Final answer:
Rhinitis is the inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane commonly caused by viral infections such as the common cold, leading to symptoms like coughing, sore throat, and runny nose.
Step-by-step explanation:
An inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane or lining caused mostly by viruses and characterized by fever, increased mucous secretions, inflammatory edema of the nasal mucosa, sneezing, and watery eyes is known as Rhinitis. Rhinitis is often symptomatic of the common cold, which is predominantly caused by viruses such as rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, and adenoviruses. These viruses trigger an immune response leading to symptoms like coughing, sore throat, runny nose, and sometimes a low-grade fever, which typically resolve within one to two weeks.