Rhinitis is a condition of inflammation of the nose. It typically involves nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy nose, sneezing, postnasal drip. The nose continuously generates a fluid called mucus. This fluid is otherwise helpful because it keeps the dust, allergens from entering the lungs. Mucus is sticky, so it traps particles including dust and pollen, bacteria, viruses.

Mucus usually clears down the back of the throat. Most of the time, you are not even aware of the process because mucus is very slow and thin. When the nose becomes infected or irritated, the result is more mucus which is thick and pale. The mucus may begin to exist from the front as well as back. When it goes from the back, the substances in the mucus may irritate the back of the throat and cause coughing.

Postnasal drip means more mucus drains down the back of the throat.