India, Oct. 26 -- Dr Sumit Kumar Gaur, Senior Consultant in ENT at Apollo hospital, Bannerghatta road, told HT Lifestyle that a runny nose while eating spicy food is a condition known as gustatory rhinitis, a form of non-allergic rhinitis, as reported in an ‘Everyday Explained’ article published on Oct. 23, 2026, by Anukriti Srivastava.
What the condition is
Dr Gaur said gustatory rhinitis involves the nose producing excess watery mucus in response to certain foods, particularly those containing chilli, pepper and other pungent spices. He said the response is generally triggered by sensory nerve stimulation rather than an immune response to a food allergen.
The article said the reaction can occur even when a person is not suffering from ...