Contents:
- Medical Video: Patient's Runny Nose Is Actually A Brain Leak
- Leakage of brain fluid can cause runny nose
- Differentiate runny nose due to leakage of brain fluid with other causes
- How do doctors diagnose brain fluid leak?
- How to deal with brain fluid leak?
Medical Video: Patient's Runny Nose Is Actually A Brain Leak
Runny nose is a subscription disease in some people. The causes also vary. Starting from colds, flu, allergies, or sinusitis. However, there are other conditions that can cause these symptoms, namely leakage of brain fluid. Then, what distinguishes the cause of a runny nose? Look for the answer in the following review.
Leakage of brain fluid can cause runny nose
Reported from Healthline, a woman named 52-year-old Kendra Jackson in Nebraska, United States (US) suffered from a runny headache and nose. Initially the doctor dropped the diagnosis that the woman had allergies. However, this condition does not improve after years. Until a specialist gives a diagnosis that the headache and runny nose are not caused by allergies, but a leak of fluid cerebrospinal (CSF) in the brain.
So, the cause of runny nose is not just sinusitis, runny nose, flu, or just allergies. The liquid that comes out may be excessive mucus due to infection with viruses, bacteria, and allergens or also fluid in the brain that has a leak. However, brain fluid leakage is very rare.
Differentiate runny nose due to leakage of brain fluid with other causes
Usually the symptoms of runny nose due to colds, flu, allergies, or sinusitis will heal if treated and avoid triggers. Unlike the brain fluid leak that continues to survive and does not improve with ordinary treatment. In addition, there are other symptoms of brain fluid leakage that need to be watched out for, for example:
- Headache
- Ears ringing
- Visual impairment; eyes hurt and blurred vision
- Stiff neck
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
However, each patient with this condition has different symptoms. Usually, the head will feel very painful when bowing its head, getting up from a sitting position, and vice versa. While the liquid that comes out is clear and will come out more when tilting your head, bowing your head, or when straining.
How do doctors diagnose brain fluid leak?
Liquid leak cerebrospinal in the brain is caused by tears in the soft tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord called the dura meter. The liquid that comes out causes a decrease in volume and puts pressure on the brain. Finally this fluid can flow to the nose, ears, or the back of the throat. The average person who experiences this condition has experienced head trauma, surgery on the head, or has a tumor in the brain.
If it is not caused by a cold and other common causes of runny nose, the fluid coming out of the nose will be tested in the laboratory. This is done to ensure that the liquid is indeed liquid cerebrospinal in the brain.
Then, to find out where the fluid coming out of the nose due to leakage of brain fluid is not easy. Patients must undergo various imaging tests (scan) high resolution to see fluid flow of the brain. Or by injecting coloring fluorescent that allows the surgeon to determine the location of the leak.
How to deal with brain fluid leak?
Overcoming leakage of brain fluid can be done in two ways, depending on the severity of each condition. First, do surgery by inserting a small channel called shunt to drain some of the liquid.
Then, the doctor will recommend the patient to take full rest (bed rest) so that the torn tissue can recover by itself. Second, if the leak is bigger, then you fill in the leaked part with other similar tissue in the patient's body.
