# What happened to my niece’s nose? (Medical but not seeking advice) TMI **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2023, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864 "2023-01-08T02:13:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/1 "2023-01-08T02:13:57Z")
We were celebrating my niece’s 18th birthday at a Japanese restaurant and everything was perfectly normal. Suddenly, he nose started running like nothing I have ever seen before. It looked almost like she had used a Neti pot. Then, she threw up. When she got back from the bathroom, she said that she felt fine but while her nose was running, it felt like she couldn’t breathe. She doesn’t know if she was choking or not. She didn’t display signs of choking that one would normally expect. What would cause such a sudden rush of drainage to come out one’s nose? Do we all have a bucket of fluid in our nasal cavities/sinuses just waiting for the dam to burst? ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/2 "2023-01-08T02:20:01Z")
I’ve noticed that if I’m about to throw up, I will get a lot of both saliva and mucus. I may have read, or just conjectured that it is a protective reaction to reduce damage from stomach acids ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/3 "2023-01-08T02:22:16Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > What would cause such a sudden rush of drainage to come out one’s nose? An allergic reaction to wasabi perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/4 "2023-01-08T02:29:14Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > An allergic reaction to wasabi perhaps? There was no wasabi, just normal hibachi stuff. It could have been a reaction to something she ate but she’s been there many times before and didn’t order anything out of the ordinary. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/5 "2023-01-08T02:55:16Z")
Sounds like oral allergy syndrome, an IgE mediated allergic reaction to me. It’s generally in response to a food allergy of some sort. It’s often seen in people with allergies to pollen. Clinical features: Dermatologic - Pruritus, flushing, urticaria/angioedema, diaphoresis Eyes - Conjunctival injection, lacrimation, periorbital edema, pruritus Respiratory tract - Nose/oropharynx (sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, oral pruritus, metallic taste), upper airway (hoarseness, stridor, sense of choking, laryngeal edema), lower airway (dyspnea, tachypnea, wheezing, cough, cyanosis) Cardiovascular - Conduction disturbances, tachycardia, bradycardia (if severe), arrhythmias, hypotension, cardiac arrest Gastrointestinal - Nausea/vomiting, abdominal cramping, bloating, diarrhea Neurologic - Sense of impending doom, syncope, dizziness, seizures ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/6 "2023-01-08T04:28:22Z")
Might it have been a case of gustatory rhinitis? “Gustatory rhinitis is characterized by watery, uni- or bilateral rhinorrhea (runny nose, sudden onset) occurring after ingestion of solid or liquid foods, most often hot and spicy. It usually begins within a few minutes of ingestion of the implicated food, and is not associated with pruritus, sneezing, nasal congestion or facial pain. It is considered to be a non-immunological reaction. Immunohistological and pharmacological observations suggest that this disease is most likely caused by stimulation of trigeminal sensory nerve endings located at the upper aerodigestive track (sic).” > **[Gustatory rhinitis - PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20502728/)** > > Gustatory rhinitis is characterized by watery, uni- or bilateral rhinorrhea occurring after ingestion of solid or liquid foods, most often hot and spicy. It usually begins within a few minutes of ingestion of the implicated food, and is not... Was she eating something hot and/or spicy? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/7 "2023-01-08T05:31:29Z")
Not particularly. She had had soup, steak, and fried rice. I had all of the same things and didn’t think they were spicy. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/8 "2023-01-08T05:33:15Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Sounds like oral allergy syndrome, an IgE mediated allergic reaction to me. It’s generally in response to a food allergy of some sort. It’s often seen in people with allergies to pollen. It sounds like a trip to an allergist might be in order. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/9 "2023-01-08T13:43:17Z")
I was drinking at a brewery and had some sort of weird histamine thing happen (I assume). My nose was running like a fountain and I was sneezing. I stood in the men’s restroom for fifteen minutes, constantly blowing my nose. I paid my tab and we headed home, where my head hurt like the most severe headache ever. I took two 50 mg diphenhydramine (from my dog medicine cabinet) and was fine in 20 minutes. I texted the brewery. I was drinking a cask beer. After I left, another guy drinking the cask beer had the same sort of reaction. They pulled the beer. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/10 "2023-01-08T15:12:21Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Sounds like oral allergy syndrome, Respectfully disagree. I see lots of oral allergy syndrome aka pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS) and it never looks like that. The symptoms are generally, well, oral: e.g. itchy mouth. Also PFAS is a reaction to specific raw fruits and vegetables that cross react to pollens that individuals are allergic to. Cooking those fruits and vegetables prevents the reaction. For example eating a raw apple may do it but applesauce not. @Jackmannii’s gustatory rhinitis suggestion seems most on point. “Hot” is not only spicy hot, it can be temperature hot as well; hot soup is a known trigger. Alcohol can do it too. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/11 "2023-01-08T15:36:40Z")
