Rhinorrhea

Rhinorrhea
Other namesRhinorrhoea (or rhinorrhœa)
Labeled cross section of the nasal cavities
SpecialtyOtorhinolaryngology

Rhinorrhea (American English), also spelled rhinorrhoea or rhinorrhœa (British English), or informally runny nose is the free discharge of a thin mucus fluid from the nose;[1] it is a common condition. It is a common symptom of allergies (hay fever) or certain viral infections, such as the common cold or COVID-19. It can be a side effect of crying, exposure to cold temperatures, cocaine abuse,[2] or drug withdrawal, such as from methadone or other opioids.[3] Treatment for rhinorrhea may be aimed at reducing symptoms or treating underlying causes. Rhinorrhea usually resolves without intervention, but may require treatment by a doctor if symptoms last more than 10 days or if symptoms are the result of foreign bodies in the nose.[4]

The term rhinorrhea was coined in 1866 from the Greek rhino- ("of the nose") and -rhoia ("discharge" or "flow").[5]

  1. ^ Dorland's pocket medical dictionary. Elsevier. 10 November 2013. p. 660. ISBN 978-81-312-3501-0.
  2. ^ Myon L, Delforge A, Raoul G, Ferri J (February 2010). "[Palatal necrosis due to cocaine abuse]". Rev Stomatol Chir Maxillofac (in French). 111 (1): 32–5. doi:10.1016/j.stomax.2009.01.009. PMID 20060991.
  3. ^ Eileen Trigoboff; Kneisl, Carol Ren; Wilson, Holly Skodol (2004). Contemporary psychiatric-mental health nursing. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson/Prentice Hall. p. 274. ISBN 978-0-13-041582-0.
  4. ^ "Rhinorrhea (Runny Nose)". Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Rhinorrhea". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 21 September 2011.