Swelling Of The Nasal Mucosa : Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

• Why Does The Nasal Mucosa Swell
• Physiological Causes
• Acute Infections
• Chronic Rhinitis
• Other Ent Pathologies
• Nose Injury
• Allergic Reactions
• Other Reasons
• Diagnostics
• Treatment
• Help At The Prehospital Stage
• Conservative Therapy
• Surgery

Edema of the nasal mucosa occurs with acute respiratory diseases, pathologies of the upper respiratory tract, allergic reactions, congenital anomalies, hormonal changes, contact with irritants, prolonged use of vasoconstrictor drops. Due to blood flow. In most cases, it is inflammatory in nature. Accompanied by difficulty in nasal breathing, runny nose, itching of the mucosa, sneezing. To determine the causes of the development of a symptom, a survey, rhinoscopy, and laboratory tests are carried out. In some cases, radiography of the nose is shown. Before establishing the etiology of edema of the nasal mucosa, vasoconstrictor or antiallergic agents are used.

Why does the nasal mucosa swell

Physiological causes

The most common cause of physiological edema is irritation of the mucosa by various substances contained in the air: household and industrial dust, chemical aerosols, detergents, pesticides. Sometimes the symptom is provoked by too dry air in the room. In some people, mucosal edema appears when swimming in cold water, eating chilled foods and drinks, and being outside without a hat in the winter season.

Acute infections

Most acute respiratory bacterial and viral infectious diseases are accompanied by acute rhinitis. Nasal congestion becomes one of the first signs of the disease, combined with weakness, general hyperthermia. Initially, swelling of the nasal mucosa is manifested by a feeling of dryness, itching and burning, after a few hours or the next day, abundant discharge appears. Runny nose persists for 1-2 weeks, the severity of the symptom gradually decreases.

Chronic rhinitis

Swelling of the nasal mucosa is provoked by the following forms of rhinitis:

• Catarrhal rhinitis. Occurs with frequent respiratory infections, other ENT pathologies, weakening of the body. Swelling and breathing difficulties are moderate, breathing is facilitated by a change in posture. Allocations are also moderate, mucous in nature.
• Hypertrophic rhinitis. The edema itself may not be sharp, but against the background of proliferation of connective tissue, it leads to significant breathing difficulties, constant nasal congestion.
• Vasomotor rhinitis. It occurs due to the prolonged use of vasoconstrictors, the intake of certain drugs of general action, frequent infections. It is characterized by a paroxysmal course with a sharp increase in symptoms in the morning, when inhaling irritants, cold or hot air.

Swelling of the nasal mucosa

Other ENT pathologies

Edema of the nasal mucosa can occur not only with rhinitis, but also with some other diseases of the ENT organs, which include:

• Sinusitis. The symptom is especially pronounced with sinusitis and frontal sinusitis. There is difficulty in nasal breathing, the release of purulent contents of a yellowish-green color, headaches, weakness, weakness.
• Adenoids. Observed in children, arise due to the growth of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. Swelling of the mucous membrane causes constant or periodic nasal congestion, difficulty breathing. Copious serous discharge is discharged from the nose. The child's mouth is constantly half-open, nasality is possible.
• Violations of the structure of the nose . The curvature of the nasal septum and the narrowness of the nasal passages do not in themselves lead to edema, but increase the likelihood of developing inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane.
• polyps and tumors . The mucosa swells against the background of volumetric processes in the nasal cavity. Vasoconstrictor drops to some extent alleviate the condition in the initial stages, but cease to act with large formations that block the lumen of the nasal passages.

Nose injury

Edema is observed with injuries (including minor injuries) and foreign bodies of the nasal cavity, which is explained by the large number of vessels and the high sensitivity of the mucosa to mechanical stress. Along with congestion, nosebleeds, hematomas, skin hyperemia are detected. With fractures of the bones of the nose and damage to the nasal septum, deformation can be detected.

allergic reactions

Mucosal edema is often provoked by allergic reactions to house dust, pollen, dead particles of animal skin and other allergens. Seasonal allergic rhinitis often develops in the spring-summer season, during the flowering period of plants. The mucosa swells within a few minutes. Initially, itching and discomfort in the nose appear. Then the nose is blocked, lacrimation occurs. Symptoms disappear after cessation of contact with the allergen.

