Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Sneezing”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Sneeze related area in the medulla: localisation of the human sneezing centre?

Sneezing is a rarely explored symptom in neurological practice. In the cat, a sneeze evoking centre is located in the medulla. The existence of a sneezing centre has not been confirmed in humans. A case with abnormal sneezing secondary to a strategic infarct in the right latero-medullary region is presented. A 66 year old man suddenly presented paroxysmal sneezing followed by ataxia, right sided motor and sensory symptoms, and hoarseness. The application of stimuli to the right nasal fossa did not evoke sneezing nor the wish to sneeze. The same stimuli to the contralateral nasal fossa evoked normal sneezing. The preservation of the superficial sensitivity of the nasal fossa indicates that the lesion was localised in the hypothetical human sneezing centre, very close to the spinal trigeminal tract and nucleus. This centre appears to be bilateral and functionally independent on both sides.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Upper airway motor outputs during sneezing and coughing in decerebrate cats.

The purposes of the present study were to determine which upper airway movements cause a difference in the expiratory airflow pathway between sneezing and coughing, and to develop a new animal model for studying the neural mechanism of sneezing in paralyzed animals, i.e. fictive sneezing. We compared the upper airway motor patterns of sneezing and coughing, induced by electrical stimulation of the anterior ethmoidal nerve (AEN) and superior laryngeal nerve, respectively, in non-paralyzed decerebrate cats. Respiratory and laryngeal motor patterns that consisted of an inspiration phase, compression phase, and expulsion phase were observed for both sneezing and coughing. The main difference was observed in the activity of the elevator of the back of the tongue, styloglossus (SG) muscle, which was explosively activated during the expulsion phase of sneezing, whereas it was virtually silent during coughing. The nasopharyngeal closers were weakly to moderately activated during sneezing. Their activities during coughing were weaker than during sneezing. Furthermore, the AEN-induced activities of the phrenic and abdominal nerves and the lateral branch of the hypoglossal nerve (lat-XII), which innervates the SG muscle, in paralyzed cats were consistent with the activities of the diaphragm, abdominal, and SG muscles during actual sneezing in non-paralyzed cats. Thus, we conclude that tongue movement is the main difference in the motor outputs between sneezing and coughing, which probably causes greater nasal airflow in sneezing, and that it is necessary to record the activity of the lat-XII to identify fictive sneezing in paralyzed cats.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed2006

Functional analysis of active urethral closure mechanisms under sneeze induced stress condition in a rat model of birth trauma.

PURPOSE: We evaluated changes in the urethral closure mechanism under a sneeze induced stress condition in a rat model of birth trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four days after vaginal distention induced by balloon catheter inflation in the vagina sneezing was induced while recording intravesical pressure with the rat under urethane anesthesia to evaluate sneeze induced leak point pressure, defined as the lowest pressure inducing fluid leakage from the urethral meatus during sneezing. Sneeze induced responses in the bladder and proximal or mid urethra were also measured using microtip transducer catheters. RESULTS: In 5 sham operated rats no leakage was observed from the urethral meatus during sneezing, which produced an increase in intravesical pressure of up to 34 cm H(2)O. However, in 5 of 6 rats with vaginal distention leakage during sneezing was observed with a sneeze leak point pressure of 26.2 cm H(2)O. In the mid urethra microtip transducer catheters revealed that pressure increases during sneezing were greater than those in the bladder but they were significantly decreased in the 5 incontinent vaginal distention rats. However, sneeze induced responses at the proximal urethra, which were similar to those in the bladder, were not different in sham operated and incontinent vaginal distention rats. CONCLUSIONS: Sneeze induced stress urinary incontinence in a rat model of birth trauma was caused by decreased active closure mechanisms at the mid urethra without affecting the passive transmission of abdominal pressure in the proximal urethra.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Urethral closure mechanisms under sneeze-induced stress condition in rats: a new animal model for evaluation of stress urinary incontinence.

The urethral closure mechanism under a stress condition induced by sneezing was investigated in urethane-anesthetized female rats. During sneezing, while the responses measured by microtip transducer catheters in the proximal and middle parts of the urethra increased, the response in the proximal urethra was almost negligible when the bladder response was subtracted from the urethral response or when the abdomen was opened. In contrast, the response in the middle urethra during sneezing was still observed after subtracting the bladder response or after opening the abdomen. These responses in the middle urethra during sneezing were significantly reduced approximately 80% by bilateral transection of the pudendal nerves and the nerves to the iliococcygeous and pubococcygeous muscles but not by transection of the visceral branches of the pelvic nerves and hypogastric nerves. The sneeze leak point pressure was also measured to investigate the role of active urethral closure mechanisms in maintaining total urethral resistance against sneeze-induced urinary incontinence. In sham-operated rats, no urinary leakage was observed during sneeze, which produced an increase of intravesical pressure up to 37 +/- 2.2 cmH2O. However, in nerve-transected rats urinary leakage was observed when the intravesical pressure during sneezing exceeded 16.3 +/- 2.1 cmH2O. These results indicate that during sneezing, pressure increases elicited by reflex contractions of external urethral sphincter and pelvic floor muscles occur in the middle portion of the urethra. These reflexes in addition to passive transmission of increased abdominal pressure significantly contribute to urinary continence mechanisms under a sneeze-induced stress condition.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Sneeze-evoking region within the brainstem.

The neuronal mechanisms of sneezing were examined in precollicular-postmammillary decerebrate cats. Mechanical stimulation (frequency 20 Hz, peak-to-peak displacement 0.5 mm) of the nasal membrane evoked a series of sneezes. In the same preparation, electrical stimulation (duration 0.2 ms, frequency 10 Hz, 5-50 microA) delivered to the lower brainstem also evoked sneezes. The changes in EMG activity and subglottic pressure during brainstem-induced sneeze were similar to those recorded nasal-induced sneeze. The sneeze-evoking region was located along the ventromedial part of the spinal trigeminal nucleus and the adjacent pontine-medullary lateral reticular formation, and extended rostrocaudally from P4.0 to P14.5 according to the Horsley-Clarke coordinates. These results suggest that the sneeze-evoking region is a distinct structure of the brainstem, having a homogeneous function. This region appears to control the epipharyngeal, intrinsic laryngeal and respiratory muscles. The integrated activity of these muscles underlies the generation of a sneeze.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed2003

Psychogenic intractable sneezing: case reports and a review of treatment options.

OBJECTIVE: To report 2 cases of the uncommonly seen diagnosis of psychogenic intractable sneezing, to review the clinical presentation, workup, and various previous treatment modalities, and to present a unique method of treatment. DATA SOURCES: The literature was reviewed using a MEDLINE search of the following keywords: psychogenic intractable sneezing, paroxysmal sneezing, factitious sneezing, respiratory disorders, conversion disorders, habit cough, and psychogenic cough. The search was restricted to articles published from 1966 onward, although older references were cross-referenced from more recent articles. RESULTS: Sneezing alone can be caused by foreign substances, odors, chemical irritants, allergies, and other less common factors. Psychogenic intractable sneezing, although not a particularly common disease, occurs mainly in adolescent girls for which a cause may not be found. Patients are usually refractory to various medications and have an otherwise unremarkable extensive workup. Treatments have included corticosteroids, antihistamines, hydroxyzine hydrochloride, and decongestants among other pharmacologic agents, as well as psychotherapy. Based on the presented case reports, a trial of isotonic sodium chloride solution with suggestion therapy was able to rid the patients of their intractable sneezing. CONCLUSIONS: Psychogenic intractable sneezing is a real disease. Although other diseases may be considered, the workup may merely include an extensive history and physical examination. Many treatments have been tried with varying success, including those that incorporate psychotherapy. A variation of suggestiontherapy is offered as a unique treatment modality.

