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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffNasal congestion or "stuffy nose" occurs when nasal and adjacent tissues and blood vessels become swollen with excess fluid, causing a "stuffy" feeling. Nasal congestion may or may not be accompanied by a nasal discharge or "runny nose."
Nasal congestion usually is just an annoyance for older children and adults. But nasal congestion can be serious in infants, who might have a hard time nursing or breathing as a result.
References
- Stuffy nose. American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/stuffyNose.cfm. Accessed Jan. 22, 2013
- Nasal congestion and rhinorrhea. The Merck Manuals Online: Merck Professional Edition. http://www.merckusa.com/mmpe/print/sec08/ch089/ch089c.html. Accessed Jan. 16, 2013.
- Schroer B, et al. Nonallergic rhinitis: Common problem, chronic symptoms. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2012;79:285.
- LeBlond RF, ed., et al. DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=534. Accessed Jan. 20, 2013.
- Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..X0001-X--TOP&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&uniqId=230100505-57. Accessed Jan. 20, 2013.
- Post-Nasal Drip. American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/postNasalDrip.cfm. Accessed Jan. 16, 2013.
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