Concurrent Nasal Symptoms in Non-Rhinogenic Headache

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurology
• Rhinology

Background:

• Non-rhinogenic headache (NRH) is a common condition presenting with facial pain.
• Concurrent nasal symptoms are often reported in NRH patients but their characterization is limited.
• Understanding these symptoms is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize concurrent nasal symptoms in patients with non-rhinogenic headache (NRH).
• To investigate the relationship between facial pain, nasal congestion, and nasal mucus/discharge in NRH patients.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study at a single tertiary care institution.
• Adult NRH patients with no evidence of rhinosinusitis were enrolled.
• Daily symptom logs (facial pain, congestion, mucus) were maintained for 30 days using a mobile application.

Main Results:

• Twenty-eight patients completed the study, reporting significant day-to-day fluctuations in all recorded symptoms.
• Strong positive correlations were found between nasal congestion and mucus (r=0.74), congestion and facial pain (r=0.59), and mucus and facial pain (r=0.49).
• Symptom severity scores indicated moderate to severe experiences for facial pain and congestion.

Conclusions:

• Concurrent nasal symptoms are common in patients diagnosed with non-rhinogenic headache.
• The significant day-to-day correlations suggest a shared pathophysiology underlying facial pain, nasal congestion, and mucus production in NRH.
• Further research into this common pathway may reveal novel therapeutic targets.