ABSTRACT
Upon exposure to cold weather, many individuals develop nasal symptoms, primarily rhinorrhea and nasal congestion. A burning sensation inside the nose frequently precedes or accompanies these symptoms. This problem becomes accentuated in windy conditions. For example, rhinorrhea and nasal congestion are common during winter skiing and this condition has been termed ‘‘skier’s nose’’ (1). Individuals who report cold air sensitivity may or may not be atopic and do not necessarily fall under the category of persistent or perennial rhinitis, because cold air exposure may be their only symptom trigger. Another clinical problem probably related to cold air rhinitis is the intolerance to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, which many patients with sleep apnea develop (2). Although the air inhaled through the CPAP equipment is at room air temperature, nasal symptoms are most probably generated because of its relative low water content, as will be discussed below. This has led to the recommendation that the air delivered by CPAP equipment be warmed to body temperature and fully humidified. This approach has offered substantial amelioration of the problem (3).
