Blocked Nose in Pregnancy

Nasal obstruction in pregnancy has many causes (Box 1). Women who already have nasal obstruction prior to becoming pregnant may suffer considerable exacerbation of their blocked nose. In women who have not had symptoms of rhinitis prior to conception, the most common causes are ‘rhinitis of pregnancy’ and rhinitis medicamentosa. Box 1 <target id="page_62" target-type="page">62</target>Nasal obstruction: causes Congenital

Choanal atresia, septal deviation

Traumatic

Septal deviation

Infection

Acute/chronic viral/bacterial/fungal rhinitis/sinusitis

Neoplastic

Benign: nasal polyps, inverted papilloma, pyogenic granuloma

Malignant: adenocarcinoma

Allergy

Allergic rhinitis

Autoimmune

Wegener’s granulomatosis, sarcoidosis, atrophic rhinitis

Iatrogenic

Surgical, drug induced

Foreign body Hormonal

Rhinitis of pregnancy

Pharmacological

Rhinitis medica mentosa

Preservative benzalkonium

Vasomotor<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref16_6"> ⁶ </xref>

Secondary to odours, alcohol, emotion, tempera ture change, pressure change, bright light, spicy food, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Occupational