Diagnosing non-allergic rhinitis correctly will depend on the nature of your symptoms.
Viral rhinitis
A diagnosis of viral (infectious) rhinitis will usually be based on the presence of other typical cold or flu symptoms, such as muscular aches and pains.
Vasomotor rhinitis
Diagnosing vasomotor rhinitis can be difficult because it shares many of the same symptoms as allergic rhinitis.
There are no specific tests for vasomotor rhinitis so a diagnosis will usually be made after excluding other possible allergic causes of rhinitis, such as pollen. There are three main tests used to check for allergies. They are:
- skin prick test
- blood test
- patch test
If test results show you do not have an allergic reaction, vasomotor rhinitis may be diagnosed.
Read more about allergy tests.
Atrophic rhinitis
Atrophic rhinitis is usually diagnosed after checking for characteristic symptoms, such as nasal crusting, widening of the nasal passages, a foul odour and a loss of smell.
A computerised tomography (CT) scan may be used by specialists if complications of rhinitis, such as nasal polyps or sinusitis, are suspected.
CT scans are regularly used before nasal surgery to obtain a detailed picture of the anatomy of your nasal cavities.
Rhinitis medicamentosa
If you have rhinitis medicamentosa, your GP should be able to diagnose the condition by asking you about your previous use of nasal decongestant sprays.
It is important you are honest about possible overuse of the sprays so you can receive appropriate treatment.
