What are the symptoms of rhinitis in children?

Children are the treasures of every family. Some children have poor adaptability to the outside world and are more likely to suffer from rhinitis. However, what symptoms will children have when they have rhinitis is the most confusing question for parents. Adults do not know that their children have rhinitis. Rhinitis is extremely similar to a cold, so many parents cannot tell whether their child has a cold or rhinitis. So, today we will learn about the symptoms of rhinitis in children.

The imperfect morphological development and physiological functions of various organs in childhood result in poor resistance and adaptability to the outside world in children, making them more susceptible to rhinitis than adults. Adult rhinitis has typical symptoms and signs such as nasal itching, runny nose, and sneezing, which are easy to diagnose. However, the symptoms and signs of pediatric rhinitis cases vary greatly and are mostly atypical.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis in children

The clinical features of allergic rhinitis in children are recurrent episodes of nasal itching, sneezing, clear runny nose, and pale nasal mucosa during attacks, which may occur seasonally or year-round.

Chronic rhinitis in children

The symptoms of chronic rhinitis in children are mainly characterized by cold nose and loss of smell. In chronic simple rhinitis, nasal congestion is relieved during daytime activities, but worsens at night or when sitting still. When lying on one side, the lower nasal cavity is blocked, while the upper nasal cavity is well ventilated. When lying on the other side, nasal congestion occurs in the other nasal cavity. The nasal discharge is mucous and is often accompanied by headache, dizziness, and decreased sense of smell. Chronic hypertrophic rhinitis is often characterized by persistent nasal congestion, mucous or mucopurulent nasal discharge, and may also cause tinnitus, hearing loss, headache, insomnia, mental depression, etc.

Acute rhinitis in children

When acute rhinitis occurs, there is mild chills and fever, general discomfort, a burning sensation in the nasopharynx, dryness, itching, and sneezing in the nose. After 1 to 2 days, the patient gradually develops nasal congestion, a large amount of clear nasal discharge, decreased sense of smell, and headache. After 3-4 days, due to secondary infection, the secretions turn into yellow purulent nasal discharge that is difficult to blow out, and the nasal congestion becomes more severe. If there are no complications, recovery will occur in about a week.

To be honest, children are a high-risk group for rhinitis. To determine whether a child has rhinitis, parents need to observe the child carefully on a daily basis and not delay the disease. Only when adults correctly understand the symptoms of rhinitis and the harm it brings to children can they discover and treat it in time to avoid endangering children's health.