Colds and seasonal allergies are guaranteed to make you break out the tissues. But a dripping nose that just never seems to end may be something else: chronic rhinitis.
Chronic rhinitis is ongoing inflammation of the lining of the nose, lasting for three months or more, explains Do-Yeon Cho, M.D., professor and vice chair of the Department of Otolaryngology in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. Symptoms include congestion, a stuffy nose and sneezing, as well as the never-ending running nose.
Chronic rhinitis comes in allergic and non-allergic forms, Cho says, as well as mixed rhinitis, which is a combination of both. The good news is there are effective treatments that can stop the drip in the majority of chronic rhinitis patients.
Chronic rhinitis: allergic and non-allergic
Chronic rhinitis, of both forms, tends to get worse with age.
Allergic chronic rhinitis can be triggered commonly by pollen, dust mites, mold or pet dander.
Non-allergic chronic rhinitis has its own triggers. Common ones are weather changes, strong smells and even eating, Cho says. These connections between triggers and drainage are often unrecognized, and many patients do not know “what is actually causing this,” Cho said. “But they probably can notice themselves carrying tissues with them all the time.”
Do-Yeon Cho, M.D.Food-related non-allergic rhinitis is surprisingly common. “I do have a lot of patients coming to the clinic with a chronic drainage from both sides of the nostrils when eating food,” Cho said. “This really affects their quality of life.”
What are the treatments for chronic rhinitis?
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Over-the-counter oral antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays are a good place to start, Cho says, especially for allergic rhinitis.
Another effective option is to rinse the nose with saline, which will wash out allergens, pollens and dust, relieving some of the symptoms.
Anticholinergic nasal spray
When the treatments above are ineffective, Cho often starts with a prescription for anticholinergic nasal spray. This tends to be very effective for chronic rhinitis, “especially for those patients who have a lot of drippy nose from strong smells or eating foods,” Cho said. Patients must continue to use the spray for symptom relief, however.
Temperature-controlled ablation of the posterior nasal nerve
If patients continue to have issues, Cho can offer them another option: an effective, minimally invasive procedure called temperature-controlled ablation of the posterior nasal nerve.
It can be done under any local or mild sedation, and uses either heat or cold to inactivate this nerve, which is right behind the inferior and middle turbinates in the nose, Cho says. The procedure itself takes about 30 minutes or less for both sides of the nose.
Cho has performed more than 200 of these procedures. According to a recent national study that followed up with patients for three years, about 80 percent of patients have meaningful reduction in nasal drainage, and they report improved quality of life. “Many of my patients tell me that it was a life-changing experience,” Cho said. “They’re really happy with the results.”
The procedure typically brings symptom relief for two or three years. And it is important to note that it does not eliminate normal nasal functions. “It’s more like bringing the system back into balance,” Cho said.
To book an appointment, click here or call (205) 801-7801.
This article is adapted from an episode of the UAB MedCast. Listen to the full episode here.