Chapter 1: Clinical Overview
The nose and sinuses produce mucous which keeps the nose moist, normally this mucous is swept into the throat and swallowed.
Sometimes the nose presents as runny and sometimes as blocked.
A runny nose is when there is fluid dripping out of the nose. This fluid may be clear or coloured (such as yellow) and can be very liquid/thin or more viscous/thick.
A blocked nose is when the patient can’t breathe easily through the nose, but there may be no visible sign that there is anything wrong.
Sometimes with a runny nose the mucous flows back down the throat (called a post-nasal drip) which can cause a sore throat.
Note: the way a runny nose is treated may be different from the treatment for a blocked nose. This means that it is essential to ask the right questions, so that the best treatment can be recommended.
What could it be?
There are many conditions that can cause a runny or blocked nose, such as:
A cold
Flu or COVID
Hay fever
Crying
Cold weather
Irritants like smoke, spicy food
An obstruction such as an object stuck in the nose
It is important to ask the right questions to find out possible causes and if there are other symptoms.