophic rhinitis. To do this, glucocorticoid hormone is administered in courses of 5-10 sessions. Sometimes the mucous membrane is cauterized with various chemicals.
In the event that all of the above methods of treatment do not give a positive result, surgical intervention is resorted to to restore nasal breathing and smell. During the operation, you can eliminate all the violations that caused hypertrophic rhinitis. At the same time, it is possible to correct the nasal septum if it is deviated. The operation is prescribed by a doctor after studying the course of a chronic illness.
Treatment of atrophic rhinitis
Dry crusts that occur with this type of chronic rhinitis are washed out with alkaline saline. Rinse the nose 2-3 times a day. You can also use an isotonic saline solution with iodine for this. Such preparations are sold in finished form in a pharmacy. In addition, you can make a solution yourself: add a teaspoon of sea s alt to 250 ml of boiled water. You can also periodically moisten the mucous membrane with special solutions based on sea s alt (Quicks, Aqualor, etc.). Drops are instilled into the nasal cavity, which are based on various vegetable oils, vitamins A and E. In the case when the mucus is very thick and viscous, agents are used that thin the sputum and improve itdeparture.
If a chronic runny nose appeared on the basis of iron deficiency, the doctor prescribes drugs containing this element. In some cases of atrophic rhinitis, surgical intervention is necessary. This treatment aims to narrow the nasal passages.
Therapy of vasomotor (false) rhinitis
The main thing in the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis is to improve the functioning of the nervous system. Compliance with the daily regimen, a good night's sleep, a walk in the fresh air and a he althy diet - these are the main principles for the treatment of this form of chronic rhinitis. Alternative medicine (acupuncture, etc.) is widely used to combat vasomotor rhinitis. In addition, physiotherapy is used: electrophoresis, irrigation with alkaline liquids.
In severe cases, submucosal vasotomy and ultrasonic or laser conchotomy are used. When all of the above treatments fail, nasal breathing is restored with surgery.
Treatment of allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is considered one of the most common forms of chronic rhinitis. How to cure this unpleasant disease? The main goal of the treatment of allergic rhinitis is the complete exclusion of contact with the substances that cause it. To eliminate the effects of harmful allergens in the room, it is necessary to carry out wet cleaning and ventilate. In addition, people suffering from such a runny nose are prescribed special diets. Foods that provoke allergic reactions are excluded from their diet.
Antihistamines are prescribed for therapy. They arecome in the form of tablets or in the form of a special spray, as well as ointment. When all of the above antihistamines are ineffective, topical glucocorticoids are used to stop the inflammatory process.
Folk remedies
The problem of mucous discharge from the nose and congestion has bothered people since ancient times. Different nations treated rhinitis with different methods and methods. Therefore, today there are a huge number of folk remedies for chronic rhinitis, which effectively deal with the problem and are safe to use.
Here are the most popular ones:
- For washing the nose using a solution of soda. Add 5 g of soda to a mug with warm boiled water. Wash the nose with this solution 2-3 times a day.
- Warming up. Heated s alt or quartz sand is poured into a small bag, applied to the nose and held for 10-15 minutes.
- A cold remedy like instillation with various vegetable oils (thuja, menthol, eucalyptus) helps well. In addition, drops based on lemon or garlic juice diluted one to one with water are used. Widely known in the treatment of rhinitis and aloe juice, as well as beetroot.
- Warming up the feet is considered a good remedy for a cold. To do this, use hot baths with mustard, soda and s alt.
In order to remove a viral infection from the body and to improve the discharge of mucus from the nose, it is necessary to drink plenty of fluids. Therefore, patients with chronic rhinitisit is useful to drink warm tea with the addition of honey and lemon, a decoction of wild rose and other useful plants and herbs.
Now you know how to get rid of chronic rhinitis. However, it must be remembered that the use of any folk remedies is possible only after consulting with your doctor. Self-medication should not be done in any case, as this can only aggravate the situation.
