A watery nose is generally due to rhinitis, which is a general term used to describe inflammation of the nasal lining.
In simple terms, this is due to either allergic or non-allergic causes, with the latter usually being due to long standing nasal and sinus infection.
There are, however, a myriad of other rarer but no less irritating causes of rhinitis, and the diagnosis and treatment of all these issues is our aim at Kent and Sussex ENT.
It is also noticeable that as our population ages, I see an increasing number of elderly patients with real issues with watery nasal discharge and nasal blockage caused by what has been unkindly described as ‘senile rhinitis’.
When I mentioned the probable cause of her problems to one such extremely sprightly and entertaining lady I saw, she took real exception to being classed as elderly and especially with the label senile, although admitting later that she was 92 years old!
I think she did forgive me when I apologised that this was not my terminology, and she has subsequently given me a copy of her autobiography (both volumes!) and written me a charming poem, which I share with you below…
To write a poem on ‘Catarrh’ has tested my linguistic skills!
(Perhaps these rhyming couplets are just comments on my nasal ills,
Or merely lines I shall compose, to tell about my runny nose?)The NHS has failed to find an answer to this simple grief,
For everyone, it seems, is blind to sinus sniffs and cold relief.
At 92, it’s quite ironic to have your snuffles labelled ‘CHRONIC’!Although they didn’t find a cure, I’ve confidence in ENT,
and Kleenex tissues can ensure no-one spots the drips but me.
So, to be blunt, I shouldn’t carp; I’m really glad the boss was Sharp!
As she so eloquently writes, unfortunately the successful treatment of this condition is often difficult. The most important thing however is to get to the root cause of the rhinitis properly via examination and investigation by a specialist in this particular condition (i.e. a specialist rhinologist such as myself).
As I have mentioned (and particularly as one gets older) there are many different causes of nasal symptoms such as this, and obviously the most important thing is to rule out any more sinister causes before commencing any treatment.
The precise cause can be difficult to ascertain, but as with many causes of rhinitis, the watery nose may respond to a steroid nasal spray. If not however, and after thorough investigation in each individual patient, it may be put down to overactivity of the (parasympathetic) nerve supply to the nasal lining.
This particular cause may get better with a different (anticholinergic) nasal spray which specifically blocks the activity of the nerves which stimulate the nasal lining to produce mucus (Ipratropium Bromide or Rinatec nasal spray). Saline nasal douches may also be helpful by flushing out mucus to keep the nose clear.
If this nasal spray is successful, then there is the option to stay on it long term to keep symptoms at bay. In some patients however the effect can wear off, or there can be side effects from its use in the longer term.
It is of particular interest then that in the recent past a surgical device called ClariFix has been introduced into the equation.
This is a cryotherapy probe that when applied to a particular spot inside the nasal cavity freezes and ablates the particular nerve that stimulates the nose to produce mucus, and has shown very promising results in my and other colleagues’ hands worldwide.
It is performed under a short general anaesthetic, with no recognised significant risks or side effects, and requires no more than 24 hours of recuperation after the anaesthetic.
If you feel you would like to discuss your symptoms and/or this procedure with me then please make an appointment via this website, and I would be happy to investigate whether it would be appropriate for you and explain how the procedure works in more detail.