Vasomotor rhinitis is a condition affecting the mucous membranes that line the nose. It causes symptoms of runny nose, sneezing, postnasal drip, and occasionally headache. The symptoms are similar to those of hay fever, but no allergic cause can be found. Sometimes, anxiety, changes in room temperature, or hormonal changes associated with adolescence, menstruation, or menopause may be factors. Occasionally, a similar condition occurs in a person who has been overusing decongestant nasal sprays or drops.
Treatment is difficult.
The symptoms are thought to be caused partly by overactivity of the parasympathetic nervous system. Treatment of corticosteroid nasal sprays is effective in some cases.