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Post-nasal drip

 

 
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Post-nasal drip
 
 
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Post-nasal drip (PND) occurs when excessive mucus
Mucus

In vertebrates, mucus is a slippery secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is a viscous colloid containing antiseptic enzymes and immunoglobulins that serves to protect Epithelium in the respiratory,...
 is produced by the sinuses
Paranasal sinus

Paranasal sinuses are air-filled spaces, communicating with the nasal cavity, within the bones of the skull and face....
. The excess mucus accumulates in the throat
Throat

In anatomy, the throat is the anterior part of the neck, in front of the vertebrae. It consists of the pharynx and larynx. An important feature of the throat is the epiglottis, a flap which separates the esophagus from the vertebrate trachea and prevents inhalation of food or drink....
 or back of the nose
Nose

Anatomically, a nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which admit and expel air for Respiration in conjunction with the mouth....
. It can be caused by rhinitis
Rhinitis

Rhinitis, commonly known as a runny nose, is the medical term describing irritation and inflammation of some internal areas of the nose. The primary symptom of rhinitis is nasal...
, sinusitis
Sinusitis

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, which may or may not be as a result of infection, from bacterial, fungus, virus, allergy or autoimmunity issues....
, or laryngopharyngeal acid reflux. It can be exacerbated or sometimes even caused by allergies, whether in spring, fall or early summer.

may be, in some cases, a contributing cause for halitosis
Halitosis

Halitosis, oral malodor, breath odor, mouth odor, foul breath, fetor oris, fetor ex ore, or most commonly bad breath are terms used to describe noticeably unpleasant odors exhaled in breathing ? whether the smell is from an oral source or not....
 - bad breath arising from the posterior tongue dorsum
Dorsum (biology)

In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright....
.






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Post-nasal drip (PND) occurs when excessive mucus
Mucus

In vertebrates, mucus is a slippery secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is a viscous colloid containing antiseptic enzymes and immunoglobulins that serves to protect Epithelium in the respiratory,...
 is produced by the sinuses
Paranasal sinus

Paranasal sinuses are air-filled spaces, communicating with the nasal cavity, within the bones of the skull and face....
. The excess mucus accumulates in the throat
Throat

In anatomy, the throat is the anterior part of the neck, in front of the vertebrae. It consists of the pharynx and larynx. An important feature of the throat is the epiglottis, a flap which separates the esophagus from the vertebrate trachea and prevents inhalation of food or drink....
 or back of the nose
Nose

Anatomically, a nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which admit and expel air for Respiration in conjunction with the mouth....
. It can be caused by rhinitis
Rhinitis

Rhinitis, commonly known as a runny nose, is the medical term describing irritation and inflammation of some internal areas of the nose. The primary symptom of rhinitis is nasal...
, sinusitis
Sinusitis

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, which may or may not be as a result of infection, from bacterial, fungus, virus, allergy or autoimmunity issues....
, or laryngopharyngeal acid reflux. It can be exacerbated or sometimes even caused by allergies, whether in spring, fall or early summer.

Associated conditions

PND may be, in some cases, a contributing cause for halitosis
Halitosis

Halitosis, oral malodor, breath odor, mouth odor, foul breath, fetor oris, fetor ex ore, or most commonly bad breath are terms used to describe noticeably unpleasant odors exhaled in breathing ? whether the smell is from an oral source or not....
 - bad breath arising from the posterior tongue dorsum
Dorsum (biology)

In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright....
.

Symptoms

An individual may be diagnosed as suffering from post-nasal drip if they suffer from the following symptoms.

  • Swallowing
    Swallowing

    "Gulp" redirects here. For other uses, see Gulp .Swallowing, known scientifically as deglutition, is the process in the human or animal body that makes something pass from the mouth, to the pharynx, into the esophagus, with the shutting of the epiglottis....
     constantly
  • Spitting
    Spitting

    Spitting or expectoration is the act of forcibly ejecting saliva or other substances from the mouth. It is normally considered rude and a social taboo in many parts of the world, though spitting can still be occasionally observed in some places ....
     (mucus) constantly
  • Tickling in the throat
  • Constant clearing of throat
  • Mucus feeling in the back of the throat
  • Difficulty in breathing
    Dyspnea

    Dyspnea or dyspnoea , from Latin language dyspnoea, from Greek language dyspnoia from dyspnoos, shortness of breath) or shortness of breath is perceived to be difficulty of breathing or painful breathing that a patient is aware of....
  • Congestion in the nasal and sinus
    Paranasal sinus

    Paranasal sinuses are air-filled spaces, communicating with the nasal cavity, within the bones of the skull and face....
     passages
  • Chronic
    Chronic

    Chronic may refer to:* Chronic , a persistent and lasting disease or medical condition, or one that has developed slowly* Chronic toxicity,* The Chronic, a 1992 album by Dr....
     sore throat
  • Crystal
    Crystal

    A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions....
    s found in the tonsil
    Tonsil

    Palatine tonsils, occasionally called the faucial tonsils, are the tonsils that can be seen on the left and right sides at the back of the throat....
    s that are generally yellow or white (commonly called tonsil stones, or tonsillolith
    Tonsillolith

    A tonsillolith is a piece of calcareous matter which forms in the rear of the mouth, in the Palatine_tonsils#Tonsilar_crypts of the palatine tonsils ....
    s)
  • Bad breath
  • Coughing
  • Feeling nauseated due to accumulation of mucus in stomach
  • Vomiting
    Vomiting

    Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. Undesired vomiting may result from many causes, ranging from gastritis or poisoning to brain tumors, or elevated intracranial pressure....
     due to excessive mucus in stomach
  • Cobblestone appearance of the oropharyngeal mucosa


Treatment

A person seeking treatment for post-nasal drip should see an otolaryngologist
Otolaryngology

Otolaryngology is the branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders. The full name of the specialty is otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Practitioners are called otolaryngologists-head and neck surgeons, or sometimes otorhinolaryngologists ....
 (ENT), family physician or General Practitioner
General practitioner

A general practitioner, or GP is a Physician who provides primary care and Specialty in family medicine. A general practitioner treats Acute and Chronic and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes....
 (for possible referral)

Treatment may include antibiotics, nasal irrigation
Nasal irrigation

Nasal irrigation or nasal lavage is the personal hygiene practice in which the nasal cavity is washed to flush out excess mucus and debris while moistening the mucus membranes of the nose and sinuses....
, or minor surgery
Surgery

Surgery is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, to help improve bodily function or appearance, or sometimes for some other reason....
.

Some people use bulb syringes, squirt bottles, and neti pots for nasal irrigation. Other treatments, for the allergy aspect of the disorder, include the usage of antihistamines and/or decongestants to treat the most common effects. Steroids may also be prescribed for short-term usage, as extended use may cause harmful side effect
Side effect

Side effect can mean:* Adverse reaction, an unintended consequence specifically arising from drug therapy* Therapeutic effect, an unintended but desirable consequence of any kind of medical treatment...
s.

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