A Inflammation in the nose can have different causes. Since the nose is an organ with delicate mucous membranes, such inflammation can be extremely painful and seriously affect the patient. The causes of a nasal disease should always be clarified.
What is inflammation in the nose?
In most cases, inflammation in the nose is rhinitis, also known simply as a runny nose. A common cold occurs during the cold season and is triggered by a variety of viruses.In most cases, inflammation in the nose is rhinitis, also known simply as a runny nose. A common cold occurs during the cold season and is triggered by a variety of viruses.
These viruses attack the mucous membrane of the nose, it becomes inflamed and secretes secretions, which is noticeable in increased nasal flow. But not only pathogens can be responsible, allergies can also be responsible for an inflamed nasal mucosa.
An inflammation in the nose can also result from a nasal furuncle. Such a furuncle usually develops as a result of a purulent inflammation of the hair follicle. It is a bacterial infection of a hair root in the nose.
causes
The causes of inflammation in the nose depend on the symptoms. Viruses or allergenic substances are responsible for a nasal infection caused by a cold.
The viruses are mostly so-called rhinoviruses, which cause inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane. But also certain influenza viruses (flu viruses) can trigger a cold. If the inflammation is allergic, it is often hay fever or a pollen allergy that trigger the symptoms.
If the patient suffers from a nasal furuncle, the cause is often a purulent inflammation of the hair follicle. Initially, a small pustule only arises around the hair, which can be painful. Often such a pustule is mistaken for a harmless pimple. If this inflammation then penetrates deeper into the tissue, an extremely painful nasal furuncle occurs triggered by staphylococci.
The following applies to all diseases with inflammation in the nose: the drier the nasal mucosa, the more vulnerable it becomes.
You can find your medication here
➔ Medicines for colds and nasal congestionDiseases with this symptom
- Nasal furuncle
- Cat allergy
- cold
- hay fever
- Pet hair allergy
- Sinus inflammation
- House dust allergy
- Hair follicle inflammation
- Nasal polyps
Diagnosis & course
The doctor will make an accurate diagnosis of inflammation in the nose based on the patient's reports and will also perform physical exams. If the nasal inflammation is accompanied by increased nasal flow, rhinitis or an 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 cold usually disappears after a week. If the symptoms are allergic, they occur as long as the person concerned has contact with the allergen.
An optical examination is sufficient to diagnose a nasal furuncle. The symptoms are very clear, allowing the doctor to diagnose this inflammation in the nose with the naked eye. A nasal furuncle sounds quite harmless, but should be taken very seriously in any case. If the inflammation continues to spread in the body, it can cause serious complications that can be fatal.
Complications
If it is a nasal entrance eczema, changes in the skin in the form of reddening of the skin, itching and crust formation can occur, 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 mucous membrane (rhinitis) can spread to the paranasal sinuses and their mucous membranes if treated too late. Then the stage of rhinosinusitis has occurred. This expansion can lead to a chronic course.
If nasal furuncles, which can result from inflamed hair follicles but often also from rhinitis or rhinosinusitis, are not treated in time, they can become very painful and lead to a purulent secretion. Inflammatory involvement of the cartilage underneath cannot be ruled out. Systematic and life-threatening meningitis and venous thrombosis in the brain can also occur. In order to prevent these serious complications as far as possible, the cause must be precisely clarified and treated. Regardless of the cause, it can even lead to a so-called superinfection with bacteria. Such a bacterial infection as a complication in the further course can be assumed if the condition persists for more than 14 days.
If inflammation of the paranasal sinuses is associated with skin involvement, the surrounding skin can be infiltrated and damaged over the long term.
When should you go to the doctor?
The extent to which a doctor's visit is required depends on the cause of the inflammation. Many adults already have experience with the symptoms of the disease and can estimate the chance of a speedy recovery. There are people who suffer from an unpleasant, but mostly not threatening cold, including runny nose, several times a year and who are symptom-free again after a week.
