title: Cerebrospinal fluid leak mimicking allergic rhinitis.
abstract: Rhinitis and rhinorrhea are common clinical complaints that may be allergic or nonallergic in etiology. Distinguishing between allergic and nonallergic etiologies can be difficult but necessary for treatment. Here, we present a case of a 50-year-old woman with > 20 years of rhinorrhea before a diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid leak and a life-threatening complication occurred. It is essential that no symptom, especially that which persists and resists treatment, is trivialized. Here, we establish how a careful history and evaluation will direct the clinician to the correct diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, St. Francis Medical Center, 601 Hamilton Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08629-1986, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ricketti
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cleri
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Porwancher
authors.forename: Mandip
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panesar
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Villota
authors.forename: Marc M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Seelagy
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003399:Craniotomy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology