Nobody wants to be sick. Even a little discomfort can create huge problems. Chronic runny nose is one of them. Many do not understand that prolonged rhinitis can go into more serious diseases.
Briefly about the problem
Long runny nose is a neglected form of acute rhinitis. It is characterized by prolonged inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Accompanied by mucus secretion and shortness of breath. This condition causes discomfort in a person.
Chronic runny nose can be diagnosed as an independent disease, and may be the result of an infection that has entered the body.
In the nasal mucosa is a large number of blood vessels. Pathology develops, blood circulation is disturbed, blood stagnation occurs. The mucous membrane swells, the nasal passages narrow, breathing is difficult.
Long rhinitis has several types. Therefore, the symptoms of the disease and the treatment of each of them are also different. But in any case, getting rid of the disease will be complex, including: drug therapy, physiotherapy and traditional medicine.
Inflammation can occur in any person, regardless of age, gender. It occurs in both adults and children. The most common cause of pathology is low immunity.
Types of disease
Before we talk about how to treat a chronic runny nose, we learn what types of this ailment are.
Depending on the cause of occurrence:
- Chronic catarrhal - nasal concha inflamed evenly. Symptoms - strong discharge from the organ of smell, shortness of breath.
- Chronic hypertrophic - the nasal mucosa increases. She almost does not respond to medications.
- Chronic atrophic runny nose - a large number of crusts appear in the nose. They reduce sensitivity, sometimes have an unpleasant odor. The mucous membrane of the organ becomes thinner.
- Allergic - caused by an allergen.
- Chronic vasomotor. The reason for its appearance may be: medicines, food, hormones, hypothermia.
- Professional - the appearance of an ailment is associated with the conditions in which you work.
Depending on the symptoms:
- Initial - abundant discharge, inflammatory processes are pronounced.
- Medium - swelling of the nasal mucosa increases, the amount of fluid released from it decreases.
- Severe - this is a chronic runny nose. At this stage, the symptoms worsen, then recede.
Almost all types of ailment can be treated, except for allergic. In this case, it is necessary to get rid of the allergen.
Causes of pathology
Most often, the factors that provoke the appearance of a prolonged runny nose are: acute rhinitis and an allergic reaction. In addition to them, the causes of the appearance of the disease should include:
- Violation of the structure of the organ of smell. Acquired defects and birth defects. Curvature of the septum contributes to the development of unilateral turbinate hypertrophy .
- Prolonged action of irritating factors on the nasal mucosa. Dust has a negative effect on the ciliated epithelium (its cilia). The outflow of secretion from the mucous glands and goblet cells is impaired.
Accumulation of dust can cause rhinolitis (stones) in the nasal cavity.
- The influence of vapors and gases can also cause inflammation of the mucosa.
- Pathological processes of a local nature occurring in the paranasal sinuses: the lumen of the posterior nasal passages is narrowed, the cause is adenoids, purulent discharge. They irritate the mucous membrane of the organ of smell.
We continue to talk about factors
Let's talk a little more about the causes of the ailment before figuring out how to treat a chronic runny nose.
- The negative impact of the environment. Hypothermia, which leads to a change in vascular tone. Hot or dry air dries out the nasal mucosa, has a depressing effect on the ciliated epithelium.
- Not always have a positive effect on the body of drugs. They can also cause prolonged inflammation. The use of drops of a vasoconstrictor spectrum for the nose leads to irritation of the organ mucosa. In some cases, it can provoke the appearance of vasomotor rhinitis.
- Systemic diseases. These include: alcoholism, kidney problems, hypertension, persistent constipation and others, they can cause problems with the nose.
In addition to all of the above, it should also be added: injuries in the nasal cavity, the ingress of a foreign body into it.
These are the main causes that can trigger a chronic runny nose.
Treatment methods
Currently, there are several methods to get rid of a prolonged runny nose.
- Ambulatory treatment. This method involves the use of physiotherapy, heating, quartzization, inhalation.
- Surgical intervention. He is preferred when medication does not help. Most often, this procedure is used for hypertrophic rhinitis. There is an overgrowth of the mucous membrane and its thickening. The surgeon removes the excess part of the overgrown tissue. If the mucous membrane has not grown much, then cauterization is used. At a late stage, excess tissue is destroyed by nitrogen.
- Medication. Provides for the use of vasoconstrictive drops in the nose for chronic runny nose, ointments with anti-inflammatory effect. At elevated temperatures, antiviral and antipyretic drugs are prescribed.
If hard crusts have formed, then the softening spray in the nose will relieve them of chronic runny nose and drops.
ethnoscience
This treatment method should not be ignored. The use of folk remedies is also effective during the treatment of chronic rhinitis. Here are some tips for using them:
- Drops from aloe juice or Kalanchoe from the common cold will help children and adults.
