The doctor in the office often hears complaints from patients that the nose does not breathe. If this problem worries not only during a cold, then perhaps there is hypertrophic chronic rhinitis. The seriousness of this problem is usually recognized by people when it is not possible to breathe through the nose. Other signs of the disease may also appear. Next, consider what are the typical symptoms for this pathology, as well as methods of therapy and prevention.
What does this disease mean?
Chronic hypertrophic rhinitis (ICD-10 code J31.0.) is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity, during which their growth is observed. This process has several steps:
- The first stage. The ciliated epithelium is slightly affected. The mucous membranes are inflamed. Surrounding tissue intact.
- Second stage. Glandular tissues and ciliated epithelium are affected. The inflammatory process extends to the walls of blood vessels and muscle fibers. Because of this, the lymphatic and blood vessels begin to squeeze.
Third stage. The swelling is increasing. The symptoms are pronounced. The ciliated epithelium is affected, as well as glandular and mucous tissues. Damaged vessels. The inflammatory process can also affect bone tissue. At this stage, surgery is indispensable
Varieties of pathology
Hypertrophic chronic rhinitis can be classified according to the prevalence of the process and pathological features.
By prevalence:
- Diffuse. Uniform increase in the volume of the turbinates.
- Limited.
By pathomorphological features:
- Cavernous form. Most often diffuse.
- Fibrous form. It can be both diffuse and limited. Progresses slowly, but changes are irreversible.
- Bone hypertrophy. Thickening and growth of the nasal mucosa. May take lumpy, uneven, cone-shaped forms.
The following factors have a significant impact on the development of pathology:
- The presence of a chronic inflammatory process.
- Violation of capillary circulation in tissues.
- Oxygen starvation of tissues and disruption of metabolic processes in them.
- Significant decrease in local immunity.
- Activation of the activity of saprophytic bacteria.
Causes of disease development
What can trigger a disease like hypertrophic chronic rhinitis?
The reasons may be as follows:
- Uncontrolled use of local vasoconstrictor drugs.
- Frequent infectious diseases of ENT organs.
- Untreated rhinitis.
- Chronic allergic rhinitis with no cure.
- Disruption of the endocrine system.
- Presence of cardiovascular disease.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Deviated septum, whether congenital or acquired.
- Pathologies of the neuro-reflex function of the nose.
- Bad habits, especially smoking and inhaling vapors of psychotropic substances.
- Working in a hazardous industry and living in an overly polluted area. Vapors from hazardous industries, radiation, as well as too dry and dusty air can cause diseases of the ENT organs.
- Decrease in body resistance.
Symptoms of chronic hypertrophic rhinitis
Hypertrophic chronic rhinitis symptoms will be similar to the allergic or infectious form of the disease, but will have its own characteristics.
Symptomatology will be as follows:
- Mucus discharge from the nose. However, they are colorless and odorless, but may contain purulent impurities.
- Nose stuffed up, breathing difficult. At the same time, vasoconstrictor drops do not help.
- Headache.
- Nervous excitability.
- Sleep problems.
- Chronicfatigue.
- Odor recognition is gradually deteriorating.
- Heaviness in the head.
- Man speaks through his nose.
- Wearing, redness and swelling of the eyelids.
- Conjunctivitis.
Signs and possible complications of chronic hypertrophic rhinitis in children
Children are more susceptible to infections, as the body is just being formed, so hypertrophic chronic rhinitis will have more pronounced signs that can affect the he alth of the child in the future.
Let's highlight a few signs that are typical for children:
- Child breathing through mouth, breathing difficult.
- Headaches.
- Tired quickly.
- Hearing loss.
- Lack of smell.
- The nasality of the voice.
- Declining school performance.
- Poor concentration.
What are the possible complications for the child with this disease:
- Significant impact on the psychomotor development of the child, learning success.
- Provokes frequent otitis media, sinusitis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia.
To avoid the transition of rhinitis to chronic hypertrophic, it is necessary to adhere to the doctor's recommendations in therapy and treat infectious diseases in children in a timely manner. It is important to carry out hardening procedures, maintain the optimal temperature in the room, carry out preventive fortification, and walk more often in the fresh air.
Diagnosis
First of all, you need to turn toan otolaryngologist.
In order to diagnose a disease such as hypertrophic chronic rhinitis, symptoms alone are not enough for a doctor. Modern examination methods are used.
How the examination works:
- The doctor finds out the nature and duration of the course of the disease, how the symptoms developed and what treatment was carried out.
- The nasal cavity is examined. Rhinoscopy in progress.
- Rhinopneumometry is used to check the functionality of the nasal cavity.
The following tests are also required:
- Complete blood count.
- Eosinophils.
- Immunoglobulin E in the blood.
Additional Research:
- X-ray.
- Computed tomography of the sinuses.
