Causes of mucus flow into the nasopharynx

15.04.2021

In the mucous membrane of the throat and nasal cavity there are glands (goblet cells) that produce a viscous secret. It moisturizes the inner surface of the respiratory tract and helps to remove dust particles, allergens, viruses, microbes, etc. from the respiratory tract. If the mucus in the nasopharynx accumulates in moderation, this is considered the norm. Abundant production and flow of sputum along the back of the throat is a deviation.

The causes of excessive formation of fluid in the nasal cavity and throat most often lie in allergic or infectious inflammation of the mucous membranes. The flow of a viscous secret along the walls of the pharynx is called postnasal syndrome. The mucus that accumulates in the respiratory tract irritates the cough receptors and therefore often causes a paroxysmal cough. The article will consider the features and key causes of the development of the disease.

Post-nasal syndrome - what is it?

Postnasal syndrome is the flow of mucus along the back wall of the laryngopharynx, provoked by inflammatory processes in the paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity and throat. Mucous discharge penetrates into the lower parts of the respiratory tract, simultaneously irritating the cough receptors located in the respiratory tract. In this regard, patients quite often experience paroxysmal, and sometimes spasmodic cough.

The causes of the development of ENT diseases can be very diverse. However, excessive production of viscous secretions in the respiratory tract is associated with an increase in the secretory function of goblet cells. Inflammation of an allergic or infectious nature can provoke hypersecretion of sputum. Most often, the development of postnasal syndrome is preceded by:

sinusitis;
infectious rhinitis;
hay fever;
adenoiditis;
unfavorable environment.

Untimely treatment of postnasal syndrome is fraught with the development of degenerative processes in the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx.

Sometimes the reasons for the flow of nasopharyngeal mucus into the underlying parts of the respiratory tract lie in the abnormal development of the ENT organs. In particular, the curvature of the nasal septum entails a violation of the aerodynamics in the nasal cavity. In this regard, the mucus begins to be evacuated from the nasopharynx not through the nasal canals, but through the laryngopharynx.

The reasons

To cure postnasal drip syndrome, you need to find out why mucus flows down the back of the nasopharynx. Pathology does not always develop against the background of respiratory diseases. Sometimes sputum begins to accumulate in the upper respiratory system due to the adverse effects of exogenous factors.

Infectious runny nose

Infectious rhinitis (rhinitis) is a disease that is characterized by bacterial, viral or fungal inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity. Rhinitis accompanies the development of many respiratory diseases - nasopharyngitis, influenza, adenoiditis, sinusitis, etc. Thick mucus in the nasopharynx begins to accumulate due to swelling and inflammation of the airways. In this regard, when the patient assumes a horizontal position of the body, it begins to drain into the laryngopharynx along the walls of the respiratory tract.

To restore the patency of the nasal passages and the natural process of evacuation of the nasal fluid, it is necessary to eliminate the inflammation in the nasal cavity. For this, vasoconstrictors, saline solutions for washing the nose and local antiseptics are usually used. If the causes of inflammation of the ENT organs are not eliminated, this can subsequently lead to the transition of the disease to a chronic form.

The development of a chronic runny nose increases the likelihood of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses and the occurrence of sinusitis.

Bacterial sinusitis

Sinusitis is an acute or indolent inflammation of one or more paranasal sinuses (sinuses). Due to swelling of the soft tissues in the nasal cavity, the process of evacuation of sputum through the nasal passages is disrupted. Therefore, with the development of sinusitis and frontal sinusitis, thick discharge from the nasopharynx drains into the laryngopharynx, as a result of which the patient develops a cough.

It poses the greatest health hazard, since the microbial flora multiplies very quickly. The purulent exudate formed in the paranasal sinuses can penetrate into neighboring tissues and provoke complications - meningitis, otitis media, brain abscess, etc. The following symptoms can signal the development of the disease:

pressure in the maxillary and frontal sinuses;
difficult nasal breathing;
coughing up mucus with impurities of pus;
fetid odor from the nose;
elevated temperature.

