It bears the brunt of our contact with the outside world and is remarkably effective at removing most pollutants and particles before the inhaled air reaches the tiny bronchial tubes inside the lungs. But for people with rhinitis, this finely tuned filter doesn't work as well as it should. You only have to remember how it felt last time you had a bad cold and could not breathe through your nose, smell or taste anything to have sympathy for those with severe rhinitis. Not only that, but people with rhinitis can also be troubled with other nuisances that can go along with colds, such as ear infections, sinusitis and chest infections. After all, no one wants to be sniffing and sneezing all the time.
Children can have particular problems with rhinitis.
Because their nose is congested, they can start to breathe through the mouth. This can lead to a dry, sore mouth and a 'nasal' voice. Children who have rhinitis can also develop a sore nose and a characteristic crease across the bridge of the nose through constant rubbing. For all these reasons it is important to get rhinitis diagnosed quickly and treated properly. Because the symptoms of rhinitis are often confused with that of the common cold, it can be difficult to identify rhinitis at first.