Rhino-sinusitis: Causes and medical treatment

Mr James W Fairley BSc MBBS FRCS MS
Consultant ENT Surgeon

What is rhino-sinusitis?

Rhino-sinusitis is the combination of rhinitis and sinusitis.

• Rhinitis (Rye-NIGHT-iss) is inflammation of the lining of the nose.
• Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses.

As part of the same air passages, and lined by the same mucous membrane, the nose and sinuses tend to be affected by the same problems. Rhinitis is commoner than sinusitis, and causes similar symptoms. Most cases of sinusitis start off as rhinitis, so we usually get rhinosinusitis rather than pure sinusitis. Nearly all cases of sinusitis are in fact rhinosinusitis.

The rest of the article is here.

What I have to say: Rhino-sinusitis is a common indicator of Wegener's Granulomatosis. When I was first being treated, my nose would drip with a thin secretion. Since inflammation is a part of Vasculitis, and inflammation can cause rhino-sinusitis, it seems to go hand in hand with our disease. This article has some really useful information to keep you nose and sinuses in good shape.