Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Rhinitis in the elderly

  • Published:
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effects of aging on the nose include structural, hormonal, mucosal, olfactory, and neural changes. As the US population ages and remains in overall better health, we will have more patients with rhinologic problems related to aging. In this manuscript, we review the available evidence on the structural and physiologic changes of the nose caused by aging, and we briefly describe management of common causes of rhinitis in the elderly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. National Center for Health Statistics: Health, United States, 2004, Table 12. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/ nvsr53_06t12.pdf. Accessed November 5, 2005.

  2. Administration on Aging: Statistics on the Aging Population. http://www.aoa.gov/prof/Statistics/future_ growth/PopAge2050.xls. Accessed November 5, 2005.

  3. Besdine R, Boult C, Brangman S, et al.: American Geriatrics Society Task Force on the Future of Geriatric Medicine. Caring for older Americans: the future of geriatric medicine. J Am Geriatr Soc 2005, 53:245–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Edelstein DR: Aging of the normal nose in adults. Laryngoscope 1996, 106:1–25. This unique study identi.es age-related changes in the normal nose very systematically.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Colclasure JC, Gross CW, Kountakis SE: Endoscopic sinus surgery in patients older than sixty. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2004, 13:946–949.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Ramadan HH, VanMetre R: Endoscopic sinus surgery in geriatric population. Am J Rhinol 2004, 18:125–127.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Bassichis BA, Marple BF: Dry mouth and nose in the older patient. What every PCP should know. Geriatrics 2002, 57:22–24.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Vacher C, Accioli J, Lezy JP: Surgical anatomy of the nose in the elderly: value of conservative rhinoplasty by transoral route. Surg Radiol Anat 2002, 24:140–146.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Rohrich RJ, Hollier LH Jr, Janis JE, Kim J: Rhinoplasty with advancing age. Plast Reconstr Surg 2004, 114:1936–1944. This article is a review of principles of rhinoplasty in the elderly.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cohen AF, Tiemstra JD: Diagnosis and treatment of rosacea. J Am Board Fam Pract 2002, 15:214–217.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Patterson CN: The aging nose: characteristics and correction. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 1980, 13:275–288.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Toppozada H: The human nasal mucosa in the menopause (a histochemical and electron microscopic study) (abstract). J Laryngol Otol 1988, 102:314–318.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Getchell ML, Chen Y, Ding X, et al.: Immunohistochemical localization of a cytochrome P-450 isozyme in human nasal mucosa: age-related trends. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1993, 102:368–374.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Paik SI, Lehman MN, Seiden AM, et al.: Human olfactory biopsy: the influence of age and receptor distribution. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1992, 118:731–738.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Robinson AM, Conley DB, Shinners MJ, Kern RC: Apoptosis in the aging olfactory epithelium. Laryngoscope 2002, 112:1431–1435.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kalmovich LM, Elad D, Zaretsky U, et al.: Endonasal geometry changes in elderly people: acoustic rhinometry measurements. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2005, 60:396–398. This is the first study to show endonasal changes with aging by acoustic rhinometry.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Agius AM, Smallman LA, Pahor AL: Age, smoking and nasal ciliary beat frequency. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 1998, 23:227–230.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ho JC, Chan KN, Hu WH, et al.: The effect of aging on nasal mucociliary clearance, beat frequency, and ultrastructure of respiratory cilia. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2001, 163:983–988.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Hofmann HJ, Ishii EK, Macturk RH: Age-related changes in the prevalence of smell and taste problems among the US adult population: results of the 1994 disability supplement to the National Health Interview Survey. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1998, 855:716–722.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Murphy C, Schubert CR, Cruickshanks KJ, et al.: Prevalence of olfactory impairment in older adults. JAMA 2002, 288:2307–2312. This cross-sectional study is the first large population-based study to report the prevalence of olfactory impairment measured by testing.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Landis BN, Konnerth CG, Hummel T: A study on the frequency of olfactory dysfunction. Laryngoscope 2004, 114:1764–1769.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Hummel T, Livermore A: Intranasal chemosensory function of the trigeminal nerve and aspects of its relation to olfaction. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2002, 75:305–313.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Frasnelli J, Hummel T: Age-related decline of intranasal trigeminal sensitivity: Is it a peripheral event? Brain Res 2003, 987:201–206.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hummel T, Futschik T, Frasnelli J, Huttenbrink KB: Effects of olfactory function, age, and gender on trigeminally mediated sensations: a study based on the lateralization of chemosensory stimuli. Toxicol Lett 2003, 140-141:273–280.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Seiberling KA, Conley DB: Aging and olfactory and taste function. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2004, 37:1209–1228.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Peters JM, Hummel T, Kratzsch T, et al.: Olfactory function in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease: an investigation using psychophysical and electrophysiological techniques. Am J Psychiatry 2003, 160:1995–2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Kovacs T, Cairns NJ, Lantos PL: Olfactory centres in Alzheimer’s disease: olfactory bulb is involved in early Braak’s stages. Neuroreport 2001, 12:285–288.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Eibenstein A, Fioretti AB, Simaskou MN, et al.: Olfactory screening test in mild cognitive impairment. Neurol Sci 2005, 26:156–160.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Double KL, Rowe DB, Hayes M, et al.: Identifying the pattern of olfactory deficits in Parkinson disease using the brief smell identification test. Arch Neurol 2003, 60:545–549.