Major Causes Of Post-Nasal Drip

Post-nasal drip is a symptom of many medical conditions. Worse than a runny nose, post-nasal drip involves the accumulation of mucus in the back of the throat. Normally, mucus is swallowed unconsciously, but patients with post-nasal drip may have the unpleasant sensation of mucus dripping down the back of their throat. Patients who have post-nasal drip may frequently clear their throats and may have a cough that worsens at night. Patients may also experience a hoarse voice, stuffy nose, bad breath, and sore throat. To determine the cause of post-nasal drip, primary care providers and ear, nose, and throat specialists will take the patient's health history and perform a physical examination. The majority of cases of post-nasal drip are not serious and resolve in a short time. If the physician suspects the post-nasal drip may be due to a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed. Patients who have frequent episodes of post-nasal drip may need more advanced treatments.