Post Nasal Drip Doctor in Dubai | Dr. Muhammad Jabbr

Quick answer

Who treats post-nasal drip in Dubai, and when should you see a doctor?

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgeon who treats post-nasal drip. He sees patients at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, Dubai. Post-nasal drip is the feeling of mucus running down the back of your throat. It often causes throat clearing and a night-time cough. See him if the drip lasts more than three to four weeks, keeps coming back or disturbs your sleep. Get care sooner if you notice blood in your mucus.

Do you feel mucus sliding down the back of your throat? Do you clear your throat all day, or cough more at night? This is called post-nasal drip. It is common, and in Dubai, dust, air conditioning and indoor allergens can keep it going. A post nasal drip doctor in Dubai can find out what is driving it and help you settle it.

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr, Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, is one of the best specialists in the city for a drip that keeps coming back. Over more than 20 years, he has performed more than 3,000 ENT procedures.

What Does Post-Nasal Drip Feel Like?

Your nose and sinuses make mucus every day, and you normally swallow it without noticing. You start to feel it when there is too much, or when it turns thick and sticky. Common signs include:

A feeling of mucus running or sticking at the back of the throat
Frequent throat clearing or "hawking", often worse in the morning
A tickly cough that gets worse when you lie down
A scratchy or mildly sore throat, or a need to swallow often
Bad breath or a stale taste in the mouth
A blocked or runny nose, or sneezing

Some people have the drip with no nose symptoms at all.

What Causes Post-Nasal Drip?

Post-nasal drip is a symptom, not a disease. The cause decides the treatment.

Allergies

House dust mites, pet dander, mould and pollen can make the nose lining swell and pour out thin, clear mucus. Sneezing and itchy, watery eyes often come with it. Read more on our allergic rhinitis treatment page.

Sinus infection and chronic sinusitis

After a cold, the sinuses may become inflamed or infected. The mucus turns thicker and may look yellow or green. If sinus swelling lasts more than 12 weeks, it is called chronic sinusitis. Facial pressure, a blocked nose and a reduced sense of smell are common. See our chronic sinusitis treatment page.

Dry air and air conditioning

Most Dubai homes and offices keep the AC on nearly all year. Cool, dry air dries the nose lining, so mucus turns thick and sticky and is harder to clear.

Non-allergic rhinitis

Some noses react to smoke, perfume, temperature changes or spicy food without any allergy. This non-allergic (vasomotor) rhinitis often causes a clear, watery drip.

Nose shape, sprays, reflux and other triggers

Colds, which can leave a drip for a week or two
Structural problems such as a bent septum, large turbinates or nasal polyps, which can trap mucus
Overuse of decongestant sprays, which can cause rebound swelling
Hormone changes, for example in pregnancy, and some tablets, which can make the nose lining swell
Reflux, which can irritate the throat and make normal mucus feel thicker

Why Does Post-Nasal Drip Cause a Chronic Cough?

The back of the throat has many nerve endings. When mucus keeps dripping onto them, it triggers a cough to clear it. Doctors sometimes call this "upper airway cough syndrome". It is one of the most common reasons for a cough that lasts more than eight weeks in adults.

The cough is often dry or tickly. It tends to be worse at night and first thing in the morning, because mucus pools while you lie flat.

Throat clearing can also become a habit. Each hard clear irritates the throat and leads to more clearing. Sipping water or swallowing instead of clearing helps break this cycle.

A long-lasting cough can have other causes too, such as asthma, reflux or some blood pressure tablets. If you cough up blood, feel short of breath or have chest pain, see a doctor promptly.

Is It Post-Nasal Drip or Silent Reflux?

Silent reflux (laryngopharyngeal reflux) can also cause throat clearing and a mucus feeling. Some people have both. These clues can help:

Nose symptoms such as sneezing, a blocked or runny nose, or facial pressure point towards post-nasal drip.
A drip you can feel coming from the back of the nose suggests a nose or sinus source.
A lump feeling, hoarseness and a sour taste, often after meals or late dinners, point more towards reflux.

They are only a guide, and an ENT examination gives a clearer answer. A thin camera can show swelling in the nose, pus from the sinuses, or signs of irritation around the voice box. If your voice or voice box is the main worry, our throat and voice care page explains more.

How Does a Post Nasal Drip Doctor in Dubai Find the Cause?