- Soak a cotton swab with a decoction of bay leaf. Used for topical treatment.
- Inhale the smell of garlic, onion.
- It is good to carry out inhalations in case of chronic runny nose over boiled potatoes.
- Facilitate the state of washing the nose with juice of carrots, onions, beets. For these purposes, decoctions of anti-inflammatory herbs - chamomile, calendula, are well suited.
- You can independently prepare a liquid for instillation of the nose. Take fifty milliliters of olive oil. Mix it with the same amount of carrot juice (freshly squeezed). Add two drops of garlic juice to the mixture. The drug is instilled into the nose three times a day, no more than three drops at a time.
- Warm mustard foot baths will help alleviate the condition.
Chronic catarrhal rhinitis
The causes of the onset of the disease have already been clarified, now we will look for an effective remedy for chronic runny nose. Getting rid of catarrhal inflammation involves eliminating the cause of the disease.
- Drug therapy. Vasoconstrictor drugs are used. They improve nasal breathing and reduce swelling. These funds are made in drops or sprays: "Naphthyzin", "Sanorin", "Otrivin" and others. The use of these drugs is addictive, which reduces all treatment to naught.
The patient is still attributed: antihistamines - “Loratadine”, “Akrivastin”; anticongestants - "Oxymetazoline", "Xylometazoline"; glucocorticoids - "Nazonex", "Mometasone"; if necessary, antibacterial drugs.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures - ultraviolet and laser therapy.
- Surgical intervention - is used only in the presence of anatomical changes in the nasal cavity.
Chronic hypertrophic and atrophic rhinitis
Remedies for a chronic cold of a hypertrophic kind are the same as for catarrhal rhinitis. But there is some difference in treatment. Most patients require surgical care. Thanks to it, there is a thermal, mechanical effect on those parts of the nasal concha that have undergone a hypertrophic change.
There are several ways to treat this type of runny nose: cryosurgery (freezing), electroplating (cauterization) with a metal tip or a chemical.
Chronic atrophic rhinitis can be eliminated with therapy of general and local effects. Surgical intervention is rarely used.
General treatment includes the use of stimulating drugs: rutin, calcium gluconate, phytin, aloe extract.
It is necessary to use vitamin therapy and UHF.
To help improve blood circulation and restore the mucous membrane: xanthinol nicotinate, Agapurin and other drugs.
Local treatment is used to regenerate the epithelium. Nutrient ointments are used, which include glucose.
Chronic vasomotor and allergic rhinitis
For the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis, both the surgical and drug methods are used.
Medication includes the use of steroid drugs, vasoconstrictor and antiallergic. The latter are used as drops in the nose. Nasal passages are washed with saline.
Therapeutic measures consist of electrophoresis and acupuncture.
The surgical method is used to reduce the lower nasal concha, thereby improving nasal breathing.
The treatment of an allergic form of chronic rhinitis is to eliminate or reduce the main symptoms: itching, nasal discharge, lacrimation and sneezing. In this case, H1 histamine-blockers of three generations help: Dimedrol, Tavegil, Suprastin, Semprex, Zirtek, Claritin, Erius, Telfast.
In addition to the prescription of drugs, apply: ultraviolet radiation, magnetotherapy, dynamic currents.
Prolonged runny nose in children
Of course, this is bad if the usual runny nose in a child turns into a chronic one. But there is nothing to do, you need to help the baby. Solving this problem independently is difficult, almost impossible. Chronic runny nose in a child has some features.
- Catarrhal rhinitis is caused by active bacteria. Therefore, antibacterial treatment is required. Drops in the nose are used. Still need antibiotics and ointments.
- A protracted runny nose of an allergic form is treated with antihistamines. You can’t do without them.
- Atrophic rhinitis will "go away" if you constantly moisten the nasal mucosa. If pathogenic microflora is detected, antibacterial treatment will be required.
- The vasomotor form is treated with hormonal drugs. They will cope with edema, inflammatory processes that occur in the organ of smell.
- Traditional medicine also helps to cope with the disease. A good remedy for children is Kalanchoe from a cold.
- It is advisable to treat prolonged rhinitis in children with mild drugs that can not only support the immune system, but also cope with the disease.
Finally
Treating a runny nose is not easy and not fast. This is a very lengthy process that requires specialist supervision. The patient is required to observe preventive measures:
- Exclude all allergens.
- Flush nose with saline regularly.
- To refuse from bad habits.
- Go in for sports, lead a healthy lifestyle.
- Do not use nose drops often.
- Visit a doctor and undergo treatment only under his control.