With such a cold (rhinitis acute), the doctor may be able to alleviate symptoms, but hardly influence the duration of the illness, so that many prefer treatment with tried and tested home remedies. For all other inflammations in the nose, a doctor should be consulted for diagnosis and therapy. Treatment as quickly as possible is necessary for a nasal furuncle, for example. In most cases, this is due to an inflamed hair follicle in the nose. Even the tearing out of a nasal hair - often done by men - and a subsequent infection can cause a nasal furuncle.
Due to the networking of the vascular systems between the face and the brain, the pus pathogens in the nose can lead to serious secondary diseases. To prevent this, the doctor can prescribe effective drugs. Most of them are antibiotics. With appropriate therapy measures, a nasal furuncle heals in most cases within a short time without consequences. Even people who are critical of antibiotics should always consult a doctor in the event of an inflammation with pus (possibly hidden for the medical layperson) in the nose, if necessary also an emergency practice, and until then the tissue should not be additionally pressure , Rubbing, etc. burden.
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Treatment & Therapy
Home remedies ↵ for a cold If the doctor has diagnosed a nasal furuncle with 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 also as an ointment, which is applied directly to the affected area. To combat staphylococci, particularly high-dose antibiotics are necessary. In severe cases, antibiotics are also given by infusion because it can have a stronger effect.
During the treatment, care should be taken to ensure that the pathogens are not spread further. Therefore, the patient should not touch the affected area as much as possible and also move the upper lip little - that means little talking and only ingesting food that needs little or no chewing.
Treating a cold, on the other hand, is much easier. A runny nose caused by viruses can be relieved by nasal drops that reduce swelling. Inhalations also help very well to alleviate the symptoms. If the cause of the cold is an allergy, special medication for allergy sufferers can help. This is available in the form of special nasal drops and also in tablet form.
Outlook & forecast
An inflammation in the nose is a very unpleasant thing to do. As a rule, however, it is a simple cold that should subside on its own 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 pus.In such a case, drug treatment is urgently required, otherwise there is a risk that the inflammation will develop in the nasal mucous membranes or in the whole body.
The formation of eczema is also possible. However, eczema has to be removed surgically. Otherwise there is a risk of serious consequential damage. If an inflammation is not treated accordingly, there is even a risk of blood poisoning. For this reason, at the first signs of significant deterioration, a doctor should be consulted.
With the right treatment and the appropriate medication, such an inflammation in the nose should heal within a very short time. Therefore: Anyone who suffers from an inflammation in the nose should take appropriate treatment. Otherwise there is a risk of an unexpected course of the disease that involves many risks.
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➔ Medicines for colds and nasal congestionprevention
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 includes frequent and thorough hand washing.
To prevent a nasal furuncle, good hygiene is also an advantage. Daily facial cleansing and regular towel changes prevent such inflammations. An allergy, on the other hand, can hardly be prevented, it is impossible not to come into contact with pollen.
You can do that yourself
Various measures can help reduce inflammation in the nose. Heat treatment, for example with a red light lamp, makes sense. Adequate hydration is also important. Recommended are among others Herbal teas with peppermint, chamomile or thyme. Lots of liquid creates 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 used for one liter of hot water. Steam inhalations with essential oils, e.g. Peppermint, tea tree or chamomile oil. Ointments with eucalyptus oil are also suitable for inhalation.
Nasal rinsing with a physiological saline solution can also help against inflammation in the nose. The rinses moisten the mucous membranes and counteract the thickening of the nasal secretions.
In addition, cold quark toppings that are placed on the cheeks and / or forehead are often helpful. In the acute phase of inflammation, they relieve pressure discomfort. Later, warm pads are recommended, for example a washcloth soaked in warm lemon water. Humid air is also recommended. For example, damp cloths can be hung over the heater.
It is important that the nose is properly blown. One-sided snorting makes sense. One nostril is closed and blown out through the other nostril. This prevents nasal mucus from getting stuck in the entrances to the sinuses.