aetiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

Anatomical and mechanical causes of rhinitis include:

  • choanal atresia:
    • bilateral - symptoms develop within hours of birth
    • unilateral - symptoms may not develop until quite late in adulthood
  • adenoid hypertrophy - rarely a problem beyond teens
  • deviated nasal septum
  • enlarged turbinates:
    • mucosal hypertrophy
    • skeletal hypertrophy
  • nasal polyps
  • foreign body - especially if unilateral nasal obstruction and purulent, offensive nasal discharge