Symptom: Postnasal drip

Introduction: Postnasal drip

Postnasal drip: Drip from the nose down the back of the throat. See free access online books about Postnasal drip below. See detailed information below for a list of 12 causes of Postnasal drip, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Postnasal drip: full list

Causes of Postnasal drip:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Postnasal drip. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Runny nose - see also causes of runny nose
• Common cold
• Allergies - see also types of allergies
• Hay fever
• Mold allergies
• Pet allergies
• Reflux
• Heartburn
• Sinusitis
• Chronic sinusitis

See full list of 12 causes of Postnasal drip

» Review Causes of Postnasal drip: full list

Postnasal drip: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Postnasal drip, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Postnasal drip: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Postnasal drip and Nerve symptoms (9 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Pain (9 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Respiratory symptoms (9 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Sensations (9 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Sore throat (9 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Throat symptoms (9 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Cold-like symptoms (8 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Discharge (8 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Face symptoms (8 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Head symptoms (8 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Mucus symptoms (8 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Nose symptoms (8 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Runny nose (8 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Stuffed nose (8 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Watery eye (8 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Cough (7 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Eye symptoms (7 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Lung symptoms (7 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Sneezing (7 causes)
• Postnasal drip and Coughing (6 causes)

See full list of 315 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Postnasal drip

Home Diagnostic Testing and Postnasal drip

Home medical tests possibly related to Postnasal drip:

• Cold & Flu: Home Testing:
  • Home Fever Tests
  • Home Ear Infection Tests
  • Home Flu Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Throat symptoms (1143 causes)
• Nose symptoms (445 causes)
• Head symptoms (3858 causes)
• Face symptoms (2766 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Postnasal drip

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Postnasal drip:

• Runny nose (151 causes)
• Blocked nose (107 causes)
• Stuffy nose (107 causes)
• Throat symptoms (1143 causes)
• Cold-like symptoms (111 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Postnasal drip

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Postnasal drip from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Postnasal drip. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Postnasal drip

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Postnasal drip

Sinusitis is overdiagnosed: There is a tendency to give a diagnosis of sinusitis, when the condition is really a harmless complication of another infection, such...read more »

Whooping cough often undiagnosed: Although most children in the Western world have been immunized against whooping cough (also called "pertussis"), this protection wears off after about 15 years. Thus, any teen or...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Postnasal drip

Diagnostic tests for Postnasal drip:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Postnasal drip. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Inspection of the mouth, sinuses, nose
  • Palpate the sinuses for tenderness that may suggest sinusitis
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count and ESR

See full list of 11 diagnostic tests for Postnasal drip

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Postnasal drip. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had the postnasal drip? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• Past medical history? - e.g. cystic fibrosis, allergic rhinitis and chronic ethmoid sinusitis is associated with nasal polyp formation.
• Past surgical history? - e.g. previous sinus surgery, polypectomy.
• Medications? - e.g. continued use of nasal steroids and nasal vasoconstrictors can lead to thickening of secretions and can aggravate postnasal drip.
• Allergies? - e.g. mold, dustmite, cat dander, cockroach.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Postnasal drip (8 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Postnasal drip) may include:

• Symptoms of sinusitis? - e.g. facial pain and tenderness, toothache, postnasal drip, nasal obstruction, runny nose, cough and fever.
• Symptoms of nasal polyps? - e.g. nasal obstruction, sensation of fullness or pressure in the nose, wanting to clear the nose by blowing but being unable to, postnasal drip, disabling loss of smell and consequent loss of taste.
• Symptoms of allergic rhinitis? - e.g. sneezing; itchy nose; copious thin watery discharge. May have nasal obstruction with postnasal drip.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Postnasal drip (8 listings)

Stories from Users for Postnasal drip

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Postnasal drip or relevant symptoms:

• ENMT (Ears, Nose, Mouth and Throat) (275)
  • Swelling in roof of mouth
  • Pain on one side of throat
  • Please help! Mucus/dark circles/bad breath...
  • Painful white bumps on tongue
  • Sinus headache & eye area pain
  • More user stories
• Respiratory (Lungs and Breathing) (136)
  • Chlorine/ammonia odor when I breathe
  • Chest Pain/Pain While Breathing
  • Clearing throat cough and breathing difficulties
  • Chest discomfort
  • Unable to get diagnosis....please help!
  • More user stories
• Allergic/Immunologic (88)
  • Chronic hives
  • Spontaneous flushing and redness of face and body.
  • Non-stop itching, no rash
  • Swelling & itching
  • Problems with my scalp can anyone help me
  • More user stories

Videos for Postnasal drip

Patient Surveys for Postnasal drip

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Definitions of Postnasal drip:

Chronic secretion of mucus from the rear of the nasal cavity into the nasopharynx
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Organs affected by Postnasal drip:

The list of organs typically affected by Postnasal drip may include, but is not limited to:

• Nose
• Sinuses
• Throat

Detailed list of causes of Postnasal drip

The list below shows some of the causes of Postnasal drip mentioned in various sources:

• Allergies - postnasal drip
• Catarrh - postnasal drip
• Chronic sinusitis
• Common cold
• Dust mite allergies - postnasal drip

See full list of 12 causes of Postnasal drip

How Common are these Causes of Postnasal drip?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Postnasal drip. Of the 12 causes of Postnasal drip that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 6 causes are "very common" diseases
• 0 causes are "common" diseases
• 0 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 0 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 11 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 12 causes of Postnasal drip

Conditions listing symptoms: Postnasal drip:

The following list of conditions have 'Postnasal drip' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Doctors and specialists: Who should I consult about Postnasal drip?

Depending on the seriousness of the onset of Postnasal drip, you may want to consult one of the following medical professionals.
Important:In extreme cases, always seek advice from emergency services :

• General practitioner
• Emergency physician
• Respiratory physician
• Ear nose and throat specialist

Classifications of Postnasal drip:

Medical Conditions associated with Postnasal drip:

Throat symptoms (1130 causes), Nose symptoms (441 causes), Head symptoms (3773 causes), Face symptoms (2743 causes)

Symptoms related to Postnasal drip:

Runny nose (93 causes), Blocked nose (93 causes), Stuffy nose (93 causes), Throat symptoms (1130 causes), Cold-like symptoms (100 causes)

Postnasal drip as a disease:

For a more detailed analysis of Postnasal drip as a disease, please see our Disease Center information for Postnasal drip.

• Causes of Postnasal drip (7 conditions)

Medical articles on signs and symptoms:

Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:

• What to tell your doctor about your symptoms
• What questions will the doctor ask about your symptoms (and why)?
• What does your doctor do in a physical examination?
• What questions should you ask the doctor about a symptom or diagnosis?
• What questions to ask the doctor about the treatment
• Steps to take to get the most out of a doctor visit
• More articles on symptoms and diagnosis

These general medical articles may be of interest:

• Medical Symptom Books
• Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
• Online Diagnosis
• Self Diagnosis Pitfalls
• Pitfalls of Online Diagnosis

See full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

Related medical articles from our Disease Center for Postnasal drip:

• Introduction: Postnasal drip
• Basic Summary for Postnasal drip
• Causes of Postnasal drip
• Videos for Postnasal drip
• Symptoms of Postnasal drip

More Ways To Research Medical Signs and Symptoms:

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