Rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal membrane. The most common form is allergic rhinitis, which is a response to an allergic reaction. Allergic rhinitis affects 15 percent of the population at any given time. The simple form of this condition is not life-threatening, but it can impair your quality of life.
Instructions
1. Observe the characteristic symptoms of rhinitis. It is marked by nasal congestion, discharge, itching and sneezing. The ears, eyes, sinuses and throat also may have similar itching and discharge if they become affected.
2. Obtain a detailed history to determine the etiology of the rhinitis. It is important to evaluate the duration, nature and timing of the symptoms to find possible triggers. These can include medication, genetic propensity, environmental exposures and occupational exposures.
3. Perform a general physical that focuses on the nose but also includes the ears, eyes, throat, lungs, neck and skin. This will most often consist of a nasal examination with a speculum or otoscope with nasal adapter.
4. Conduct allergy testing. The most common methods are allergy skin testing that provides immediate hypersensitivity reactions and in vitro tests, such as the radioallergosorbent test which measures the ratio of specific IgE to individual allergens.
5. Take radiographs to evaluate possible structural abnormalities as the cause of rhinitis. This is usually a sinus series that includes the Caldwell, Waters and lateral views and may include a lateral view of the neck to check for abnormalities of the naspharynx, such as adenoid hypertrophy.
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