Some people who have experienced head trauma will develop a rhinorrhea after eating. This appears to be due to faulty regeneration of parasympathetic fibers supplying the submucosal glands.
Clinical findings:
(1) history of head trauma
(2) watery rhinorrhea after eating
Medications such as topical atrophine or ipratropium bromide may reduce the rhinorrhea.
Differential diagnosis:
(1) gustatory sweating (Frey syndrome)
(2) food-induced gustatory rhinitis (see previous section)
(3) post-traumatic CSF rhinorrhea
(4) food allergy (especially to spices)
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
