If you have rhinitis, the inside of your nose will become inflamed, causing symptoms such as a build-up of mucus in the nasal cavities and a blocked or runny nose.
You may also feel pressure or pain in your nose. Read more about the symptoms of non-allergic rhinitis.
Rhinitis is often caused by an allergic reaction to a substance such as pollen. This is known as allergic rhinitis.
Non-allergic rhinitis is where the nasal lining becomes swollen and inflamed due to causes other than allergy. These pages focus on non-allergic rhinitis.
What causes non-allergic rhinitis?
In non-allergic rhinitis, the inflammation and swelling is usually the result of swollen blood vessels and an accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the nose.
This leads to nasal congestion and stimulates the mucus glands in your nose, resulting in typical symptoms, such as nasal obstruction, catarrh (a build-up of mucus in the nasal cavities) and a runny nose.
There are several possible causes of non-allergic rhinitis which can relate to ‘external’ or ‘internal’ factors. External factors include viral infections that attack the lining of the nose and throat, and environmental factors, such as changes in humidity.
Internal factors include hormone imbalances, such as those that occur during pregnancy or puberty, and the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or hormonal contraception, such as the contraceptive pill. Stress can also be a possible internal trigger.
Read more about the causes of non-allergic rhinitis.
Treating non-allergic rhinitis
Although non-allergic rhinitis is not harmful, it can be irritating and affect your quality of life. Treatment will depend on how severe the condition is and what is causing it.
In some cases, avoiding certain triggers and self-care measures, such as rinsing your nasal passages, may help to relieve your symptoms. This can be done either by using a home made solution or a solution from a pharmacy.
In other cases, medication may be needed, such as a nasal spray that contains corticosteroids. These will help to relieve the congestion, but need to be used over a number of weeks to be fully effective.
Always check with your GP or pharmacist before taking any medication for your symptoms.
Read more about treating non-allergic rhinitis.
Complications of non-allergic rhinitis
Complications of non-allergic rhinitis include:
- nasal polyps – abnormal, but benign (non-cancerous) sacs of fluid that grow inside the nasal passages and sinuses; large nasal polyps can cause an almost total nasal blockage
- sinusitis – a bacterial or viral infection caused by nasal inflammation and swelling that prevents the sinuses from draining
