Associated symptoms | Foreign body in the nose

Associated symptoms

Foreign bodies can enter the nose relatively quickly and in a variety of ways. In most cases, foreign bodies are found in the nose of small children. As they grow and develop, they are particularly curious and like to hide small objects such as nuts, coins or even pearls in their nose or other orifices.

However, a foreign object can also enter the nose in an accident, such as a fall. These can be small stones, for example. However, small particles can also get into the nose when external force is applied to the nose, or splinters of the nasal cartilage can develop, which are perceived as foreign bodies.

In addition, it sometimes happens that insects penetrate the inside of the nose and hide there. In some cases, a feeling of a foreign body is created even though there is none in the nose. The most common cause of this is a cold, or a flu-like infection, which is accompanied by a strong secretion in the nose.

Diagnosis

In order to diagnose a foreign body in the nose, the treating physician should first ask about the existing symptoms and have the patient describe in detail how it happened and when the symptoms first appeared. Symptoms such as itching or an annoying, scratchy feeling in the nose, frequent sneezing or even newly occurring runny nose can indicate a foreign body in the nose even without a suitable history. Especially in small children, where one does not know whether they may have stuck something up their nose, one should always think of a foreign body.

During the following physical examination, the nose should be inspected carefully. Foreign bodies in the nostrils or at the level of the nasal septum are usually easy to detect when inspecting with pliers. If a deeper foreign body is suspected, a rhinoscopy using an endoscope is necessary.