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rhinorrhea

rhinorrhea

9.3
A clear fluid from inside the head that leaks from the nose after injury or surgery
  • noun
  • /ˌraɪnəˈrɪə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : rinorrea
  • After he hit his head, he experienced rhinorrhea, indicating a possible cerebrospinal fluid leak.
  • cerebrospinal rhinorrhea
  • CSF rhinorrhea

Examples

  • Without repair, patients with CSF rhinorrhea are at an increased risk of ascending meningitis or brain abscess.

    Academic text (2004)
  • A fifty-year-old female presented with a complaint of CSF rhinorrhea for one year.

    Academic text (2007)
  • There were no lacerations and no rhinorrhea.

    Academic text (2009)
  • There were no cases of blindness, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, or death.

    Academic text (1999)
  • According to Lai et al., intrasphenoidal meningoencephaloceles usually present with CSF rhinorrhea.

    Academic text (2004)
  • (n11) Bolger and Osenbach reported that this technique provided good control of CSF rhinorrhea.

    Academic text (2004)
  • One patient experienced a seizure during extubation following combined external and endoscopic repair of a traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea.

    Academic text (1999)
  • A 53-year-old man was referred to our institution for evaluation of intermittent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea and frontal headache.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The doctor explained that rhinorrhea could occur after certain types of head surgery.

  • She was worried about the rhinorrhea following her injury, as it might suggest a more serious condition.

Surface Forms

rhinorrhea singular
rhinorrheas plural
rhinorrhoeas plural
rhinorrhoea singular

Morphology

rhinorrhea = rhino + rrhea (semi-transparent) = rhino + rrhea

While 'rhino' and 'rrhea' are clear in meaning, the specific medical context of 'rhinorrhea' may not be immediately apparent to learners.

Etymology

Rhinorrhea comes from the Greek parts rhino- 'nose' and -rrhea 'flow'. That is why rhinorrhea can mean a clear fluid 'nose flow' after a head injury, not just an ordinary runny nose.