Your doctor will ask when the drip started, what the mucus looks like, whether it changes with seasons or places, and which sprays you have tried. Then comes an examination of the nose, throat and ears. Tests may include:

Nasal endoscopy. After a numbing spray, a slim camera looks deep inside the nose. It can show a bent septum, swollen turbinates, polyps, or pus draining from the sinus openings. It is a quick, in-clinic check. Learn more about nasal endoscopy.
Flexible laryngoscopy. A similar camera checks the throat and voice box if hoarseness or reflux is a concern.
Allergy tests. Skin prick or blood tests may be suggested if an allergy seems likely.
CT scan of the sinuses. Usually only if chronic sinusitis is suspected or surgery is being considered.

How Is Post-Nasal Drip Treated?

Treatment follows the cause:

Allergy: avoiding triggers where possible, steroid nose sprays, antihistamines and saline rinses. Longer-term allergy treatment may be discussed for some people.
Sinus disease: saline rinses and steroid sprays come first. Antibiotics may help if there is a bacterial infection. If chronic sinusitis does not settle with medicines, sinus surgery may be an option.
Dry air: more water, saline sprays or gels, and a bedroom humidifier can thin the mucus.
Non-allergic rhinitis: avoiding irritants, saline rinses, and some prescription sprays can reduce the watery drip.
Structural causes: if a bent septum, enlarged turbinates or polyps keep the problem going, a procedure to open the nose may be advised.
Reflux as a contributor: simple diet and timing changes, and sometimes medicine, may be added alongside nose treatment.

Steroid sprays need correct technique and daily use, often for a few weeks, to work well. Keep decongestant sprays to a few days at most. For more options, see our post-nasal drip treatment page.

When Does Post-Nasal Drip Need a Closer Look?

Book a review if the drip lasts more than three to four weeks, keeps coming back, or disturbs your sleep. Seek care sooner if you notice:

Blood in your mucus or saliva
Symptoms on one side of the nose only, especially with a bad smell
Swelling or redness around the eye, changes in vision, a severe headache, a stiff neck or a high fever (get urgent care the same day)
Hoarseness lasting more than three weeks
Trouble swallowing, weight loss, or a neck lump that lasts more than three weeks in an adult

Children sometimes push small objects up their nose. If your child has a smelly drip from one nostril only, have it checked soon.

Seeing Dr. Muhammad Jabbr About a Drip That Will Not Settle

Alongside his MD and MS degrees, Dr. Jabbr holds DOHNS (England), plus European Board and Arab Board certification in ORL-HNS. He sees adults and children with nose, sinus and throat complaints.

The aim of your visit is to find the real cause first. Findings are explained in plain words, and simple options such as sprays and rinses come first. A procedure is only considered if medicines have not helped and the examination shows a clear reason.

Book an Appointment

Appointments with Dr. Jabbr take place at the ENT Department of Medcare Hospital, Hadiqa Street, Al Safa 1, Dubai. You can request a post-nasal drip consultation online or ring +971 52 751 7811.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can post-nasal drip last for months?

Yes, if the cause is ongoing, such as an allergy, chronic sinusitis or a bent septum. Treating the cause often brings relief, though allergy-related drip may need ongoing care.

Does the colour of the mucus matter?

Clear mucus often points to allergy or irritation. Thick yellow or green mucus can mean infection, but colour alone is not proof. Your doctor will look at the whole picture.

Do I need antibiotics for post-nasal drip?

Usually not. Most drips come from allergy, irritation, dry air or a cold, and antibiotics do not help these. They may be used when there are clear signs of a bacterial sinus infection.

Why is my post-nasal drip worse at night?

When you lie flat, mucus pools at the back of the throat instead of being swallowed. Dry AC air in the bedroom can also thicken it. Raising your head and using a humidifier may help.

Are saline nasal rinses safe to use every day?

For most people, yes. Use sterile, boiled-and-cooled or distilled water, and keep the bottle clean. Ask your doctor if you have had recent ear or nose surgery.

Do children get post-nasal drip?

Yes. Colds, allergies and large adenoids are common reasons in children. A child who coughs at night, snores or breathes through the mouth may benefit from an ENT check.

Getting Relief From Post-Nasal Drip

You do not have to live with constant throat clearing and night-time coughing. Finding what is behind the drip, whether allergy, sinus disease, dry air or reflux, gives you the best chance of real relief. If it has lasted for weeks, Dr. Muhammad Jabbr can examine you and plan care that suits you.