Rhinorrhea or Runny Nose

Ear Nose | Otorhinolaryngology | Rhinorrhea or Runny Nose (Symptom)


Description

Rhinorrhea is any mucus-like material coming out of the nose. Nasal discharge is common but rarely serious. The drainage of the inflamed or infected sinuses may be thick or discoloured. Excess mucus may run down the back of the throat (postnasal drip) or cause a cough, often 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 ear, causing pain and ear infection.

The mucus drip may also plug the sinus passages, causing sinus infection and pain. Rhinorrhea or nasal discharge is one of the most frequent clinical manifestations indicating usually in the respiratory disturbance, mainly nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. The secretion of mucus can block the eustachian tubes at a height midway between the nose and the ear, causing ear infection and pain.

Causes

Among the possible causes are allergies, colds, sinusitis, bacterial infections and nasal drops.

...