Hayfever (rhinitis) occurs when the lining of your nose is inflamed. This causes your nose to block up, run or itch and can make you sneeze. Hayfever contracted during summer can be caused by an allergy to grass pollen.

However, not all rhinitis is caused by allergies. Some non-allergic rhinitis can include structural problems in the nose, including:

• Deviated nasal septum (where the top of the cartilaginous ridge is not centered, causing an obstruction in the nasal passage)
• Perforated septum (a medical condition in which the membrane that divides the nostrils develops a hole or fissure)
• Adenoidal hypertrophy (unusual growth of the pharyngeal tonsil (adenoid), located at the back of the nose, that can obstruct airflow).

Other non-allergic rhinitis causes can be inflammatory problems, such as nasal polyps (swelling of the normal nasal lining, located inside the spaces behind the nose, eyes and cheeks).

Some medication that you take for other conditions can also cause, or contribute to, rhinitis.

Rhinosinusitis

Rhinosinusitis is a complex condition of hayfever. It involves the inflammation of the sinuses as well as to the lining of the nose. Typical symptoms can include:

• Nasal blockage and congestion
• Pain and discomfort on the face
• Nasal discharge, either from the front of the nose or a post-nasal drip.

Many of the rhinosinusitis causes are the same as non-allergic rhinitis.