Postnasal drip and postnasal drip-related cough.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pulmonology
• Allergy and Immunology

Background:

• Postnasal drip (PND) is a frequent complaint in otolaryngology and primary care settings.
• It is often linked to chronic cough, though the direct causal relationship is debated.
• PND diagnosis can be challenging due to vague symptoms and lack of objective tests.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the pathophysiology and management strategies for postnasal drip.
• To explore the association between PND and chronic cough.
• To discuss emerging hypotheses and therapies for PND.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on PND pathophysiology and cough.
• Analysis of current clinical guidelines for PND evaluation.
• Synthesis of recent findings on sinonasal disease and airway sensitivity.

Main Results:

• The traditional link between sinonasal disease and PND-induced cough is not consistently supported.
• Airway sensory hypersensitivity is proposed as a significant factor in PND-related cough.
• PND is often a symptom diagnosis for diverse upper airway issues.

Conclusions:

• Current PND management recommendations are summarized.
• New therapeutic approaches and pathophysiological hypotheses are discussed.
• Understanding PND requires considering factors beyond simple nasal secretion irritation.