Sneezing.: A review of its causation and pathophysiology

Aims. To review some of the lesser known aspects of sneezing, which is a universal phenomenon suffered the world over but which has received little attention in the medical literature and especially by that dealing with neurology. Development. Here we consider the causation, neurophysiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of this reflex action, which sometimes goes beyond being just a simple ailment of little importance and becomes a sign associated to a series of different medical conditions. Conclusions. Despite its being such a commonplace occurrence, little is known about sneezing and few studies have been conducted to further our knowledge on the subject. Today there are still reports of cases of pathological sneezers, who often respond poorly to different treatments and for whom this reflex paroxysm becomes both asocial and a health problem. Moreover sneezing is sometimes associated with severe secondary medical sequelae. In contrast, there have also been reports of conditions in which the first symptom was an inability to sneeze. A thorough knowledge of this reflex, its causes and associated phenomena can be a valuable aid in the diagnosis of other concomitant diseases.