Rhinorrhea refers to drainage from the nose and is often associated with nasal congestion, a sense of stuffiness or obstruction. These symptoms are frequently accompanied by sneezing, watery eyes, and throat discomfort, and itching in the eyes, nose, and throat.

Do symptoms occur when colds are prevalent and last less than seven days? Do they occur during the same season each year when pollens are in the air? Are symptoms triggered by specific animal or environmental exposures? Are there indoor environmental triggers such as dust or animals?

What remedies has the patient used? For how long? And how well do they work?

Is nasal or sinus congestion preceded by a viral upper respiratory tract infection (URI)? Is there purulent nasal discharge, loss of smell, tooth pain, or facial pain made worse by bending forward, ear pressure, cough, or fever?

Ask about drugs that may induce nasal stuffiness.

Inquire about all medications or drugs, particularly oral contraceptives, reserpine, alcohol, and cocaine.

Is the nasal congestion only on one side?

Epistaxis is bleeding from the nasal passages. Bleeding can also originate in the paranasal sinuses or nasopharynx. Note that bleeding from posterior nasal structures may pass into the throat instead of out through the nostrils. Ask the patient to pinpoint the source of the bleeding. Is it from the nose, or has the patient actually coughed up blood (hemoptysis) or vomited blood (hematemesis)? These conditions have very different causes.

Is epistaxis a recurrent problem? Has there been easy bruising or bleeding elsewhere in the body?

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