ABSTRACT

Just as the asthmatic’s airway is many times more reactive when nonspecific stimuli are inhaled into the lungs, patients with all types of rhinitis will demonstrate nasal hyperreac­ tivity. The nose has an exaggerated response to a variety of stimuli, including those en­ countered in everyday life, like dust, fumes, cold air, perfumes, and other strong odors. This response is particularly exaggerated in the rhinitis patient after a viral respiratory illness, and this reaction may last for weeks or months after the viral shedding has stopped. The nose of such rhinitis patients responds with an excessive production of nasal secretions and with mucosal swelling and nasal blockage. The cause of nasal hyperreactivity in pa­ tients with infectious, allergic, and nonallergic rhinitis is not known. Just as with vasomo­ tor rhinitis, a neural imbalance theory has been proposed. It is probable that some modula­ tion of afferent impulses occurs, possibly coupled with increased sensitivity of the nerve endings.