How should rhinitis be managed during pregnancy?

Abstract

The rhinological impacts on pregnancy include rhinitis of pregnancy, nosebleeds and particular tumours, e.g. pyogenic granuloma. These conditions have been written about previously. There are also case reports that have appeared from time to time, concerning how rhinosinusitis may interact with pregnancy. Pregnancy rhinitis is a condition in which the nose becomes congested in the final month or 2 months before delivery, but with no further indications of infection within the respiratory tract and no allergic response and with complete resolution in less than 2 weeks after giving birth. Diagnosing and managing rhinitis, sinusitis and nosebleeds in pregnant women is a particularly difficult task for ENT specialists. On one hand, disorders of the nose and sinuses, when not adequately treated, present risks to the quality of life of the woman and endanger the pregnancy, and on the other hand, data regarding the safety aspects from properly controlled trials are simply lacking. In this chapter, rhinitis during pregnancy is reviewed.