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Review
. 2016 May;36(2):343-57.
doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2015.12.010. Epub 2016 Mar 4.

Rhinitis in the Elderly

Alan P Baptist  1 , Sharmilee Nyenhuis  2
Affiliations
Review

Rhinitis in the Elderly

Alan P Baptist et al. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2016 May.

Abstract

By 2050, the US aging population will nearly double. It will be increasingly important for health care providers to diagnose and manage rhinitis. Nasal symptoms of rhinorrhea, congestion, sneezing, nasal/ocular pruritus, and postnasal drainage affect up to 32% of older adults, and can impact quality of life. Several underlying factors associated with aging may contribute to the pathogenesis of rhinitis in older adults. Although treatment options for rhinitis exist, special considerations need to be made because comorbidities, limited income, memory loss, and side effects of medications are common in older adults and may impact outcomes.

Keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Atrophic rhinitis; Elderly; Nonallergic rhinitis; Older adults; Rhinitis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Self-reported rhinitis and allergic sensitization among participants in the NHANES 2005-2006 study. Data from Shargorodsky, J., et al., Allergic Sensitization, Rhinitis and Tobacco Smoke Exposure in US Adults. PLoS One, 2015. 10(7): p. e0131957.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Type of rhinitis seen in the elderly
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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