Is it actually a brain leak? These symptoms should be noted, as women often have a "clear nose"
Long term unilateral nasal discharge with "clear nasal mucus"
The elderly in their seventies have been treating allergic rhinitis
I only found out recently
The runny nose turned out to be
The water in my brain has leaked out
Women often have a "clear nose", but their brains are actually "leaking"?
"Doctor, I have allergic rhinitis and my nose keeps running clear. Can you prescribe some medicine for me?" On the morning of the 21st, 70 year old Aunt Liu walked into the otolaryngology department of Wuhan Fourth Hospital. Last year, Aunt Liu found that one side of her nose was constantly running with "clear nasal mucus", especially when she lowered her head. After seeking medical attention, she was diagnosed with allergic rhinitis. About a month later, the symptoms of "clear nasal discharge" disappeared, and she thought she had recovered from allergic rhinitis, so she didn't pay attention. Half a month ago, Aunt Liu once again experienced symptoms of clear nasal discharge from one side of her nostril, and even after taking anti allergic drugs, she did not improve.
Dr. Xiao Changwu, the head of the Eternal Ward of the Otolaryngology Department of the hospital, received a detailed understanding of Aunt Liu's condition. Due to the elderly person having only one nostril, which worsened when she lowered her head, Dr. Xiao Changwu suspected that she was not having a runny nose. Upon careful examination under nasal endoscopy, it was observed that cerebrospinal fluid flowed out from the anterior skull base. Biochemical examination of cerebrospinal fluid was performed on the patient's nasal secretions, and it was found that Aunt Liu's "clear nasal mucus" was indeed cerebrospinal fluid. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that there may be a defect at the bottom of the right olfactory recess in the patient's anterior cranial fossa. It turns out that Aunt Liu has suffered from cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, which means that intracranial cerebrospinal fluid flows out through the nose.
Seriously life-threatening
Xiao Changwu introduced that cerebrospinal fluid is a colorless and transparent liquid that exists in the ventricles and subarachnoid space of the brain. It has a buffering and protective effect on brain tissue, as well as the function of clearing metabolic products and inflammatory exudates. Cerebrospinal fluid is generated and circulated within the skull, and is not connected to the outside world. The bone at the base of the anterior skull is a natural barrier between the skull and the outside world. If the barrier is broken, cerebrospinal fluid will flow out of the body through the nasal cavity from the damaged area, resulting in cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. Among various types of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, trauma is the most common, and Aunt Liu belongs to spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, which is relatively rare and prone to misdiagnosis.
"The occurrence of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea is actually very dangerous. It is equivalent to having a connecting channel between the brain and the outside world. Once bacteria enter, retrograde infection can cause intracranial infection symptoms such as fever and headache. If not treated in time, there is a high possibility of brain edema and herniation, which can be life-threatening in severe cases," said Xiao Changwu. After conservative treatments such as reducing intracranial pressure, absolute bed rest, and preventing intracranial infections, Aunt Liu's cerebrospinal fluid finally stopped leaking.
Doctor: Allergic rhinitis often accompanies nasal itching and congestion
"Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea is relatively rare, and the fluid flowing out is indeed quite similar to" clear nasal mucus ", making it difficult for citizens to distinguish." Xiao Changwu reminds that allergic rhinitis often leads to clear nasal mucus, which is often accompanied by symptoms such as itching, sneezing, and nasal congestion. It is very important to have clear nasal mucus flowing from both nasal cavities.
The common manifestations of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea include indirect or continuous discharge of clear and watery fluid from the nasal cavity. Some patients also experience decreased or absent olfactory sensation, most of which are unilateral and increase when bowing, lying down, turning over, constipation, and bending down.
