Here’s a story of a runny nose that was not allergies. (More good reasons to be sure that you have yourself checked out by a specialist if standard care for allergies is not working).

Retired nurse Rebecca Yates had a runny nose. Her nose dripped constantly. Each time she went to the doctor, she was told it was allergic rhinitis, despite the lack of other allergic symptoms.

Finally, she was referred to a ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist who called to tell her some shocking news: she actually needed emergency surgery. Turns out that the fluid that had been leaking from Yates nose and masquerading as allergies was actually spinal fluid!

Usually a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is caused by a blow to the head, but it can develop for other reasons. Yates had an unusually high spinal fluid pressure that had been undiagnosed. The main symptoms are a splitting headache or clear fluid leaking from the nose.

This is what Yates had been dealing with for 18 months.

Source: Washington Post