Thus, any patient with polyps needs to be warned that although the polyps may be effectively treated medically or surgically, they will likely recur. Often, the first sign of polyp recurrence is the loss of the sense of smell. Polyps are found in about 20 to 30 percent of patients with chronic sinusitis. Sinusitis can be caused by conditions or medications that cause nasal congestion or interfere with immune function. Rhinitis can be allergy related or non-allergy related.
Allergic rhinitis can occur seasonally or year round.
Non-allergic rhinitis can be brought on by environmental irritants, such as smells or temperatures, or by medications. Certain medications can lead to conditions that cause sinusitis. These include nasal polyps, nasal septal deviation, enlarged tonsils and adenoids and abnormalities of the middle turbinates. Another cause can be IgG and IgA deficiencies, which are deficiencies of antibodies which help protect against sinus infections. The most common signs and symptoms differentiating rhinitis from sinusitis are summarized below.