Persistent Nasal Discharge: Unanticipated Reasons Behind Relentless Sniffles
A persistent runny nose, often known as chronic rhinorrhea, can be more than just a nuisance. While allergies are the most common cause, various uncommon factors can also be at play. In this article, we delve into some lesser-known causes and their symptoms.
Nonallergic rhinitis, a condition characterised by an inflamed or irritated lining of the nose, can lead to a runny nose. Weather changes, stress, and strong smells or scents can trigger this type of rhinitis.
One such condition, Vasomotor Rhinitis, is caused by overactive nasal nerve stimulation, leading to excessive and watery nasal discharge. Gustatory Rhinitis, another type, is triggered by eating spicy or hot foods, causing a runny nose due to irritation of the nasal mucosa.
Prolonged or recurrent infections can also lead to chronic nasal discharge, a symptom of Infectious Rhinitis. In rare cases, Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) leaks, caused by head or facial trauma, surgical complications, or congenital defects, can result in a salty taste in the mouth and clear nasal discharge.
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) and Neoplastic or Infectious Erosion of the Skull Base can also lead to CSF leaks, presenting with rhinorrhea symptoms. Epilepsy-related CSF leaks are another less common cause.
It's important to note that a cerebrospinal fluid leak can cause a unilateral (one-sided) nose drip and requires urgent medical attention.
A sinonasal tumour is another rare cause of a unilateral chronic runny nose, often accompanied by other symptoms like pain, headaches, or nose bleeds.
Large adenoids in children can cause chronic runny or stuffy nose, feeling of ears being plugged, snoring, trouble sleeping, and sore throat (due to mouth breathing).
Using nasal decongestant sprays for more than three to five days can lead to dependency and worsened nasal congestion and rhinorrhea. Allergies can develop at any age, including in adulthood and older adult years.
With rhinorrhea, breathing through the nose is usually clear. However, nasal congestion or nasal obstruction (stuffy nose) makes it harder to breathe out of one or both sides of the nose.
If you experience a runny nose with bloody nasal mucus or nosebleeds, dripping that tastes metallic or salty, facial pain, fever, mucus that changes from clear to yellow or green, one-sided running or dripping, or have not been diagnosed with allergies and have a chronic runny nose, it's crucial to seek medical care.
Chronic sinusitis, a long-lasting infection of the sinuses, can also cause a constant runny nose. An otolaryngologist, such as Raj Sindwani, can help diagnose and treat these conditions.
- Nonallergic rhinitis, a condition characterized by an inflamed or irritated lining of the nose, can lead to a runny nose, and it can be triggered by weather changes, stress, strong smells or scents.
- Another type of rhinitis, Gustatory Rhinitis, is triggered by eating spicy or hot foods, causing a runny nose due to irritation of the nasal mucosa.
- Prolonged or recurrent infections can lead to chronic nasal discharge, a symptom of Infectious Rhinitis, and in rare cases, Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) leaks, caused by head or facial trauma, surgical complications, or congenital defects, can result in a salty taste in the mouth and clear nasal discharge.
- Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), Neoplastic or Infectious Erosion of the Skull Base, and epilepsy-related CSF leaks can also lead to CSF leaks, presenting with rhinorrhea symptoms.
- A sinonasal tumour is another rare cause of a unilateral chronic runny nose, often accompanied by other symptoms like pain, headaches, or nose bleeds.
- Large adenoids in children can cause chronic runny or stuffy nose, feeling of ears being plugged, snoring, trouble sleeping, and sore throat (due to mouth breathing).
