Mr Bren Dorman - Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery

Rhinitis is the inflammation of the lining of the nose (nasal mucosa). The most common symptoms are a blocked, runny and itchy nose.

 

Rhinitis can be:

In the case of allergic rhinitis, the specific allergen (the thing that you are allergic to) may be identified by skin prick tests. This involves placing a drop of the allergen on your skin and then scratching your skin through the drop. If you are allergic, your skin will become red and swollen at the site. These tests are carried out at the laboratory and are free.

 

Treatment of allergic rhinitis involves avoiding the allergen if possible, but if not possible then corticosteroid nasal sprays and antihistamines are the usual medications prescribed.

When medical treatment is not successful or not well tolerated by the patient, then sometimes surgery can be used. This is aimed to correct any obvious structural abnormalities in the nose such as a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates (the soft tissue on each side of the inside of your nose).