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Headache, Brown Fluid Dripping From Nose, Had Lumbar Steroid Epidural. Is It Sinus Infection?
I woke up with a horrible headache and a brownish thin fluid dripping from my nose. I went to the ER and the doc said it was a sinus infection . I ve had many sinus infections in the past, but none that involved a brown watery substance dripping from the right nostril only. I haven t had any head trauma but I have had lumbar facet injections in December and a lumbar steroid epidural the 31st of October. The doc did a halo test to rule out CSF. Is this test accurate or should I follow up with a neurosurgeon?
Wed, 6 Nov 2013
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The halo test is based on the fact that CSF will separate from blood when applied to an absorbant surface. It is a useful test but not completely accurate.
It is possible that the brown discharge is related to blood in the sinus passages.The blood can occur due to inflammation of the sinuses.This would be treated with antihistamines, nasal sprays and possibly antibiotics.
IN the absence of head trauma , it is unlikely that there is leakage of CSF.
I hope this helps
The halo test is based on the fact that CSF will separate from blood when applied to an absorbant surface. It is a useful test but not completely accurate.
It is possible that the brown discharge is related to blood in the sinus passages.The blood can occur due to inflammation of the sinuses.This would be treated with antihistamines, nasal sprays and possibly antibiotics.
IN the absence of head trauma , it is unlikely that there is leakage of CSF.
I hope this helps
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