I have sinus infection

[keannu]

If you have a chronic disease like having a stuffy nose caused by allergies, do you say "I have rhinitis" or "I have sinus infection"?
"Rhinitis" seems quite a medical term, and I heard from Americans that they usually say "sinus infection" even for "rhinitis". "Sinus infection" is a more serious disease than "rhinitis", but they seem to use only one.
What do you think?

 

[bhaisahab]

If you have a chronic disease like having a stuffy nose caused by allergies, do you say "I have rhinitis" or "I have sinus infection"?
"Rhinitis" seems quite a medical term, and I heard from Americans that they usually say "sinus infection" even for "rhinitis". "Sinus infection" is a more serious disease than "rhinitis", but they seem to use only one.
What do you think?

I'd say "I have a blocked/stuffy nose".

 

[emsr2d2]

If you have actually been diagnosed with rhinitis by a doctor, I don't see why you shouldn't say "I have/I suffer from rhinitis". Most people would probably use "I have a sinus infection" if it's actually an infection but that is a specific condition.

If you simply have a blocked/stuffy nose caused by hayfever or some other allergen, then I agree with bhaisahab and would just say:

- I have a blocked nose.
- I have a blocked up nose.
- I have a stuffy nose.
- My nose is blocked.

 

[Tdol]

I wouldn't use infection for a chronic condition- I would be more likely to say I have sinus problems or the name of the condition.

 

[SoothingDave]

You can even say "I have allergies" as a way of explaining the stuffed up nose. Or "I have hay fever" if it is seasonal.

 

[keannu]

I'm not just talking about a stuffy nose, but the difference in the usage of "sinus infection" and "rhinitis". You make me think they distinguish the two, while I was told by some Americans that they replace "rhinitis" with "sinus infection".
"Rhinitis" is a very common disease caused by allergies, and probably 50% or more people suffer from it, while "sinus infection" is a more serious disease that needs a surgery to completely cure. I got a "sinus infection" surgery before.
My question is if the two are not distinguished.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'm not just talking about a stuffy nose, but the difference in the usage of "sinus infection" and "rhinitis". You make me think they distinguish the two, while I was told by some Americans that they replace "rhinitis" with "sinus infection".
"Rhinitis" is a very common disease caused by allergies, and probably 50% or more people suffer from it, while "sinus infection" is a more serious disease that needs a surgery to completely cure. I got a "sinus infection" surgery before.
My question is if the two are not distinguished.

From Wikipedia: "

Rhinitis is a nonspecific term that covers infections, ​

allergies​

, and other disorders whose common feature is the location of their symptoms. In rhinitis, the mucous membranes become infected or irritated, producing a discharge, congestion, and swelling of the tissues. The most widespread form of infectious rhinitis is the ​

common cold​

."

As you can see, rhinitis might or might not involve an infection. As far as I'm concerned, that doesn't make them interchangeable.

A chronic disease is something that you have all the time, long-term. I'm not sure if I would describe hayfever as a chronic condition because, for most people, it lasts a month or so once a year.

Surgery won't cure an infection. Infections are cured (or at least they're treated) with antibiotics.​

 

[SoothingDave]

I'm not just talking about a stuffy nose, but the difference in the usage of "sinus infection" and "rhinitis". You make me think they distinguish the two, while I was told by some Americans that they replace "rhinitis" with "sinus infection".
"Rhinitis" is a very common disease caused by allergies, and probably 50% or more people suffer from it, while "sinus infection" is a more serious disease that needs a surgery to completely cure. I got a "sinus infection" surgery before.
My question is if the two are not distinguished.

I can only say that I have never heard anyone tell me that they have "rhinitis."