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Acute rhinitis (acute rhinitis): causes and pathogenesis

Alexey Portnov, medical expert
Last reviewed: 19.10.2021

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Causes of acute rhinitis (acute cold)

In the etiology of acute catarrhal rhinitis, the reduction of local and general resistance of the organism and the activation of microflora in the nasal cavity are of primary importance. Usually this happens with general or local supercooling, which breaks the protective neural-reflex mechanisms. The weakening of local and general immunity in the supercooling of the entire body or its parts (legs, head, etc.) leads to an increase in the pathogenic activity of microorganisms saprophytic in the nasal cavity, in particular staphylococci, streptococci, and some others, especially in people who are not seasoned and cold and sharp changes in temperature. The effect of hypothermia is more pronounced in people with reduced resistance, especially against the background of chronic diseases, in patients weakened by acute diseases.

The development of acute traumatic rhinitis is usually due to trauma of the nasal mucosa by foreign bodies. Damage to the mucous membrane can be associated with manipulation, including surgical operations in the nasal cavity. In some cases, the cause of acute traumatic rhinitis is a professional factor or environmental conditions: particles of mineral dust, coals, metal, which can damage the nasal mucosa, the effects of smoke, gas, aerosols.

Pathogenesis of acute rhinitis (acute cold)

Morphological changes in the nasal mucosa basically correspond to the classical picture of the development of acute inflammation. In the first hours (rarely 1-2 days) of the disease, the mucous membrane of the nose is hyperemic and dry, then the appearance of profuse serous effusion is observed, and it becomes wet and swollen. The epithelium and submucous layer are infiltrated by lymphocytes, the cylindrical epithelium loses cilia, the amount of mucus increases in the exudate, the cavernous spaces are filled with blood. Under the epithelium, effusions accumulate in places, vesicles are often formed, the desquamation of the epithelium and erosion of the mucous membrane are revealed.

trusted-source [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]

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