Does it feel like your nose is about to leak when you lean down? While this may be expected when you have a cold or allergies, it could be a condition that requires a different kind of treatment. Let’s go over possible causes of water or clear fluid in the nose and why it’s so important to seek care.

What Causes Water in Your Nose?

Unless you get water up your nose while swimming or showering, chances are that it’s not really water you’re feeling. You might have clear, runny mucus, or you might have a clear fluid that’s not mucus. The type of fluid depends on the underlying cause. A few reasons you might be experiencing this include:

• Colds and other upper respiratory viruses: These conditions are often accompanied by fever, chills, and cough.
• Sinus problems: These issues often cause thick yellow drainage, but sometimes it can be a gush of thin yellow watery secretions from a burst mucus retention cyst or clear jelly-like mucus from trapping of normal flow of secretions.
• Seasonal or chronic allergies: Allergies are often associated with the other common symptoms, such as sneezing, itching, and runny eyes.
• Nerve or sensory perception: Believe it or not, our nerves can play tricks on us! Sometimes people feel like their nose is running, but nothing is there.
• CSF rhinorrhea: This last potential cause is a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak that affects your nose. It’s much rarer than viruses, sinus conditions, and allergies. Although it is rare, it is a more serious issue-but it is treatable.

What Is a CSF Leak?

This condition happens when fluid from your spinal cord and brain leaks due to injuries or other causes. The fluid can seep into your nose, causing it to feel like your nose is running. Depending on where it’s leaking, it may also cause other symptoms.

What Are Signs of a CSF Leak?

A runny nose is among the more noticeable symptoms of CSF rhinorrhea. If that fluid enters your nose or sinuses, you might mistake it for mucus. But it usually only runs when you bend over and won’t cause material, like handkerchiefs or your sleeve, to become stiff when it dries, like mucus would.

CSF may cause other symptoms, though it depends on the source of the leak. Some of these can include:

●      Headaches that get worse when you change position, such as lying down

●      Fluid leaking from your ears

●      Loss of smell

●      Nausea and vomiting

●      Dizziness

What Causes It?

Most cases of CSF leaks happen due to injuries to the face or nose. But it can also occur without any detectable cause.

When Should You Seek Treatment?

CSF leaks may lead to serious complications if they’re large enough. Some cases only require rest for treatment and recovery. But you should seek medical help to get a proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations, such as CSF leak repair.

What Treatments Are Used?

The treatment depends on where the leak is coming from and how severe it is. If you have diagnosed CSF rhinorrhea that’s not improving after conservative treatment or is getting worse, our board-certified otolaryngologist may recommend surgical repairs to stop the leak and alleviate symptoms. This might involve going through the anterior skull base or sinuses.

Visit Our ENT Specialist for Diagnosis and Treatment

Are you having a feeling of water in your nose, especially when you bend over? Dr. Thomas S. Higgins, our ENT specialist, can determine the cause and provide treatment or surgery for relief.

If these symptoms keep returning, you can read more about our treatments for nasal polyps, chronic rhinitis, and sinus surgery.