[Rhinitis]

Acute rhinitis is an acute inflammatory disease affecting nasal mucous membranes, most frequently caused by viral infections. Complications include secondary bacterial invasion. Treatment is mainly symptomatic. Antibiotics should be prescribed only when significant bacterial infection is demonstrated. Local vasoactive drugs should not be used but occasionally their oral administration can be effective. Hypertrophic and atrophic forms may be differentiated among chronic rhinitis. Hypertrophic forms include congestive, hiperplastic and allergic lesions of nasal and sinus mucous membranes. Allergic rhinitis should be treated with antihistamines, descongestants and avoidance of allergen. The atrophic forms with crust formation and foul breath are usually managed with local flushings of 9% sodium chloride in water followed by instillation of fluid vaseline, but in some resistant cases reduction of intranasal space by surgical insertion of acrylic pieces is recommended. Nasal obstruction, foul odor, dryness sensation and headache are usually controlled in 90% of these surgically treated patients.