Rhinorrhea

Rhinorrhea

Template:Search infobox Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Rhinorrhea, commonly known as a runny nose, is a symptom of the common cold and allergies (hay fever). The term comes from the Greek words "rhinos" meaning "of the nose" and "rhoia" meaning "a flowing." Rhinorrhea can also be a sign of withdrawal, such as from opioids. Symptoms display circadian rhythms.

Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea can indicate basilar skull fracture.

Overview

Nasal discharge is any mucus-like material that comes out of the nose. Nasal discharges are common, but rarely serious. Drainage from inflamed or infected sinuses may be thick or discolored. Excess mucus production may run down the back of your throat (postnasal drip) or cause a cough that is usually worse at night. A sore throat may also result from excessive mucus drainage. The mucus drainage may plug up the eustachian tube between the nose and the ear, causing an ear infection and pain. The mucus drip may also plug the sinus passages, causing sinus infection and pain.

Causes

Common Causes

• The common cold
• The flu
• Allergies
• Hay fever — nasal discharge is usually clear and very thin
• Sinusitis — the nasal discharge may be thick and discolored yellow, brown, or green
• Head injury
• Bacterial infections
• Small objects in the nostril (especially in children)
• Nasal sprays — using drops containing vasoconstrictors for more than 3 days in a row may cause nasal discharge to come back

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular	No underlying causes
Chemical/Poisoning	No underlying causes
Dental	No underlying causes
Dermatologic	No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect	Apomorphine hydrochloride, Doxercalciferol, Sorafenib
Ear Nose Throat	No underlying causes
Endocrine	No underlying causes
Environmental	No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic	No underlying causes
Genetic	No underlying causes
Hematologic	No underlying causes
Iatrogenic	No underlying causes
Infectious Disease	No underlying causes
Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic	No underlying causes
Neurologic	No underlying causes
Nutritional/Metabolic	No underlying causes
Obstetric/Gynecologic	No underlying causes
Oncologic	No underlying causes
Ophthalmologic	No underlying causes
Overdose/Toxicity	No underlying causes
Psychiatric	No underlying causes
Pulmonary	No underlying causes
Renal/Electrolyte	No underlying causes
Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy	No underlying causes
Sexual	No underlying causes
Trauma	No underlying causes
Urologic	No underlying causes
Miscellaneous	No underlying causes

Causes in Alphabetical Order

• Apomorphine hydrochloride
• Sorafenib

Non-viral/non-allergic causes

Symptoms are not always caused by specific allergens or similarly a viral infection. Strong smelling substances such as propyl disulphide and allyl disulphide (found in onions and garlic, both of the Genus Allium) and particularly CS gas (which provides an especially intense pepper-like odour) are found to exaggerate the condition.

Treatment

Keep the mucus thin rather than thick and sticky. This helps prevent complications, such as ear and sinus infections, and plugging of your nasal passages. To thin the mucus:

• Drink extra fluids.

• Increase the humidity in the air with a vaporizer or humidifier.

• Antihistamines may reduce the amount of mucus. Be careful, because some antihistamines may make you drowsy.

• Use saline nasal sprays. Don't use over-the-counter nasal sprays more frequently than three days on and three days off, unless ordered by the doctor.