Atrophic rhinitis is degenerative rhinitis in which the normal ciliated columnar type of epithelium is replaced by a nonciliated, stratified squamous type. The mucus-secreting glands are greatly diminished in number but not totally absent, so that mucus is still secreted. Textbooks of otolaryngology describe two groups of cases: (1) cases in which no odor is present in the nose and (2) cases in which there is a fetid odor. The condition in the latter group is commonly called ozena.
CLINICAL CLASSIFICATION OF CASES OF ATROPHIC RHINITIS
From a clinical point of view atrophic rhinitis should be considered as of four types:Latent Atrophic Rhinitis.—This type is characterized merely by a diminution in size of one or more turbinates and may be asymptomatic, requiring no treatment.Simple Mild Atrophic Rhinitis.—This type is characterized by atrophy of either the middle or the inferior turbinate or both, on one or both sides, but