Rhinitis is a prevalent disorder in children. It is manifested by mucosal congestion, nasal discharge, mouth breathing and initial fever in the acute stage. In the chronic situation, the child may suffer from snoring, chronic fatigue and loss of hearing.
Rhinitis may or may not be due to atopy.
- Allergic rhinitis: Two factors are required for the development of allergic rhinitis - the heritable atopic state and the development of sensitivity to allergens present in the child’s environment. Allergic rhinitis may be seasonal or perennial. Seasonal rhinitis (hay fever) occurs in spring and summer in response to exposure to air borne pollens, whereas the symptoms of perennial rhinitis are present throughout the year and are mainly due to exposure to indoor allergens.
- Infectious rhinitis is due to normal or abnormal immune response to common viral and bacterial upper respiratory infections.
- Vasomotor rhinitis is a condition of non-specific nasal hyperresponsiveness to a variety of stimuli. It characteristically responds poorly to therapy. The nose appears to be in a state of physiologic imbalance, which suggests that neurogenic factors are involved.