Medicated treatments
In order to alleviate the condition of a patient diagnosed with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis, treatment may include the following medical procedures:
- At the initial stages of the disease, washing with saline solutions of the nasal cavity is prescribed.
- With a strong hypertrophic process, cauterization is prescribed with trichloroacetic acid or chromic acid, as well as Lapis. An anesthetic injection is given before the procedure.
- For mucosal disorders, Hydrocortisone is prescribed.
- The drug "Splenin" is prescribed as an injection and is administered intraconically or as an ointment, then applied to the mucous membranes with massage movements.
Drug treatments are unable to cope with structural changes in the nasal membranes, but can alleviate the patient's condition for a while and stop the thickening of epithelial tissues.
Recommended Physiotherapy Treatments
If the process of hypertrophy of the nasal membranes is mild, the doctor may recommend the following physiotherapy procedures along with drug therapy:
- UHF.
- Massage of mucous membranes using ointments.
- Ultraviolet irradiation of nasal conchas.
But when medical methods of treatment in combination with physiotherapy procedures have not been effective during the treatment of such a disease, it is necessary to use an operative method of getting rid of the pathology.
Surgical treatments
If the proliferation of the mucosa and the hypertrophic process are not stopped, and chronic hypertrophic rhinitis continues to develop, treatment is impossible without surgery.
What types of surgery can be:
- In the early stages, with a cavernous form, laser submucosal vasotomy can be offered. Remove the vessels under the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity.
- Galvanocaustic method. It will be necessary to use anesthesia, as cauterization of tissues with electric current is carried out.
- The method of ultrasonic disintegration of the nasal cavity. It is bloodless, but requires anesthesia. It consists in the destruction of the nasalsinks using a special surgical plug, which is supplied with an electric current.
- Conchotomy method. The mucosa is removed in some areas of the turbinates. Can be carried out in different variations:
- Laser conchotomy. This is a bloodless variant.
- Total conchotomy.
- Partial conchotomy.
Cryodestruction method. Assumes the use of liquid nitrogen. There is an impact on hypertrophied areas with a special cryoapplicator
Do not be afraid of surgery, it is performed using general or local anesthesia if the diagnosis of chronic hypertrophic rhinitis is confirmed. The operation will take 20-30 minutes thanks to modern endoscopic equipment. On the third day, the patient can return to their usual way of life.
Folk treatments
If the disease manifests itself at an early stage, you can try alternative methods of treatment.
But first of all, you should consult your doctor about using herbs.
Here are some ways:
- Saline solution with the addition of iodine for washing the nasal cavity.
- Using essential oils for steam inhalation. Apply lavender, tea tree, lemongrass.
- Washing the nasal cavity with decoctions of herbs: sage, chamomile, mint, St. John's wort, plantain.
- Drops in the nose from woodlice or from a decoction of St. John's wort and plantain.
Possible complications of the disease and treatment prognosis
Hypertrophic chronic rhinitis progresses slowly and can last for many years. And if the disease is not treated, it will give the following complications:
- Sinusitis.
- Adenoiditis.
- Tonsillitis.
- Tracheobronchitis.
- Conjunctivitis.
- Acute or chronic form of eustachitis and tubootitis.
- Inflammatory diseases of the lower respiratory tract.
- Disruption of the digestive system.
- Violation of the cardiovascular system.
Due to impaired breathing, the normal functioning of the body is disrupted. It is necessary to treat chronic hypertrophic rhinitis in the early stages, so as not to resort to surgical intervention. If the process is not ignored for many years, but treated in a timely manner, then the prognosis is favorable, provided that complications do not appear.
To prevent the common cold from developing into hypertrophic chronic rhinitis, prevention should be carried out, especially in people with a hereditary predisposition. The doctor will give the necessary recommendations.
Preventive measures
It is necessary strictly under the supervision of a doctor to carry out therapy for such a disease as chronic hypertrophic rhinitis. We have covered symptoms and treatment earlier, but it is also important to know what preventive measures are in place.
Let's list a few recommendations that can be considered preventive measures:
- Timely and effectively treat all nasal diseases.
- In hazardous, dusty and gassed production, it is necessary to usepersonal protective equipment - masks or respirators.
- Avoid very dusty and gassy environments.
- If you are allergic to any drugs or substances, you should avoid contact with them and take antihistamines in a timely manner.
- Try to exclude allergens in the diet and contact with them in everyday life.
- Timely treat inflammatory diseases of the ENT organs.
- Recommended tempering procedures.
- Outdoor walks.
- Sunbathing.
- Strengthen immunity.
- Get rid of bad habits.
- Don't get cold.
Young people often ask themselves: “Does chronic hypertrophic rhinitis and the army have compatibility?” It is worth noting that with such a diagnosis, a young man is fit for military service. He may not be drafted into the ranks of the armed forces if a fetid runny nose is expressed, purulent or polyposis sinusitis occurs with frequent exacerbations and persistent nasal breathing.