That’s an interesting theory. She was the only one at the table that had 2 bowls of soup. It was a little spicy and somewhat hot temperature-wise. Not “out of the ordinary” hot, but still hot soup. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/12 "2023-01-08T15:49:14Z")
All I have to add is that “What Happened To My NIece’s Nose?” sounds like the title of a children’s song written by Shel Silverstein. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/13 "2023-01-08T17:41:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I was drinking at a brewery and had some sort of weird histamine thing happen [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1094/ASBCJ-37-0091?journalCode=ujbc20](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1094/ASBCJ-37-0091?journalCode=ujbc20) > [@](#): > > Unusually high amounts of histamine were found in some bacteria-infected beers. [More…](https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/foods/foods-11-02693/article_deploy/foods-11-02693.pdf?version=1662201425) > [@](#): > > 4.3. Biogenic Amines > The quantity of BA in beer is determined by the presence of amino acid decarboxylase activity in many of the microorganisms involved in fermentation. The primary source of biogenic amines in beer is the metabolism of LAB [9]. The most harmful BA for human health is histamine because of its potential allergic or immune response in sensitive indi- viduals. According to Chen and Van Gheluwe (1979), the normal interval histamine can range in beer is 100 to 300 μg/L, depending on the type of beer [81]. The source of BA in beer is most frequently the raw materials (malt) and the contaminating microflora found especially within craft beer production (Table 1). As a result of some stages, elimination compared to industrial beer, such as filtering and pasteurisation, can diminish the shelf life of beer and cause contamination. The genera Lactobacillus has a significant effect on the levels of BA, especially in the beers with long-drawn storage time [82]. Dilution of the contaminated batches (mixing with other batches) or withdrawal from production are other actions for reducing the BA level. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/14 "2023-01-08T17:54:50Z")
^When my assumed histamine situation occurred (a month ago) I did some research and it was very interesting. When they discuss bacterial contamination with Lactobacillus spp, the “contamination” is often intentional. I love sour beers, which are often intentionally infected. It was a shame. The cask was just tapped and I considered my timing perfect. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/15 "2023-01-09T00:18:32Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Respectfully disagree. Yeah, your & Jackmannii’s assessments are more in line with presented facts. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/16 "2023-01-09T00:30:55Z")
My nose runs when my stomach is upset. IANAD, so I don’t know why, but the worse the stomach issue is, the worse the nose runs too. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/17 "2023-01-09T01:17:26Z")
Well if your nose runs when your feet smell it’s just that you’re built upside down. ---
**Author:** ![a6ka97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/18 "2023-01-09T01:48:29Z")
I have had similar happen when eating- nose starts running like a snot factory, clear and very watery unlike a cold/flu thick green stuff. Never had where I threw up or even felt the urge or difficulty breathing. Maybe once or twice a year it happens Happened once a few days before my physical and mentioned it to my doctor. Of course he wanted to do all these tests but I refused as it wasn’t life threating or happened that often. He said probably some sort of allergic reaction. I was told to write down what I am eating and see if any common items the next time it happens. Never have found the “smoking gun”. Food allergies can be weird, I was on a medication once that I was fine using until I ate some raw tomatoes. Broke out in hives. Medicine and not eating raw tomatoes fine. Raw tomatoes and not taking the medicine, fine. Medicine and raw tomatoes = hives. No one has an answer other than don’t eat raw tomatoes when taking this medicine. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/19 "2023-01-09T12:35:33Z")
I sometimes get a sneezing attack after dinner. Doesn’t seem to be related to any particular food, so it wouldn’t seem to be an allergy. It’s mildly annoying but only lasts a minute or two so I just reach for the kleenex and wait for it to subside. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864/20 "2023-01-11T15:13:32Z")
My nose runs a little when I eat anything “heat” hot, and “spicy” hot especially! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-niece-s-nose-medical-but-not-seeking-advice-tmi/977864.md?page=2)