What Causes Headache And Nasal Congestion After A Head Injury?

Hello. Thanks for asking from HCM. I can understand your concern. Head injury can cause bleeding through nose. Sometimes CSF (fluid in brain) can leak from nose after head injury. It is rare (less than 0.3% cases). Both of these complaints may present as nasal congestion. Otherwise, head injury usually does not cause nasal congestion. If your head injury had occurred on front part near nose, then you should observe for non-stop running nose, watery discharge or any kind of nasal bleed. In case if you have any of above symptoms, do not blow nose, lie supine, avoid forward bending, consult neurosurgeon. you might be advised CT scan of head to find out fracture of ethmoid sinus, frontal sinus and site of leak. Further management may include lumbar drain to drain CSF or some surgical repair of leak site. If your headache is mild and above findings are absent, there is no need to worry regarding head injury. Another possibility in your case can be of sinusitis or common cold. It is more common and is mostly associated with headache with nasal congestion. Headache is mostly present in front part, occurs more in morning hours. Thick nasal discharge also occurs. If you are above symptoms, then you should take steam four times daily, avoid cold food and drinks, take hot beverages. You should consult ENT specialist who may prescribe you some nasal decongestants, antibiotics like co-amoxyxlav, anti-allergics like cetrizine. Thanks. Hope it will help you. Thanks