Child↗
PubMed2006

"Gesundheit!" sneezing, common colds, allergies, and Staphylococcus aureus dispersion.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is among the most important pathogens in today's hospital setting. METHODS: The effects of sneezing on the airborne dispersal of S. aureus and other bacteria were assessed in 11 healthy nasal S. aureus carriers with experimentally induced rhinovirus colds. Airborne dispersal was studied by volumetric air sampling in 2 chamber sessions with and without histamine-induced sneezing. After 2 days of preexposure measurements, volunteers were inoculated with a rhinovirus and monitored for 14 days. Daily quantitative nasal- and skin-culture samples for bacteria and nasal-culture samples for rhinovirus were obtained, cold symptoms were assessed, and volunteer activities were recorded during sessions. RESULTS: All participants developed a cold. Sneezing caused a 4.7-fold increase in the airborne dispersal of S. aureus, a 1.4-fold increase in coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), and a 3.9-fold increase in other bacteria (P < .001). An additional 2.83 colony forming units (cfu) of S. aureus/m3/min, 3.24 cfu of CoNS/m3/min, and 474.61 cfu of other bacteria/m3/min were released per sneeze. Rhinovirus exposure did not change the frequency of sneezing or airborne dispersal. Having respiratory allergies increased the spread of S. aureus by 3.8-fold during sneezing sessions (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Nasal S. aureus carriers disperse a significant amount of S. aureus into the air by sneezing. Experimental colds do not alter bacterial dispersal, but respiratory allergies multiply the effect of dispersing S. aureus.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Circadian sneezing.

Prompted by the observation that a fellow medical student sneezed at about the same time in class every morning, we recorded the time of each of the 118 sneezes she made on 69 days over a 6.5-month period. Analysis of the sneeze times with the goodness-of-fit test revealed a highly nonuniform distribution (p < 0.0001) with a significantly increased probability of sneeze production within a small time interval centered at 8:20 AM. After ruling out the known causes of sneezing, we propose that the subject had a circadian fluctuation in her sneeze threshold independent of any immediate external stimulus. We compare this circadian rhythm to other periodic phenomena such as cyclic esotropia and rapid-cycling bipolar disease as well as to illnesses such as the periodic paralyses in which rapid and reversible changes occur in the neuromuscular system, and we discuss the peculiar circumstances favorable to documenting a circadian sneeze.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Paroxysmal sneezing in children: two new cases.

Paroxysmal sneezing is an uncommon condition primarily affecting adolescents. Most of the reported cases were thought to be psychogenic, and only two were felt to be due to nasal sensitivity. This paper reports two adolescents with paroxysmal sneezing, neither of whom had apparent psychologic or emotional problems. In one child the sneezing continued during sleep. The other child was successfully treated with topical nasal anesthesia. Both children were felt to have nasal sensitivity as the etiology of their paroxysmal sneezing. The evaluation of the patient with paroxysmal sneezing requires a thorough history and physical examination. One must not assume that every case of paroxysmal sneezing is of psychogenic origin. Topical nasal anesthesia should be tried for control of intractable paroxysmal sneezing.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1995

The photic sneeze response: a descriptive report of a clinic population.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of the photic sneeze response (PSR) as well as other characteristics have been studied in selected populations. However, the PSR has not been investigated in a general eye care patient population. This study was performed in an attempt to characterize the epidemiologic, descriptive, and demographic aspects of the photic sneeze response among patients attending for primary eye care. METHODS: A questionnaire on demographics, risk factors, and triggering stimuli was distributed to 500 consecutive patients presenting for a general eye examination at an academic health center optometry clinic. RESULTS: Three hundred and sixty-seven of 500 questionnaires were returned (73.4%). Among this sample 33% were self-recognized photic sneezers with the majority being females (67%) and Caucasian (94.3%). Statistically significant correlations were found between the presence of photic sneezing and the presence of a deviated nasal septum and a non-significant association was found with tobacco use. Uniform frequency of sneezing does not occur in response to light stimulus; only 12.3% of sneezers responded consistently to sunlight exposure. The majority of sneezers (90.7%) responded with three or fewer sneezes. The interval between successive sneezes was fewer than 19 seconds in 85% of respondents. Fewer than 27% of respondents were able to recall a parent who exhibited a sneeze response. CONCLUSIONS: The PSR is not an uncommon phenomenon. Systemic associations with the PSR are as diverse as deviated nasal septum and tobacco use. Results suggest that there may be a threshold level of light or frequency of light exposure which produces the response and that more patients may acquire the response than inherit it.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1964

PAROXYSMAL SNEEZING.

