As a side effect of a cold, it is known to everyone: the runny nose. When the infection has subsided, the olfactory organ usually calms down again. However, many people also suffer from a chronic runny nose. There are many causes and reasons for this, and there are things you can do to prevent the annoying runny nose.
What is a runny nose?
A runny nose is the secretion of secretion from the nose and sinuses. The secretion is often produced by inflammation in these areas. A runny nose is the secretion of secretion from the nose and sinuses. In this case, the secretion is often produced by inflammation in these areas. When inflammation is severe or persistent, the nasal mucous membranes swell and secretion production increases. An acute infection is usually accompanied by a runny nose. From clear fluid to yellow-greenish mucus to dark bark, secretions from a runny nose can take a wide variety of forms, depending on the cause.
Causes
The appearance and texture of nasal secretions can tell you quite a bit about the cause of runny nose. A bacterial infection produces yellow-greenish, thick secretion (pus). If, on the other hand, the fluid is thin, whitish or colorless, this speaks in acute occurrence for a common cold produced by viruses. If a permanently runny nose with clear fluid occurs, this is often the consequence and accompanying symptom of an allergy. As a reaction to an irritant, the nasal mucosa then constantly produces secretion. If the allergic stimulus, which can be dust, pollen or harmful substances in the air, as well as intolerable foods, is not eliminated, the runny nose becomes chronic.
Diseases with this symptom
- Allergy
- Hay fever
- Common cold
- Wegener’s disease
- Flu
- Sinusitis
Diagnosis and course
To diagnose the runny nose as a concomitant of an infection by bacteria or viruses is relatively easy if other symptoms of a cold or flu also occur in addition. In the case of persistent infections in the ear, nose, and throat area, which are noticeable, among other things, by a runny nose with yellow-green secretion, a bacterial superinfection, i.e., an additional bacterial infestation on inflamed tissue, can be detected by a mucosal swab. Treatment is then adjusted accordingly. The detection of an allergy as the cause of the runny nose is somewhat more difficult because there are many possible allergenic substances. The doctor will do an allergy test if there is a suspicion. If the result is positive, it is then a challenging task for the doctor and the patient to relieve the symptoms and calm the runny nose through proper treatment and body strengthening measures.
Complications
A runny nose is usually a symptom of a simple cold, which heals without complications. In the worst cases, the cold can spread and further infect the sinuses and middle ear. In addition, these normally viral infections can become secondarily infected by bacteria, resulting in a superinfection, which is more complicated to treat. Wegener’s disease can also be the cause of a chronic runny nose. This is an autoimmune disease of the vessels. Within one year, about 50 percent die from the consequences of this disease if it is not treated adequately with immunosuppression. The disease spreads throughout the entire organism and primarily affects the ear, kidney and eyes. The result is hearing loss, which can lead to deafness, visual impairment, which can end in blindness, and kidney weakness (renal insufficiency). If the disease affects the kidneys, any therapy is usually too late, the life expectancy is less than 6 months. In addition, a runny nose can also occur as allergic rhinitis in the context of an allergy. Complications that can arise are, for example, inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, as well as effusions in the middle ear and tympani, which lead to hearing loss. In the rarest cases, an allergen can cause allergic shock. The affected person suffers a sharp drop in blood pressure, as well as an increase in heart rate. In addition, there is shortness of breath.In the case of shock, an emergency physician should be consulted immediately, as this is a life-threatening emergency.
When should you go to the doctor?
At first glance, a runny nose is not a worrisome medical condition that necessarily needs to be evaluated by a medical professional. However, a runny nose should subside within a week. Before the affected person with a runny nose visits a doctor, of course, can first resort to the medicine cabinet. Nasal sprays, cold ointments or inhaling anti-inflammatory agents are effective remedies for a runny nose. If all these measures fail to bring about an improvement, then a visit to the doctor is unavoidable. Anyone who completely forgoes seeing a doctor or taking the appropriate medication at this point must reckon with a considerable worsening of the individual symptoms. However, if the affected person seeks a doctor, it should be the family doctor for the time being. A family doctor can prescribe appropriate medication for such cold symptoms, which can achieve a significant improvement in well-being within a short time. Generally speaking, a family doctor can effectively treat a runny nose with the right medication. Before that, of course, you can fight a runny nose with your own home remedies. However, if there is no improvement after a few days, a doctor should definitely be consulted. This is the only way to avoid serious complications at an early stage.
Treatment and therapy
Runny nose accompanying a simple infection is a self-healing and cleansing action of the body. Therefore, secretions from the nose should not be suppressed. Immune-strengthening measures, sparing, healthy diet, plenty of fluids (water) and regular nasal baths usually ensure a complication-free and predictable course of the infection, with whose subsiding also the runny nose disappears. If a bacterial superinfection causes the runny nose, the doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotics. This treatment is usually the only way to permanently eliminate the inflammation and thus the runny nose in the case of a bacterial infection. It is also very important, because bacterial infections can become dangerous. More difficult and unfavorable in prognosis is the runny nose as a result of an allergic reaction. In this case, it depends very much on the patient’s perseverance and consistent behavior whether the allergen can be eliminated permanently, and thus the problem of the runny nose can also be eliminated. However, since not all allergy-triggering irritants can always be banished from everyday life without further ado, the prognosis for a complete cure of the runny nose is rather unfavorable.
Outlook and prognosis
Runny nose is caused by irritation of the nasal mucosa or also by a bacterial infection. Thus, this clinical picture can take different courses, which in some cases should be treated by a doctor. As a rule, a runny nose should subside on its own within a week. Affected persons have difficulty breathing at night and sores appear on the nose. There is also a purulent discharge from the nose, which can vary depending on the severity of the infection. In some cases, however, a runny nose does not heal within a week, but a more severe infection develops. The mucous membranes of the nose are affected at such a time. They can become very crusted and inflamed. In such a case, the affected person gets very bad air, so that this clinical picture should be treated with medication. If the cause of a runny nose is not an infection, in many cases an allergy is to blame. For example, if you suffer from hay fever, you may have a runny nose all year round. An improvement in such a case can only be achieved with the help of medication.
Prevention
To prevent a runny nose, there are some measures that can be easily and successfully applied. Healthy diet, plenty of fluids and fresh air support the whole body and especially the defense system, which is directly related to nasal and sinus mucous membranes. Special nasal baths with warm water and the addition of sea salt moisten and strengthen the nasal mucous membranes. In addition, the application of herbal essential oils can have a decongestant effect and protect the mucous membranes.If you have problems with a runny nose, avoid dust, synthetic fragrances and too many chemicals in the home.
This is what you can do yourself
For a runny nose, there are relatively many self-help remedies that are used. A visit to the doctor is therefore necessary only in rare cases. It is usually sufficient to wipe the runny nose repeatedly with a handkerchief or blow your nose. This clears the nose and allows the secretion to escape. In the pharmacy there are various sprays for the nose that can stop the runny nose. These also clear the nose of congestion and other blockages. Ideally, the nose can be rinsed with salt water. For this, water can simply be mixed with salt and then sprayed into the nose. The salt water will clear the nose of blockages and thus stop the runny nose. To stop the nose from running, inhalation sticks can also be used. These are often impregnated with a certain oil, which frees the blockages in the nose with the help of the smell and thus ensures a clear nose. Similarly, ginger and garlic help against runny nose. These can be used, for example, in a tea or in soups. When you have the flu or a cold, a healthy diet is very helpful to quickly fight the runny nose.
