Post-nasal drip
| Post-nasal drip | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
| ICD-10 | R09.8 |
| ICD-9 | 784.91 |
| eMedicine | ent/338 |
Post-nasal drip (PND), also known as upper airway cough syndrome (UACS), occurs when excessive mucus is produced by the nasal mucosa. The excess mucus accumulates in the throat or back of the nose. It is caused by rhinitis, sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or by a disorder of swallowing (such as an esophageal motility disorder). It is frequently caused by an allergy, which may be seasonal or persistent throughout the year.
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Associated conditions [edit]
PND is known to be a cause of halitosis, especially when a sinus infection is also present. Acid reflux or heartburn is believed to aggravate and in some cases cause post-nasal drip.[1]
Symptoms [edit]
Individuals may be diagnosed as suffering from post-nasal drip if they suffer from the following symptoms:
- Coughing;
- Wheezing (a more common source of wheezing than asthma);
- Constant swallowing;
- Rhinorrhea, running nose due to mucus flow;
- Frequent spitting;
- Tickling in the throat;
- Constant clearing of throat;
- Rigid burning sensation at back of the throat;
- Broken or cracking voice;
- Mucus feeling in the back of the throat;
- Difficulty in breathing;
- Congestion in the nasal and sinus passages;
- Chronic sore throat;
- Masses formed in the crypts of the tonsils that are generally yellow or white (commonly called tonsil stones, or tonsilloliths);
- Halitosis (bad breath);
- Snorting to clear mucus from the nasal passage that cannot otherwise be cleared by blowing one's nose;
- Cobblestone appearance of the oropharyngeal mucosa;
- Frontal cranial pressure;
- Fatigue;
- Nausea;
- Vomiting.
Treatment [edit]
First and foremost, as the causes are manifold, a removal of those causes should be targeted. Treatment may include antibiotics, decongestants, nasal irrigation, sinus massage, acid control medication, allergy medication, and minor surgery. Bulb syringes, squirt bottles, pulsatile nasal irrigators or neti pots are often used for nasal irrigation. Allergy medications include antihistamines, decongestants, nasal steroids alone or in combination. Allergy injections may be used for long-term relief when allergy is the cause. Oral steroids may be prescribed for short-term use in some situations.
References [edit]
External links [edit]
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