Chronic rhinitis in South Africa: Update 2013

 Vol 103, No 6 (2013) > Green

Guidelines

Chronic rhinitis in South Africa: Update 2013

Robin John Green, Maurice Hockman, Raymond Friedman, Martin Davis, Marinda McDonald, Riaz Seedat, Carla Els, Michael Levin, Paul C Potter, Charles Feldman

Abstract

The term rhinitis implies inflammation of the lining of the nose. Characteristic symptoms are a blocked nose, anterior and posterior rhinorrhea, sneezing and itching. Not all cases of chronic rhinitis have an allergic basis. Chronic non-allergic rhinitis is defined as a condition where ongoing rhinitic symptoms are present for many months (as for persistent allergic rhinitis) but there is no IgE basis. Many common conditions may present as chronic rhinitis, which will need to be investigated and managed on their own merits. Not all cases of chronic rhinitis respond to allergic rhinitis therapy: continued attempts to manage chronic rhinitis as allergic rhinitis may be hampered by pathophysiological conditions where other specific therapy may be required. Chronic rhinitis impacts on patient quality of life, and therefore therapy is important. Managing patients with chronic rhinitis requires attention to patient education in order to achieve the maximal therapeutic benefit of medication. This update is intended to provide clinicians with a sound basis for management of a common condition.

Authors' affiliations

Robin John Green, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Maurice Hockman, Department of ENT Surgery, Netcare Linksfield Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa

Raymond Friedman, Department of ENT Surgery, Netcare Linksfield Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa; Mediclinic Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa

Martin Davis, Department of Paediatrics, Netcare Linksfield Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa

Marinda McDonald, Mediclinic Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa

Riaz Seedat, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of the Free State, South Africa

Carla Els, Department of Paediatric Pulmonology and Allergy, Linksfield Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa

Michael Levin, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Paul C Potter, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Charles Feldman, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

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Keywords

Allergic rhinitis; chronic rhinitis; management; guidelines

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2013;103(6):419-422. DOI:10.7196/samj.6972

Article History

Date submitted: 2013-04-18
Date published: 2013-04-30

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