CLINICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF RHINITIS IN PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF COVID-19

COVID-19 has caused long-term pathological changes not only in the lower respiratory tract but also in the upper airways, particularly the nasal mucosa. Rhinitis is frequently observed in patients after recovery from COVID-19 and may persist as part of post-viral complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations and morphological characteristics of rhinitis in patients with a previous history of COVID-19. The study included patients who had recovered from COVID-19 and subsequently developed persistent nasal symptoms such as nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, dryness, burning sensation, and olfactory dysfunction. Clinical examination included anterior rhinoscopy, nasal endoscopy, and symptom assessment. Morphological evaluation was performed using histological examination of nasal mucosal biopsy samples. The results demonstrated epithelial desquamation, goblet cell hyperplasia, vascular congestion, subepithelial edema, and lymphocytic infiltration in the nasal mucosa. In several cases, microcirculatory disturbances and focal fibrotic changes were identified. Clinically, prolonged nasal obstruction and decreased smell sensitivity were the most common complaints. These findings indicate that post-COVID rhinitis is associated with persistent inflammatory and structural remodeling of the nasal mucosa. Recognition of these clinical and morphological changes is important for improving diagnosis, treatment strategies, and prevention of chronic upper airway pathology in post-COVIDCOVID-19不仅可在下呼吸道引发长期病理改变，还可累及上气道，尤其以鼻黏膜为著。新冠康复患者常出现鼻炎症状，且该表现可作为病毒感染后并发症持续存在。本研究旨在评估既往有新冠感染史的鼻炎患者的临床表现与形态学特征。 本研究纳入了新冠康复后出现持续性鼻部症状的患者，症状包括鼻塞、流涕、鼻干、烧灼感及嗅觉功能障碍。临床检查涵盖前鼻镜检查、鼻内镜检查与症状评估。形态学评估通过对鼻黏膜活检样本开展组织学检查完成。 研究结果显示，鼻黏膜可见上皮脱屑、杯状细胞增生、血管充血、上皮下水肿及淋巴细胞浸润。部分病例还可观察到微循环障碍与局灶性纤维化改变。临床层面，持续性鼻塞与嗅觉减退为最常见的主诉症状。 上述研究结果表明，新冠后鼻炎与鼻黏膜持续性炎症及结构重塑密切相关。识别此类临床与形态学改变，对于优化新冠感染后慢性上气道病变的诊断、治疗策略及预防工作具有重要价值。