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.^[1] Symptoms display circadian rhythms.^[2] For other uses, see Nose (disambiguation). ... The term symptom (from the Greek meaning chance, mishap or casualty, itself derived from συμπιπτω meaning to fall upon or to happen to) has two similar meanings in the context of physical and mental health: Strictly, a symptom is a sensation or change in health function experienced by a patient. ... Acute viral nasopharyngitis, often known as the common cold, is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system (nose and throat). ... This article needs cleanup. ... For the play, see Hay Fever. ... Withdrawal, also known as withdrawal syndrome, refers to the characteristic signs and symptoms that appear when a drug that causes physical dependence is regularly used for a long time and then suddenly discontinued or decreased in dosage. ... An opioid is a chemical substance that has a morphine-like action in the body. ... A circadian rhythm is a roughly-24-hour cycle in the physiological processes of living beings, including plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria. ...

Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea can indicate basilar skull fracture.^{[citation needed]} Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), Liquor cerebrospinalis, is a clear bodily fluid that occupies the subarachnoid space in the brain (the space between the skull and the cerebral cortex—more specifically, between the arachnoid and pia layers of the meninges). ... A basilar skull fracture (or Basal skull fracture) is a linear fracture involving the base of the skull. ...

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

• 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
• Vasomotor rhinitis
• 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

Acute viral nasopharyngitis, often known as the common cold, is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system (nose and throat). ... Influenza, commonly known as flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). ... Allergy is an abnormal reaction to a substance foreign to the body that is acquired, predictable and rapid. ... For the play, see Hay Fever. ... Sinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, which may or may not be as a result of infection, from bacterial, fungal, viral, allergic or autoimmune issues. ... Vasomotor rhinitis is a form of rhinitis that is not related to allergic reactions, but which is characterized by many of the same symptoms, such as a chronic running nose with intermittent sneezing, rhinorrhea and blood-vessel congestion of the nasal mucus membranes. ...

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.

An H1 antihistamine is a histamine antagonist which serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during allergic reactions, through action at the H1 receptor. ...

References

1. ^ Kneisl, Wilson, & Trigoboff. (2004). Contemporary Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson. pg274
2. ^ Smolensky MH, Reinberg A, Labrecque G. (1995). Twenty-four hour pattern in symptom intensity of viral and allergic rhinitis: treatment implications. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1995 May;95(5 Pt 2):1084-96.