What causes runny nose, sneezing after colonoscopy?
Patient: hi, I had a colonoscopy today and work up from the anesthesia sneezing and developed a runny nose...feels like I just caught an instant cold. I have great before the procedure. The nurse told me that the oxygen was the cause. ( I immediately needed a napkin to wipe my nose before I could sit up. Doctor: Hello.Thank you for asking at HCM.If you have not had any chronic allergy problem like allergic rhinitis, I would agree that oxygen is a possibility.Sometimes oxygen works as irritant for nasal mucosa and this irritation causes immediate sneezing and running nose. Mostly it is self-limiting. There is nothing serious in that. You need not to worry at all.If you have an allergic condition like allergic rhinitis in past, there are many possible allergens in a hospital environment like latex, drugs, etc. In that case taking medications like levocetirizine & montelukast helps.Hope this will be helpful to you.Wish you best of the health.Regards.