Inflammation in the nose can have various causes. Since the nose is an organ with sensitive mucous membranes, such inflammation can be extremely painful and severely affect the patient. In any case, the causes of nasal disease should be clarified.
What is inflammation in the nose?
In most cases, inflammation in the nose is rhinitis, simply called the common cold. Rhinitis often occurs during cold season and is caused by a variety of viruses. In most cases, inflammation in the nose is rhinitis, simply called the common cold. Rhinitis often occurs during the cold season and is triggered by a variety of viruses. These viruses attack the mucous membrane of the nose, which becomes inflamed and secretes secretions, resulting in increased nasal flow. But not only pathogens can be responsible for this, allergies can also be responsible for an inflamed nasal mucosa. In addition, inflammation in the nose can also be caused by a nasal furuncle. Such a nasal furuncle usually develops as a result of a purulent hair follicle inflammation. This is a bacterial infection of a hair root in the nose.
Causes
The causes of inflammation in the nose depend on the symptoms. In rhinitis-related nasal inflammation, viruses or allergenic substances are responsible. The viruses are mostly so-called rhinoviruses, which cause inflammation of the nasal mucosa. However, certain influenza viruses (flu viruses) can also trigger rhinitis. If the inflammation is allergic, it is often hay fever or a pollen allergy that triggers the symptoms. If the patient suffers from a nasal furuncle, the cause is often a purulent hair follicle inflammation. Initially, a small pustule develops directly around the hair, which can be painful. Such a pustule is often mistaken for a harmless pimple. If this inflammation then penetrates deeper into the tissue, an extremely painful nasal furuncle develops, triggered by staphylococci. For all diseases with inflammation in the nose, the drier the nasal mucosa, the more susceptible it becomes.
Diseases with this symptom
- Nasal furuncle
- Cat allergy
- Common cold
- Hay fever
- Animal hair allergy
- Sinusitis
- House dust allergy
- Hair follicle inflammation
- Nasal polyps
Diagnosis and course
The doctor makes an accurate diagnosis of inflammation in the nose based on the patient’s reports and also performs physical examinations. If the nasal inflammation is accompanied by increased nasal flow, then rhinitis or allergy must be expected. Both forms of the disease are very similar and therefore difficult to distinguish. If there is uncertainty, only an allergy test can bring clarity. A simple rhinitis usually disappears after a week, if the symptoms are allergic, they occur as long as the affected person has contact with the allergen. To diagnose a nasal furuncle, a visual examination is sufficient. The symptoms are very clear, so the doctor can diagnose this inflammation in the nose with the naked eye. A nasal furuncle sounds quite harmless, but it should be taken very seriously in any case. If the inflammation spreads further in the body, it can lead to serious complications that can be fatal.
Complications
If the condition is nasal entrance eczema, changes in the skin may occur in the form of redness of the skin, itching, and crusting, sometimes with a chronic course. Painful redness and swelling at the tip of the nose can occur in the further course of folliculitis of the nasal entrance. An inflammation of the nasal mucosa (rhinitis) can spread to the paranasal sinuses and their mucous membranes if treated too late. Then the stage of rhinosinusitis has occurred. This extension can lead to a chronic course. If nasal furuncles, which can be caused by inflamed hair follicles but often also by rhinitis or rhinosinusitis, are not treated in time, they can become very painful and lead to purulent secretion. Inflammatory involvement of the cartilage underneath cannot be ruled out either.Systemic and life-threatening meningitis and venous thrombosis in the brain can also occur. In order to prevent these serious complications if possible, the cause must be clarified and treated precisely. Regardless of the cause, a so-called superinfection with bacteria can even occur in the further course. Such a bacterial infection as a complication in the further course can be assumed if the condition lasts longer than 14 days. If inflammation of the sinus is associated with skin involvement, the surrounding skin may be permanently infiltrated and damaged.
When should you see a doctor?
