Sinusitis is an inflammatory disease of the sinus mucosa, while rhinitis is an inflammatory disease of the nasal cavity, and the difference in the site of occurrence is the biggest difference between the two inflammatory conditions.
Sinusitis is caused by infection of the sinus mucosa around the nasal cavity, while rhinitis is an inflammation caused by the stimulation of the nasal mucosa by external substances. Although because the nasal mucosa and sinus mucosa continue, nasal inflammation often involves the sinus mucosa, sinus inflammation is accompanied by inflammation of the nasal mucosa, the pathogenesis and pathophysiological processes of rhinitis and sinusitis are the same and complementary, but the clinical manifestations of the two inflammatory conditions are different. The clinical manifestations of sinusitis are persistent nasal congestion on the affected side or bilaterally, a large amount of purulent or mucopurulent nasal discharge in the nasal cavity, which may be accompanied by a little blood. The clinical manifestations of rhinitis are nasal congestion, swelling of the nasal mucosa, decreased sense of smell, occlusive nasal sounds and increased secretions, which are initially watery and gradually become mucous, mucopurulent or purulent.
Because sinusitis and rhinitis are similar and interrelated, it is necessary to distinguish between the two inflammatory conditions in order to treat them properly.