Can blood tests detect rhinitis?

Some patients with rhinitis can be diagnosed through blood tests, while others cannot.

Generally, patients with rhinitis need to undergo relevant examinations such as nasal endoscopy, sinus CT scans, and nasal smear tests to confirm the diagnosis and then receive targeted treatment. Here are the details:

Diagnosable through Blood Tests:

An increase in eosinophils in the blood of rhinitis patients can indicate the condition. However, blood test results may not always be accurate due to improper operation, testing errors, etc. It is recommended to have a retest when seeking medical attention.

Not Diagnosable through Blood Tests:

1. Allergic Rhinitis: Symptoms include nasal itching, sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion, caused by allergen stimulation of nasal mucosa. Blood tests cannot detect allergens in this case.
2. Chronic Rhinitis: Symptoms include nasal congestion, thick and sticky nasal discharge, and thickened nasal mucosa due to chronic inflammation. Increased fragility of nasal mucosal capillaries caused by chronic inflammation may lead to bleeding, further preventing the detection of allergens through blood tests.
3. Sinusitis: Symptoms include nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, and headache. Blockage of sinus openings leads to poor drainage of secretions and accumulation of pus, stimulating nasal mucosa. Chronic rhinitis does not affect blood composition, so no abnormalities are detected through blood tests.
4. Nasal Structural Deformities: Conditions like deviated nasal septum and hypertrophied inferior turbinate can block airflow into the nasal cavity, making it impossible to diagnose rhinitis through blood tests.

If a patient has dry rhinitis, atrophic rhinitis, drug-induced rhinitis, or rhinitis caused by some autoimmune diseases, it cannot be detected through blood tests. For blood tests to diagnose rhinitis, it is recommended to undergo relevant examinations at a hospital.