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Life Pharmacy Ireland – Live Better

Bringing you the best health advice for your family

NHS Choices - Complications of allergic rhinitis

(19/05/2014)

If you have allergic rhinitis, there is a risk you could develop further problems.

A blocked or runny nose can result in difficulty sleeping, drowsiness during the daytime, irritability and problems concentrating. Allergic rhinitis can also make symptoms of asthma worse.

The inflammation associated with allergic rhinitis can also sometimes lead to further conditions, such as nasal polyps, sinusitis and middle ear infections. These are described below.

Nasal polyps

Nasal polyps are fleshy swellings that grow from the lining of your nose or sinuses (the small cavities above and behind your nose), which are caused by inflammation of the membranes of the nose and sometimes develop as a result of rhinitis.

Nasal polyps are shaped like teardrops when they are growing and they look like a grape on a stem when fully grown. They vary in size and can be a yellow, grey or pink. They can grow on their own or in clusters and usually affect both nostrils.

If nasal polyps grow large enough, or in clusters, they can interfere with your breathing, reduce your sense of smell and block your sinuses, leading to sinusitis (see below).

Small nasal polyps can be shrunk using steroid nasal sprays so they do not cause an obstruction in your nose. Large polyps may need to be surgically removed.

Read more about treating nasal polyps.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is a common complication of rhinitis. It is where sinuses become inflamed or infected.

The sinuses naturally produce mucus, which usually drains into your nose through small channels. However, if these drainage channels are inflamed or blocked (for example, because of rhinitis or nasal polyps), the mucus cannot drain away and it may become infected.

Common symptoms include:

  • severe facial pain around your cheeks, eyes or forehead
  • toothache
  • a blocked or runny nose – your nose may produce a green or yellow mucus
  • a high temperature (fever)

Symptoms of sinusitis can be relieved using over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin. These will help reduce the pain and fever.

However, these medications are not suitable for everyone so check the leaflet that comes with them before you take them. For example, children under 16 years of age should not take aspirin, and ibuprofen is not recommended for people with asthma or a history of certain stomach conditions, such as stomach ulcers. Speak to your GP or pharmacist if you are unsure.

Antibiotics may also be recommended if your sinuses become infected with bacteria. In cases of long-term (chronic) sinusitis, surgery may be needed to improve the drainage of your sinuses.

Read more about treating sinusitis.

Middle ear infections

Middle ear infections (otitis media) can also develop as a complication of nasal problems, including allergic rhinitis.

These infections may occur because rhinitis can cause a problem with the Eustachian tube at the back of the nose. If this tube (which connects the back of the nose and the middle ear) does not function properly, then fluid may accumulate in the middle ear (behind the ear drum) and this fluid can then become infected.

There is also the possibility of infection at the back of the nose spreading to the ear through the Eustachian tube.

Symptoms of a middle ear infection can include:

Most ear infections clear up within a couple of days, although paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to relieve pain and a high temperature. Antibiotics may also be used if the symptoms persist or are particularly severe.

Read more about treating middle ear infections.