Chronic Rhinitis

 Rhinitis is the medical term for inflammation of the inner

lining of the nose. Chronic means that the nasal
inflammation is long term, lasting for more than four
consecutive weeks. This is different from acute rhinitis,
which only lasts a few days or up to four weeks.
 Most often, chronic rhinitis is caused by allergies (also

known as hay fever), but there are several other causes

unrelated to allergies, including:
 pregnancy
 medications
 irritants in the air
 smoking

 other medical conditions like asthma or chronic sinusitis

(inflammation of the sinuses)

 Allergic vs. non-allergic rhinitis
 Chronic rhinitis is usually categorized into two main
groups depending on the underlying cause:
 Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is caused by an allergic

response to specific allergens, like pollen, dust, or pet

dander. During an allergic response, your body’s immune
system is overreacting to the presence of one of these
allergens in the air.
 Non-allergic rhinitis is any form of rhinitis that doesn’t

involve your body’s immune system. It’s often triggered

by environmental issues, like air pollution, tobacco
smoke, or strong odors. In some cases, a cause cannot be
identified.
 Chronic non-allergic rhinitis isn’t as common as allergic

rhinitis. Chronic non-allergic rhinitis represents about 

one-fourth of all rhinitis cases.
 allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody test to
find out if your symptoms are likely caused by an allergy
 Causes of allergic rhinitis
 In allergic rhinitis, allergens present in the air

bind with a substance called immunoglobulin

E (IgE) in the nose. Your body releases a
chemical called histamine to help defend
against the allergen. This histamine release
results in allergic rhinitis symptoms.
 Causes of non-allergic rhinitis
 Unlike allergic rhinitis, non-allergic rhinitis doesn’t

involve the immune system. Non-allergic rhinitis is

thought to occur when the blood vessels inside the nose
expand. This leads to swelling and congestion. It’s not
known exactly why the blood vessels in the nose dilate,
but the reaction may be triggered by:
 irritants or air pollution in the environment such as:
◦ perfumes
◦ detergents
◦ strong odors
◦ smog
◦ tobacco smoke
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