Physiology and pathophysiology of sneezing and itching: Mechanisms of the symptoms

Abstract

Sneeze is a coordinated protective respiratory reflex which arises due to stimulation of the upper respiratory tract, particularly the nasal cavity. Actually, activation of the central and peripheral nervous system plays a major role in the pathophysiology of this process. In fact, little is known about the sneeze reflex action, which sometimes becomes a sign associated to a series of different medical conditions. In this chapter, we aimed to review the physiology, pathophysiology, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and complications of sneezing and itching.