Rhinitis is the irritation and inflammation in the mucous membrane inside the nose. The causes of inflammation may be due to viruses, bacteria, irritants, or allergens. The most common of these is allergic rhinitis or Hay fever which is caused due to airborne allergens such as pollen and dander.
Allergic rhinitis is not related to your immune system, but it can make you feel just as miserable as with allergic rhinitis or hay fever. Allergy symptoms that occur with the change of seasons. Both kinds of rhinitis can be associated with lowered work productivity, increased trips to the doctor’s office, and side effects from treatment (nosebleed, drowsiness, and dryness of the nasal passages). Since these two conditions are so much alike, allergy tests and blood tests are often needed to differentiate them. Symptoms and signs of rhinitis include:
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Nasal congestion from inflammation and swelling of the tissues lining the sinuses
- Ear pain from dysfunction of the Eustachian tubes
- Chronic ear infections
- Loss of smell or taste
- Asthma symptoms (like wheezing and cough)
- Obstructive sleep apnea and snoring
