Sudden Dripping Of Clear Fluid From One Nostril, Not Seasonal, No Head Trauma. Treatment Required?
My left nostril has been dripping clear fluid for well over a year. I always have to have a tissue with me because I never know when it will happen and the season/ weather does not seem to matter. I hadn t thought it was anything possibly serious until I talked with a friend yesterday. Should I see my PCP? Also, I have not had any kind of head trauma.
Hi Bullick,
Unilateral constant runny nose is very much suggestive of Cerebrospinal leak.
It may be a congenital anomaly or an acquired defect of cribriform plate were there is direct communication between subarachnoid space of brain and the nasal cavity.
Cerebrospinal fluid circulating around the brain protects the brain from mechanical trauma.
It can lead to spread of serious infections from nose to brain like meningitis, meningoencephalitis, a brain abscess etc. in case of leaks.
Another possility is a polip in nose that irritates the local mucosa and causes watery secretions in nose.
Please have a review with your physician who would be able to decide the cause based on physical examination
I hope that answered your query.
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Sudden Dripping Of Clear Fluid From One Nostril, Not Seasonal, No Head Trauma. Treatment Required?
Hi Bullick, Unilateral constant runny nose is very much suggestive of Cerebrospinal leak. It may be a congenital anomaly or an acquired defect of cribriform plate were there is direct communication between subarachnoid space of brain and the nasal cavity. Cerebrospinal fluid circulating around the brain protects the brain from mechanical trauma. It can lead to spread of serious infections from nose to brain like meningitis, meningoencephalitis, a brain abscess etc. in case of leaks. Another possility is a polip in nose that irritates the local mucosa and causes watery secretions in nose. Please have a review with your physician who would be able to decide the cause based on physical examination I hope that answered your query.