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Clear Colorless Fluid Drip From Nose On Bending, Recently Been Down With Sickness Frequently. Brain Leak?
Hello, I am an 18 year old female athlete. I train everyday and today before practice i bent over to tie my shoe and a clear colorless salty fluid started dripping from my nose . This has happened to me before but usually is after practice and usually is not so much water. I have been sick (with a fever etc) 3 times in the last 3 months, not sure if that has anything to do with it. I saw a bunch of things on the internet about a brain leak and now im worried. Please help.
Mon, 2 Sep 2013
hello and welcome to HCM,
I have read into your concern about the fluid coming out of your nose.
Let me first assure you that in most of the cases since the fluid is salty and not watery clear and also since you do not have any history of injury, it may be just a benign problem.
Nevertheless in this situation i would still recommend you to get testings and examinations done to rule out a brain fluid leak:
1. I would routinely advice an endoscopic examination of the nose and sinuses
2. If there is doubt after the same then a contrast CT to get to know the site of leak and get more information is advised
3. Collect the fluid which is coming out in a sterile container and send the same for CSF analysis
Meanwhile reduce the work up for a week or two and take plenty of water and bed rest
Do not forcefully blow your nose
Any other symptoms
Watch out for symptoms like headache, fever and giddiness and immediately consult the doctor if any of these happens
take care
Dr Sriram Nathan
I have read into your concern about the fluid coming out of your nose.
Let me first assure you that in most of the cases since the fluid is salty and not watery clear and also since you do not have any history of injury, it may be just a benign problem.
Nevertheless in this situation i would still recommend you to get testings and examinations done to rule out a brain fluid leak:
1. I would routinely advice an endoscopic examination of the nose and sinuses
2. If there is doubt after the same then a contrast CT to get to know the site of leak and get more information is advised
3. Collect the fluid which is coming out in a sterile container and send the same for CSF analysis
Meanwhile reduce the work up for a week or two and take plenty of water and bed rest
Do not forcefully blow your nose
Any other symptoms
Watch out for symptoms like headache, fever and giddiness and immediately consult the doctor if any of these happens
take care
Dr Sriram Nathan
I find this answer helpful
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query with HCM. I do understand your concern regarding leakage of fluid from your nose.
Clear, watery fluid which appears on bending forward does go in favour of CSF fluid. The other possibility is nasal discharge due to allergies/ colds. Salty fluid is usually due to nasal secretions. The simplest test to do would be to send your fluid sample for a glucose analysis. This would help differentiate the two. In any case, do not stress and avoid exertion and training for sometime. While lying down, be in a semisitting position and avoid hard blowing of the nose. Do visit your ENT Specialist and he will advise you on further endoscopy/ Scanning/ and further management required if the fluid is CSF. Hope this helps.
Do let me know if you have further questions.
Kind Regards,
Dr Vaishali Mehta
Thanks for posting your query with HCM. I do understand your concern regarding leakage of fluid from your nose.
Clear, watery fluid which appears on bending forward does go in favour of CSF fluid. The other possibility is nasal discharge due to allergies/ colds. Salty fluid is usually due to nasal secretions. The simplest test to do would be to send your fluid sample for a glucose analysis. This would help differentiate the two. In any case, do not stress and avoid exertion and training for sometime. While lying down, be in a semisitting position and avoid hard blowing of the nose. Do visit your ENT Specialist and he will advise you on further endoscopy/ Scanning/ and further management required if the fluid is CSF. Hope this helps.
Do let me know if you have further questions.
Kind Regards,
Dr Vaishali Mehta
I find this answer helpful
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