Runny nose

Introduction Runny nose is one of the common symptoms of nasal diseases, which can flow out through the anterior nares or into the nasopharynx. After flowing into the nostrils, the nasopharynx and the oral cavity are said to have a runny nose. There is only a small amount of mucus in the normal nasal cavity, which is in a wet state to maintain normal physiological functions. Changes in the nature and amount of nasal secretions can occur when there is a lesion in the nasal cavity. When the nasal secretions overflow, it is called a runny nose. Chinese medicine believes that the external cold invades the human body, which leads to the closure of the pores. When the pores are closed, the water vapor originally emitted from the pores cannot be properly emitted. If there is no way to discharge it, it will be squeezed onto the road of the respiratory tract. When it is too crowded, it will condense into a liquid. Then a sputum is formed in the lungs, and a snot is formed in the nasal cavity.

Cause

Runny nose is most common in rhinitis, nasal polyps, sinusitis and so on. Common causes of runny nose include:

1. Cold: The initial stage is clear water or mucus, and purulent sputum can appear in the late stage of the cold.

2, chronic rhinitis: most of the nose is mucinous nasal discharge. The amount can be more or less.

3, allergic rhinitis: for the flow of watery sputum, the amount is more, accompanied by sneezing, nasal itching, perennial seizures, but also seasonal attacks. Patients with allergic rhinitis can be associated with asthma, especially in children.

4, chronic sinusitis: mostly mucopurulent secretions, bilateral or unilateral, accompanied by nasal congestion, dizziness, memory loss and so on. Unilateral sinusitis should consider odontogenic sinusitis.

5, nasal polyps can also appear clear water sputum, infection can be accompanied by sputum sputum, can appear nasal congestion, dizziness, memory loss and so on.

6, the secretion of children is relatively strong, if there is no other discomfort, it may cause cold air to stimulate the nasal cavity, no special treatment is needed. Unilateral nasal congestion with blood in the sputum may be caused by foreign bodies in the nasal cavity.

an examination

Related inspection

Nasopharyngeal MRI examination Otolaryngology CT examination Nasal lacrimal endoscopy

an examination

1, nasal examination

Pay attention to nasal mucosa color, turbinate, nasal passages, olfactory grooves, etc. In acute rhinitis, the membrane is acutely congested with edema, and the nasal passages have clear watery, mucous, and purulent secretions. Chronic rhinitis, mucous membrane dark red, swollen, sticky in the nasal passages. Allergic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, nasal mucosa pale purple gray. Acute and chronic sinusitis, pus in the middle nasal passage and olfactory sulcus.

2, nasal and sinus endoscopy

Routine examination of the nasal or posterior nasal cavity of the nasal cavity has a limited range of examinations for the nasal cavity. Many important parts of the nose, such as the opening of each sinus, are located in a narrow, concealed ditch or fossa that cannot be directly viewed, which makes it difficult to judge and diagnose the disease. Endoscopy of the nose and sinuses, in addition to the ethmoid sinus, all other sinuses can be used to look directly at the sinus. The source of purulent secretions can be clarified, and the pupil location of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea can also be diagnosed.

3, CT examination

CT can examine both the sinus and the brain, so it is an important method for the diagnosis of fatal sinus diseases. To identify early benign and malignant lesions, CT can be used to distinguish vascular, fat, necrotic, hemorrhagic, cystic or calcified lesions, which is conducive to the analysis of the cause.

Differential diagnosis

Nasal foreign body

It occurs mostly in children under 5 years old and can also be found in adults. Depending on the size, nature, and duration of the foreign body, the clinical performance is not the same. Common symptoms are nasal congestion on one side, and there are many secretions, which are mucinous or mucopurulent. The foreign body stays for a long time, and the secretion can be bloody and stench.

Nose stone

The nose stone is a stone formed by a foreign body as a core and surrounded by inorganic salts. Stones can be divided into exogenous and endogenous (blood clots, purulent sputum, etc.). Nasal stones vary in size and shape, mostly single, mostly in adults, with a progressive nasal congestion on one side, clear watery, purulent or purulent nasal discharge.

Nasal teeth

When there are ectopic teeth, extra teeth or reverse teeth in the nasal cavity, it is called nasal cavity. Symptoms are obstruction on one side of the nose, bloody purulent sputum between the pus and odor.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.