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Tissingh G, Berendse HW, Bergmans P, et al.: Loss of olfaction in de novo and treated Parkinson’s disease: possible implications for early diagnosis (abstract). Mov Disord 2001, 6:41–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Joe S, Benson A: Nonallergic rhinitis. In Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Edited by Cummings CW. Philadelphia: Elsevier Mosby; 2005:990–1000.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Lal D, Corey JP: Vasomotor rhinitis update. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2004, 2:243–247.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Loehrl TA, Smith TL, Darling RJ, et al.: Autonomic dysfunction, vasomotor rhinitis, and extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002, 126:382–387.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Giannessi F, Ursino F, Fattori B, et al.: Immunohistochemical localization of 3-nitrotyrosine in the nasal respiratory mucosa of patients with vasomotor rhinitis. Acta Otolaryngol 2005, 125:65–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Pawelec G, Barnett Y, Forsey R, et al.: T cells and aging. Front Biosci 2002, 1:1056–1183.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Hanneuse Y, Delespesse G, Hudson D, et al.: Influence of aging on IgE-mediated reactions in allergic patients (abstract). Clin Allergy 1978, 8:165–174.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Mediaty A, Neuber K: Total and specifi c serum IgE decreases with age in patients with allergic rhinitis, asthma and insect allergy but not in patients with atopic dermatitis. Immun Aging 2005, 31:9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Jackola DR, Pierson-Mullany LK, Daniels LR, et al.: Robustness into advanced age of atopy-specifi c mechanisms in atopy-prone families. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2003, 58:99–107.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Burrows B, Barbee RA, Cline MG, et al.: Characteristics of asthma among elderly adults in a sample of the general population. Chest 1991, 100:935–942.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Huss K, Naumann PL, Mason PJ, et al.: Asthma severity, atopic status, allergen exposure and quality of life in elderly persons. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2001, 86:524–530. This article points out that asthma in the elderly is common and very important in terms of quality of life.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Calkins E, Davis PJ, Ford AB: The Practice of Geriatrics. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Settipane GA, Chafee FH: Nasal polyps in asthma and rhinitis: a review of 6,037 patients (abstract). J Allergy Clin Immunol 1977, 59:17–21.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Roth MT, Ivey JL: Self-reported medication use in community-residing older adults: a pilot study. Am J Geriatr Pharmacother 2005, 3:196–204.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Bateman ND, Woolford TJ: The rhinological side-effects of systemic drugs. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 2003, 28:381–385.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Wang J, Eslinger PJ, Smith MB, Yang QX: Functional magnetic resonance imaging study of human olfaction and normal aging. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2005, 60:510–514.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Wormald PJ, Cain T, Oates L, et al.: A comparative study of three methods of nasal irrigation. Laryngoscope 2004, 114:2224–2227.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Passali D, Damiani V, Passali FM, et al.: Atomized nasal douche vs nasal lavage in acute viral rhinitis. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2005, 31:788–790.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Johnsen J, Bratt BM, Michel-Barron O, et al.: Pure sesame oil vs isotonic sodium chloride solution as treatment for dry nasal mucosa. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001, 127:1353–1356.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Kaliner MA: H1-antihistamines in the elderly. Clin Allergy Immunol 2002, 17:465–481.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Hansen J, Klimek L, Hormann K: Pharmacological management of allergic rhinitis in the elderly: safety issues with oral antihistamines. Drugs Aging 2005, 22:289–296.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Kaiser HB, Findlay SR, Georgitis JW, et al.: Long-term treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis with ipratropium bromide nasal spray 0.06%. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1995, 95:1128–1132.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Benninger MS, Ahmad N, Marple BF: The safety of intranasal steroids. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003, 129:739–750.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Heilmann S, Huettenbrink KB, Hummel T: Local and systemic administration of corticosteroids in the treatment of olfactory loss. Am J Rhinol 2004, 18:29–33.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Kern RC, Conley DB, Haines GK 3rd, Robinson AM: Treatment of olfactory dysfunction, II: studies with minocycline. Laryngoscope 2004, 114:2200–2204.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Caruso S, Roccasalva L, Di Fazio E, et al.: Cytologic aspects of the nasal respiratory epithelium in postmenopausal women treated with hormone therapy. Fertil Steril 2003, 79:543–549.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Caruso S, Grillo C, Agnello C, et al.: Olfactometric and rhinomanometric outcomes in post-menopausal women treated with hormone therapy: a prospective study. Hum Reprod 2004, 19:2959–2964.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Nappi C, Di Spiezio Sardo A, Guerra G, et al.: Comparison of intranasal and transdermal estradiol on nasal mucosa in postmenopausal women. Menopause 2004, 11:447–455.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Asero R: Efficacy of injection immunotherapy with ragweed and birch pollen in elderly patients. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2004, 135:332–335.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Busaba NY, Hossain M: Clinical outcomes of septoplasty and inferior turbinate reduction in the geriatric veterans’ population. Am J Rhinol 2004, 18:343–347.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacquelynne P. Corey MD, FACS, FAAOA.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yilmaz, A.A.S., Corey, J.P. Rhinitis in the elderly. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 6, 125–131 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-006-0050-3

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-006-0050-3

Keywords

Navigation