The Dry Nose
One of the chief functions of the nose is to warm and moisten the inspired air, while another is to recover the water in the expired air.
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The Dry Nose Rainer K. Weber, Tanja Hildenbrand, Detlef Brehmer, and Jochen A. Werner
Keywords
Dry nose • Rhinitis sicca anterior • Rhinitis atrophicans • Empty nose syndrome
Core Messages
• An unequivocal definition of dry nose (DN) is not available. Symptoms range from the purely subjective sensation of a rather dry nose to visible crusting of the (inner) nose (nasal mucosa), and a wide range of combinations are met with. Relevant diseases are termed rhinitis sicca anterior, primary and secondary
R.K. Weber, MD (*) • J.A. Werner, MD Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rhinology Center Marburg, University Hospital Marburg UKGM, Baldinger Straße, D-35043 Marburg, Germany e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] T. Hildenbrand, MD Department of Otorhinolaryngology/ENT Department, University Hospital Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany e-mail: [email protected] D. Brehmer, MD Private ENT Clinic Goettingen, Faculty of Health/ School of Medicine, University Witten/Herdecke, Friedrichstr. 3/4, 37073 Goettingen, Germany e-mail: [email protected]
rhinitis atrophicans, rhinitis atrophicans with foetor (ozaena) and empty nose syndrome. The diagnosis is based mainly on the patient’s history, inspection of the nose, endoscopy of the nasal cavity, sinuses and nasopharynx, with CT, allergy testing and microbiological swabs being performed where indicated. • Treatment consists in the elimination of predisposing factors, moistening, removal of crusts, avoidance of injurious factors, care of the mucosa, treatment of infections and, where applicable, correction of an overlarge air space.
12.1
Symptoms
One of the chief functions of the nose is to warm and moisten the inspired air, while another is to recover the water in the expired air (Keck and Lindemann 2010). The nature of the in- and outflow of the air within the nasal cavity is of decisive importance for this air-conditioning feature. In this context, optimal distribution of the inspired air over the
T.M. Önerci (ed.), Nasal Physiology and Pathophysiology of Nasal Disorders, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-37250-6_12, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
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R.K. Weber et al.
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nasal turbinates ensuring intimate contact of the air with the surface-moist mucosal membrane is essential. The expression dry nose (DN) has not been unambiguously defined. In the main it is based on relevant anamnestic patient information. ENT specialists often employ the term rhinitis sicca, although here, too, a clear definition is lacking. Symptoms range from the purely subjective sensation of a somewhat dry nose to visible crusting of the nose, and a wide range of combinations are possible: • Sensation of dryness in the nose • Itching and mild burning sensation • Nasal obstruction • Crusting, scabs and “bogies”, possibly associated with an (unpleasant) smell • Epistaxis • Diminished sense of smell
12.2
Etiology
Possible causes of dry nose include a variety of diseases, external and internal factor
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