Types

Acute rhinitis: From time to time, every person has a blocked nose. Often this is the result of a common cold (acute rhinitis).

Seasonal allergic rhinitis or hay fever is inflammation within the nose caused by an allergic stimulus (usually pollen) that occurs in the summer months.

Perennial allergic rhinitis, a type of chronic rhinitis, is a year-around problem and is often caused by indoor allergens, such as dust and animal dander (dead skin flakes). Symptoms tend to occur regardless of the time of the year.

Non-allergic rhinitis (also called vasomotor rhinitis) occurs in those patients in whom an allergic cause cannot be identified. Vasomotor rhinitis is thought to occur because of abnormal regulation of nasal blood flow.

The nose is divided into left and right sides by the nasal septum. This septum is not always in the midline. If it is over to one side, it is referred to as a deviated septum. This problem can either cause or make worse any blockage of the nose.