Although sneezing is a particularly common symptom, there are surprisingly few references to this subject in the medical literature. Many of these references are shrouded in superstition and unscientific theory. Preparation of this report was stimulated by an interesting example of severe uncontrollable non-allergic paroxysmal sneezing which was carefully investigated with regard to both physical and psychological factors. A further example of paroxysms of sneezing occurring in a patient with temporal lobe seizures is also discussed with particular reference to the control of the sneezing episodes in association with anticonvulsant medication and control of the epileptic attacks. In addition, the neurophysiological mechanisms of sneezing are reviewed and the specific neurological references to the subject are discussed in relation to physiological and clinical data. At times the symptom of sneezing would appear to reflect some unknown disorder which may have central and possibly cortical affiliations.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed1984

Local and systemic capsaicin pretreatment inhibits sneezing and the increase in nasal vascular permeability induced by certain chemical irritants.

The effects of local exposure to chemical irritants and mechanical stimulation on sneezing reflexes have been studied in normal and capsaicin-pretreated, conscious guinea-pigs. The influence of local and systemic capsaicin pretreatment on vascular permeability to plasma proteins and the cardiovascular effects of local application of capsaicin to the nasal mucosa have also been studied in anaesthetized animals. Local application of capsaicin (threshold dose 3 microM), nicotine (threshold dose 300 microM) or formalin to the nasal mucosa induced reflex sneezing discharges. Systemic or local capsaicin pretreatment abolished or reduced the sneezing responses to capsaicin and formalin. The response to nicotine was also reduced following local pretreatment with capsaicin, while the response to systemic pretreatment with capsaicin was only slightly affected. The sneezing response to mechanical stimulation was not affected by capsaicin pretreatment. Pretreatment with a local anaesthetic induced a similar dose-dependent inhibition of the sneezing responses to both capsaicin and nicotine. Local application of disodium cromoglycate to the nasal mucosa reduced the sneezing response to capsaicin, but not that to nicotine. Local pretreatment with the 3 mM and 30 mM capsaicin solution inhibited the increase in vascular permeability to plasma proteins in the nasal mucosa induced by i.v. capsaicin. Local pretreatment with capsaicin did not result in any reduction in the capsaicin-induced permeability in the ureter, suggesting that such treatment did not have any major systemic toxic effects. However, a small, acute increase in respiratory insufflation pressure, indicating broncho constriction, was seen when the 30 mM capsaicin solution was applied to the nasal mucosa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Substance P as a potent stimulator of sneeze responses in experimental allergic rhinitis of guinea pigs.

Substance P was examined for sneeze-inducing activity and its involvement of sneeze responses in experimental allergic rhinitis. Substance P, dripped into a nostril of guinea pigs, at concentrations of 100 pM and above induced sneezing in a dose-dependent fashion. The activity of substance P was not affected by the previous subcutaneous injections of capsaicin that depleted substance P in nerve fibers. Histamine induced sneezing at concentrations of 30 mM and above and the activity was reduced by capsaicin treatment. The frequency of antigen-induced sneezing was proportional to the substance P content in nasal mucosa of sensitized guinea pigs treated with increasing doses of capsaicin; correlation coefficient 0.91. These results suggest that substance P plays an important role as a stimulator of sneeze responses in experimental allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Factitious sneezing.

We report a case of hysterical, intractable paroxysmal sneezing in an adolescent girl. The patient had been observed by two pediatricians, an allergist, an emergency room physician, and a chiropractor. She had been treated with antihistamines, epinephrine, corticosteroid nasal spray, and a 1-week course of an oral corticosteroid without improvement. She was referred for evaluation of an allergic etiology before continuing her workup with a computed tomographic head scan. The patient had been sneezing almost daily for 3 mo up to 2000 times a day. The patient did not sneeze at night. She had nasal congestion but no rhinorrhea or eye symptoms. She did not sneeze during the interview. The results of a physical examination were normal except for mild obesity. No organic cause was found. Most cases of intractable paroxysmal sneezing reported in the literature occur in adolescents and appear to have a psychogenic etiology. The problem was discussed with the child and parents, and psychologic therapy was recommended. Considerable decrease in sneezing subsequently occurred, but the parents credited this is further chiropractic therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Role of noradrenergic pathways in sneeze-induced urethral continence reflex in rats.