During the hours when a person sleeps, there is an accumulation of mucus in the nasopharynx. Therefore, in the morning immediately after waking up, the patient may experience a strong cough caused by the flow of a copious amount of viscous secretion through the respiratory tract.

Adenoiditis

Adenoiditis is an infectious disease caused by inflammation of a hypertrophied (enlarged) nasopharyngeal tonsil. Most often, the disease develops in children under the age of 12 years. Inflamed adenoids in the nasopharynx prevent normal breathing and the outflow of sputum through the nasal canals. Therefore, the mucus flows directly into the laryngopharynx, provoking a spasmodic cough in a small patient.

Chronic dry cough and constant breathing through the mouth are typical manifestations of adenoiditis in children.

It should be understood that there are many opportunistic microorganisms in the respiratory tract, in particular fungi and bacteria. Untimely relief of inflammation in the adenoids can provoke serious complications and the formation of purulent exudate in the nasal cavity.

Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is a common cause of postnasal drip syndrome. The disease is characterized by inflammation of the lymphoid tissues in the laryngopharynx, which stimulates the activity of unicellular glands in the mucous membranes. To provoke the development of pharyngitis can:

inhalation of polluted air;
thermal and chemical burns of the mucosa;
dental diseases;
decreased local immunity;
endocrine pathologies.

Most often, pharyngitis develops against the background of bacterial sinusitis, runny nose and dental caries.

The development of the disease is most often indicated by pain and soreness in the throat, painful swallowing, an increase in the submandibular lymph nodes and fever. If pharyngitis develops against the background of other respiratory infections, the symptomatic picture is supplemented by lacrimation, sneezing, spastic cough, etc. The cause of mucus flowing down the throat is inflammation in the laryngopharyngeal mucosa. To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, it is recommended to treat the throat mucosa with antiseptic and wound healing sprays.

Unfavorable ecology

Unfavorable environmental conditions can provoke the development of postnasal syndrome. Over the past 10 years, the incidence of respiratory disease has increased 3 times. Otolaryngologists are sure that the reason for this was excessive air pollution and climate change.

Airborne allergens, exhaust gases, dust and other irritants adversely affect the condition of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. The subsequent inflammation of the ENT organs inevitably leads to an increase in the activity of goblet cells and, as a result, excessive sputum production. If the nasopharynx is clogged with mucus, sooner or later this will lead to the development of postnasal syndrome.

To reduce the likelihood of developing respiratory diseases, experts recommend rinsing the nasal cavity with isotonic solutions at least 2-3 times a week. They will clear the airways of allergens and dust and prevent soft tissue inflammation.

Addictions

Viscous mucus in the nasopharynx is formed in most heavy smokers. The fact is that the composition of tobacco smoke includes resins that settle on the inner surface of the respiratory tract. To clear the respiratory tract of foreign objects, goblet cells begin to produce mucus.

Tobacco smoking leads to a decrease in local immunity in the respiratory system, and therefore the risk of developing respiratory infections increases.

The resins contained in tobacco smog stick together small cilia on the surface of the ciliated epithelium, which are involved in the transport of a viscous secret to the nasal passages. For this reason, mucus accumulates in the airways, and then flows down the respiratory tract into the trachea and bronchi.

Conclusion

The accumulation and runoff of a viscous secret along the back of the throat is associated with inflammation of the mucous membranes. Pathological reactions in the tissues stimulate the activity of unicellular glands in the respiratory tract, which begin to produce a large amount of mucus. Due to inflammation and swelling of the nasal passages, it begins to drain along the walls of the laryngopharynx, causing a cough reaction in patients.

Postnasal syndrome occurs as a complication of some allergic (allergic rhinitis) and infectious (pharyngitis, sinusitis, adenoiditis) diseases. Unfavorable exogenous factors - polluted air, smoking, etc. can provoke inflammation in the respiratory tract. In rare cases, the disease develops due to an abnormal structure of the nasal septum or injury.