With year-round allergic rhinitis, substances that are constantly present in the air act as allergens. Women of average and advanced age more often suffer. The clinic is the same as with the seasonal form of the disease. With hay fever, swelling of the nasal mucosa is supplemented by swelling of the eyes, skin symptoms. Manifestations of rhinitis are combined with signs of conjunctivitis, urticaria, dermatitis, asthmatoid bronchitis.

Other reasons

Mucosal edema is observed after cosmetic and otolaryngological operations on the nasal cavity, adjacent anatomical structures. Gradually decreases and disappears in 1-2 weeks. Other reasons for the development of a symptom are:

• Hormonal changes. Edema of this localization can be detected in adolescents, women in the first trimester of pregnancy and premenopause.
• Kartagener's syndrome. Children have rhinitis with purulent discharge, otitis, eustachitis. Subsequently, inflammatory diseases of the paranasal sinuses, bronchi and lungs join.
• Cystic fibrosis. Manifests in childhood. The symptom is detected against the background of inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract, bronchitis, pneumonia.
• Autoimmune diseases. Swelling of the nasal cavity is observed in systemic scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, Wegener's granulomatosis.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of diseases that are accompanied by swelling of the nasal cavity is carried out by otolaryngologists. The examination program includes a survey, during which the specialist establishes the time and circumstances of the onset of swelling and other symptoms, their relationship with various external and internal factors. The doctor conducts an external examination, prescribes the following diagnostic procedures:

• Rhinoscopy. Allows you to confirm the presence of inflammation, deformities, tumors, polyps, foreign bodies and traumatic injuries.
• Laboratory tests . Perform a microbiological study of nasal discharge to detect bacterial infections, RIF to detect viral diseases. For tumors, a histological or cytological examination is prescribed.
• Radiography . In case of injuries, pictures of the nose are taken; if sinusitis is suspected, x-rays of the paranasal sinuses are performed.

These methods can be supplemented by conducting allergy tests, studying the condition of the pharynx and larynx during pharyngoscopy and laryngoscopy, and other studies.

Rhinoendoscopy

Treatment

Help at the prehospital stage

Patients with a tendency to develop swelling of the nasal mucosa are advised to refrain from contact with strongly smelling substances, install a humidifier, wear a hat in winter, and exclude swimming in cold water bodies and pools. Patients with allergic reactions should, if possible, avoid contact with allergens, if necessary, take antiallergic drugs. With short-term swelling, you can use vasoconstrictors on your own. With persistent swelling, you need to contact a specialist.

Conservative therapy

For the treatment of diseases accompanied by swelling of the nasal cavity, the following methods are recommended:

• Adrenomimetics . To facilitate breathing, they are prescribed in the form of drops, used for 1 or 2 weeks. Long-term use is undesirable, as it can lead to the development of vasomotor rhinitis.
• Antiallergic drugs . Mast cell stabilizers and antihistamines can quickly reduce swelling, improve nasal breathing, and eliminate other allergy symptoms.
• Glucocorticosteroids . Nasal sprays with hormones reduce swelling, reduce the amount of secretions, and reduce the sensitivity of the mucous membrane to irritants. They are prescribed for vasomotor and allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps.
• Antibiotics . Effective in inflammatory otolaryngological diseases: chronic rhinitis, frontal sinusitis, sinusitis. At the initial stage, broad-spectrum drugs are administered, then antibiotic therapy is adjusted taking into account the sensitivity of the pathogen.
• Physiotherapy . Medicinal electrophoresis, microwave therapy, darsonvalization, and some other techniques are used.

Surgery

If indicated, surgical interventions are performed for the following diseases and conditions:

• Hypertrophic rhinitis: conchotomy.
• Deviated septum: septoplasty, rhinoseptoplasty.
• Sinusitis: maxillary sinusectomy or frontotomy.
• Volumetric formations: removal of polyps and tumors.

Some operations are performed not only open, but also endoscopically, which makes it possible to reduce the trauma of manipulations and shorten the rehabilitation period. It is possible to use various energies: laser, radio wave radiation, etc.