To clarify the role of noradrenergic pathways in preventing stress urinary incontinence (SUI) during sneezing, we investigated the effect of the norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor nisoxetine and alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists phentolamine (nonspecific blocker) and prazosin (alpha(1)-receptor-selective blocker) on the neurally evoked urethral continence reflex induced by sneezing in rats. The amplitude of urethral pressure responses during sneezing (A-URS), urethral baseline pressure (UBP) at the midurethra, and sneeze-induced leak point pressure (S-LPP) were measured in normal female adult rats and rats with SUI induced by vaginal distention (VD). In normal rats, intrathecal (it) phentolamine (0.02 nmol) and prazosin (0.02 nmol) decreased A-URS by 11.9 and 15.7%, respectively, without affecting UBP. In both normal and VD rats, intravenous (iv) application of nisoxetine (1 mg/kg) increased A-URS by 17.2 and 18.3% and UBP by 23.7 and 32.7%, respectively. Phentolamine or prazosin (both it) eliminated nisoxetine-induced increases in A-URS, but not the increases in UBP, which were, however, suppressed by iv phentolamine (5 mg/kg) or prazosin (1 mg/kg). Sneezing induced fluid leakage from the urethral orifice in VD rats, but not in normal rats. In VD rats, S-LPP was increased by 30.2% by iv nisoxetine. Application of phentolamine and prazosin (both it) decreased S-LPP by 15.7 and 20.6%, respectively, and nisoxetine induced increases in S-LPP to 13.2 and 12.3%, respectively. These results indicate that activation of the noradrenergic system by a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor can prevent SUI via alpha(1-)adrenoceptors by enhancing the sneeze-induced active urethral closure mechanism at the spinal level and augmenting UBP at the periphery.

Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors↗
PubMed1995

C-Fos-like immunoreactivity in the cat brainstem evoked by sneeze-inducing air puff stimulation of the nasal mucosa.

Sneeze is one of the most important protective reflex of the respiratory tract. It is elicited from trigeminal peripheral fields and results in major changes in the discharge patterns of the medullary respiratory-related neurons. The pattern of c-Fos-like immunoreactivity evoked by sneezing was explored as a structural approach to the networks involved in this particular model of trigemino--respiratory interactions. Sneezes were elicited in anaesthetized adult cats by driving air puffs to the superior nasal meatus through a catheter. Additional cats were used as controls for anaesthesia and for catheter insertion into the nostril. In sneezing cats, immunoreactivity was evoked in projection areas of the ethmoidal afferents which innervate the superior nasal meatus, e.g. the subnuclei caudalis, interpolaris and in the interstitial islands of the trigeminal sensory complex. Immunoreactivity was also markedly enhanced in the areas devoted to respiratory control in the medulla (solitary complex, nucleus retroambiguus) and in the pontine parabrachial area. C-Fos expression was also evoked in the lateral aspect of the parvicellular reticular formation in sneezing cats. This area might be of major importance in the adaptation of the ventilatory system to expulsive functions.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1995

Activities of vagal receptors in the different phases of sneeze in cats.

We studied the activity of 50 slow-adapting receptors (SAR), 13 rapidly-adapting receptors (RAR) and 3 expiratory modulated receptors in the different phases of sneeze in tracheostomized and non-tracheostomized anaesthetized cats. SAR activity increased progressively during the first phase of the preparatory inspiration in parallel to integrated diaphragmatic activity. During the second phase of the preparatory inspiration, SAR increased their discharge frequency; higher threshold SAR and RAR were recruited. During the compressive phase, discharge of SAR kept stable or increased slightly in parallel to an increase in transpulmonary pressure, while expiratory modulated receptors were activated. During the expulsive phase, only RAR were activated. Increase in transpulmonary pressure at the end of the inspiration phase of sneeze shortened expiratory duration and increased the rate of rise of expiratory muscle activity. Increase in transpulmonary pressure at the end of the compressive phase further shortened expiratory duration. These results suggest: first, a facilitatory effect on the triggering of the second phase of the preparatory inspiration from SAR; second, a modulation of the early stage of expiration by SAR, RAR and expiratory modulated receptors during the compressive phase; third, a permissive effect on a rapid expulsive thrust by SAR which can be further limited by RAR; fourth, a facilitatory effect on the triggering of inspiratory activity that follows the expiratory thrust by RAR. Both SAR and RAR might participate in the occurrence of successive sneeze in an attack and in the increased frequency of sneezing. Our results suggest that complex convergent inputs from nasal and vagal receptors, which alter the respiratory rhythm and rhythmogenesis, modulate finely the sneeze reflex.

Animals↗