The extent to which a doctor’s visit is necessary depends on the cause of the inflammation. Many adults already have experience with symptoms of the disease and can estimate what the chance of a speedy recovery is. For example, there are people who suffer several times a year from an unpleasant but usually non-threatening cold, including the common cold, and are free of symptoms after a week. In the case of such a cold (rhinitis acuta), the doctor may be able to alleviate symptoms, but can hardly influence the duration of the disease, so that many prefer treatment with proven home remedies here. For all other inflammations in the nose, a doctor should be consulted for diagnosis and therapy. In the case of a nasal furuncle, for example, treatment must be as fast as possible. This is usually caused by an inflamed hair follicle in the nose. Even the pulling out of a nose hair – which is often done by men – and a subsequent infection can cause a nasal furuncle. Due to the interconnectedness of the vascular systems between the face and the brain, the suppurative pathogens in the nose can lead to serious secondary diseases. To prevent these, the doctor can prescribe effective medications. In most cases, these are antibiotics. In most cases, a nasal furuncle heals within a short period of time without any consequences if appropriate therapeutic measures are taken. Even people who are critical of antibiotics should in any case consult a doctor in the event of an inflammation with pus in the nose (which may be hidden to the medical layman), including an emergency practice if necessary, and until then do not put additional pressure, rubbing or the like on the tissue.
Treatment and therapy
If the doctor has diagnosed a nasal furuncle in the inflammation in the nose, he will usually prescribe an antibiotic. This is to prevent the pathogens from spreading further in the body. The antibiotic is prescribed once orally in tablet form and additionally as an ointment, which is applied directly to the affected area. To combat staphylococci, particularly high doses of antibiotics are necessary. In severe cases, antibiotics are also administered by infusion, because they can be more effective that way. During treatment, meticulous care should be taken not to spread the pathogens further. Therefore, the patient should not touch the affected area as much as possible and should also move the upper lip little – this means speaking little and taking only food that needs little or no chewing. Treating a cold, on the other hand, is much easier. A cold, due to viruses, can be alleviated by decongestant nose drops. In addition, inhalations help very well to alleviate the discomfort. If the cause of the cold is an allergy, special medications for allergy sufferers can help. This is available in the form of special nose drops and also in tablet form.
Outlook and prognosis
Inflammation in the nose is a very unpleasant matter. As a rule, however, it is a simple cold, which should subside by itself within a week at the latest. However, if there is a bacterial infection in the nose, the course is not so easy to predict. Under certain circumstances, such an infection can develop into a severe inflammation that even produces a pus discharge. In such a case, it is urgent to resort to medicinal treatment, otherwise there is a risk that the inflammation will continue to develop in the nasal mucous membranes or even in the whole body. The formation of eczema is also possible. However, eczema must be surgically removed. Otherwise, there is a risk of serious consequential damage. Thus, if an inflammation is not treated appropriately, there is even a risk of blood poisoning.For this reason, a doctor should be consulted at the first sign of a significant aggravation. With the right treatment and associated medications, such inflammation in the nose should heal within a very short time. Therefore, if you suffer from inflammation in the nose, you should seek appropriate treatment. Otherwise, there is a risk of an unexpected course of the disease, which includes many risks.
Prevention
There is no one hundred percent prevention for any of these causes of inflammation in the nose. To reduce the risk of rhinitis, certain hygiene measures are indicated, especially during the cold season. This absolutely includes frequent and thorough hand washing. To prevent a nasal furuncle, good hygiene is also beneficial. Daily facial cleansing and regular changing of towels prevents such inflammations. An allergy, on the other hand, can hardly be prevented, it is even impossible not to come into contact with pollen.
What you can do yourself
Various measures help to relieve inflammation in the nose. A heat treatment, for example, with a red light lamp is useful. In addition, sufficient fluid intake is important. Herbal teas with peppermint, chamomile or thyme herb, among others, are recommended. Plenty of fluid causes a thin discharge. Steam inhalations with a chamomile concentrate, dried chamomile flowers or with sea salt can also be helpful. One tablespoon of sea salt is added to one liter of hot water. Steam inhalations with essential oils, e.g. peppermint, tea tree or chamomile oil, are also anti-inflammatory. Ointments with eucalyptus oil are also suitable for inhalation. Nasal rinses with a physiological saline solution can also help against inflammation in the nose. The rinses moisten the mucous membranes and counteract the thickening of nasal secretions. In addition, cold quark pads placed on the cheeks and/or forehead are often helpful. In the acute phase of the inflammation, they relieve the pressure symptoms. Later, warm compresses are recommended, for example, a washcloth soaked in warm lemon water. Moist breathing air is also recommended. For example, damp cloths can be hung over the heater. It is important to blow the nose properly. It makes sense to blow on one side. This involves holding one nostril closed and blowing through the other nostril. In this way, nasal mucus does not settle in the entrances of the sinuses.
