2. Rhinitis

Rhinitis is the medical term for inflammation and swelling of the mucus membrane inside the nose. This inflammation increases the amount of mucus produced and, as a result, customers may complain of a runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion and a feeling of mucus dripping or trickling down the back of their throat.

Rhinitis can be defined by the duration of symptoms – acute (short-lived) or chronic (longer-lasting). Here, the focus is on acute rhinitis and there are two types: allergic and non-allergic.

Acute allergic rhinitis is triggered by an allergic reaction to an allergen such as pollen, pet dander or house dust mites.

Acute non-allergic rhinitis can be caused by:

• A viral infection – e.g. the common cold
• Environmental factors – e.g. a dry atmosphere, smoke or a change in temperature
• Hormonal imbalance – e.g. during pregnancy, puberty or when taking oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy
• Rebound congestion – the medical name for this is ‘rhinitis medicamentosa’ and it is caused by the overuse of nasal decongestants. Anyone with repeated symptoms of congestion following use of a nasal decongestant should be referred to the pharmacist.

3. Post-nasal drip

Normally, all mucus secretions from the nose drain into the back of the throat and are swallowed in a process that people are not usually aware of.

However, a person may feel as if mucus is accumulating at the back of their throat. This is termed ‘post-nasal drip’. This may be described as a feeling of mucus dripping or trickling down the back of their throat, which may trigger a cough. Post-nasal drip may occur when a person is suffering from a cold or an allergy.