Rhinitis and sinusitis

The rhinitis It is the inflammation of the nasal mucosa and is characterized by the presence of tearing, itching and a lot of nasal congestion.

• The nostrils are the two cavities that are separated by the nasal septum and that fulfill the functions of olfaction, because in it the olfactory bulbs are located, voice modulation, since they act as a sounding board, and regulation of airflow on inspiration, controlling not only its inlet pressure but also the humidity, temperature and purity conditions (trapping the impurities partly contained in the air through mucus and nasal cilia). Said cavities are covered with a mucosa and when is it boilts we talk about rhinitis. Rhinitis can be acute or chronic.
• The paranasal sinuses They are bony cavities communicated with the nostrils and covered with a mucosa similar to the one that covers them. At birth there are only the two ethmoid; the frontal ones appear towards the twenty years; the maxillae when the wisdom teeth appear and the sphenoid ones are the later ones. They drain to the middle meatus (the maxillary and frontal sinuses and the anterior part of the ethmoid) and superior (the sphenoid sinuses and the posterior part of the ethmoid). When there is an inflammation of the mucous tissue that lines the sinuses, in general by a pathway obstruction drainage produces sinusitis.

How is it produced?

Rhinitis is caused by an inflammation of the nasal mucosa. The most common cause is usually acute nonspecific rhinitis, that is, secondary to a common catarrhal condition, which is also called coryza.

The main cause is a viral infection, especially that generated by a rhinovirus. Cold, high humidity, and nasal obstruction are the main predisposing factors for acute nonspecific rhinitis. The contagion is usually airborne or direct, through the microdroplets of saliva that are generated when speaking, the so-called Pflüger microdroplets.

Chronic rhinitis

We must differentiate the different types of rhinitis, since this can be:

• Rhinitis seasonal allergic, which is produced by allergy to different pollens and also affects the conjunctival, pharyngeal and bronchial mucosa; It has a family character and occurs cyclically, especially in spring and summer.
• Rhinitis perennial allergic, maintained throughout the year and caused by dust mites, animal hair and certain foods; there is a family history, as well as a reactivity to nonspecific factors such as temperature, humidity or contamination.
• Intrinsic perennial rhinitis, no allergic cause, but with an involvement of eosinophilic white blood cells.
• Perennial rhinitis cholinergic or vasomotor, without triggers or participation of eosinophils, due to involvement of the parasympathetic nervous system.
• Rhinitis hypertrophic, for chronic infections; If it evolves, it can lead to a state of atrophy of the nasal mucosa, which is known as ozena.
• Rhinitis dry previous, with moderate atrophy predominantly in the anterior part of the nostrils.

exist diseases that can present rhinitis as one of its symptoms, such as tuberculosis, syphilis, sarcoidosis, HIV infection or leprosy.

In adults, the maxillary sinuses are the most frequently affected, followed by the ethmoid, the frontal and the sphenoid. General Medicine Specialist