Inflammation of the nasal mucosa is called rhinitis. Most often, rhinitis is accompanied by a runny nose. Doctors annually register more than 500,000,000 cases of infectious diseases, the share of acute respiratory diseases accounts for more than 90%. First of all, the mucous membrane of the organs of the upper respiratory tract is involved in the inflammatory process. The causative agents of these diseases are mainly viruses, fungi and bacteria. Decreased body resistance, hypothermia, drafts contribute to the penetration of microorganisms through the mucous membrane, which causes swelling of the nose.
Inflammation of the nasal mucosa is most often observed during a period of sharp temperature fluctuations, which is primarily associated with a change in the virulence of microorganisms. An important role in the development of the disease is played by the factor of hypothermia. Swelling of the nose is most pronounced when the feet are cooled. This is due to the fact that in this zone there are a lot of reflexogenic zones that are associated with the functioning of the nose. During the development of the disease, the anastomosis of the paranasal sinuses is blocked by a pathological secret, as well as an edematous mucous membrane. All this leads to difficulty in transporting the secret from the sinuses. Similar processes can occur in the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx. Violation of ventilation, stagnation of the secret, the development of hypoxia contribute to the development of saprophytic microflora. Therefore, the initial viral infection eventually gives way to bacterial microflora.
Inflammation of the respiratory tract can also be caused by intracellular agents: chlamydia, mycoplasma, legionella. The penetration of infectious agents into epithelial cells is accompanied by the occurrence of a local inflammatory response. Absorption of cytolysis products into the blood leads to intoxication of the body. Therefore, nasal edema has typical manifestations: cough, runny nose, sore throat or sore throat, nasal congestion, hoarseness, etc. Intoxication of the body is accompanied by headache, weakness, lethargy, hyperthermia, myalgia (muscle pain).
The nasal mucosa performs a protective function, that is, it is a kind of barrier on which thousands of microorganisms are constantly deposited. Of course, most of them are saprophytes (do not cause harm to humans). However, pathogenic microbes can cause disease. Reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, viruses in the nasal mucosa causes destructive changes in it, the permeability of blood vessels increases, and exudation increases. Therefore, the nose swelling in a child is accompanied by a burning sensation in the nose, the formation of exudate, nasal congestion, nasal, etc. In addition, rhinitis can pass along with sinusitis and otitis media.
Swelling of the nose develops in several stages. The dry irritation stage (stage I) develops at lightning speed and lasts from two hours to two days. This stage is characterized by anemia of the mucous membranes, dryness and burning in the nose, repeated sneezing. The second is called the stage of serous discharge, it is characterized by the formation of transudative fluid. The duration of this stage is from two to three days. It should be said that in the acute course of the disease, exudative processes predominate. With swelling of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, labored nasal breathing is noted, the sense of smell is reduced. The third stage is characterized by proliferative processes. The entire cycle of the disease ends in 7-10 days. With timely treatment, recovery occurs in two to three days.
Recently, very often began to register (about 20% of the population) allergic nasal edema. An important role in the development of inflammatory reactions in the respiratory tract is played by the sensitization of the body. Allergens immediately cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, literally a couple of minutes after the penetration of allergens into the body, rhinorrhea, itching in the nasal cavity and sneezing occur. As a result of complex biochemical reactions, histamine is synthesized - a marker of allergic inflammation of the nose. This substance causes sneezing, swelling of the nose, increases secretion.