A typical manifestation of rhinitis is a violation of the olfactory function. A person does not distinguish aromas well, which is due to swelling of the mucous membrane and pronounced rhinorrhea. What does the bloody odor indicate? How dangerous is it? The causes of the smell of blood in the nose are of various origins, let's consider the most common of them.
To choose the right therapy, you need to see a doctor. Thanks to a complete examination, the specialist determines the cause of the disease and determines the treatment tactics. 
Diagnostics is carried out by an ENT doctor, however, if necessary, consultation of a neurologist and oncologist may be required.
Among the possible reasons, it is worth focusing on:
- injuries to the olfactory zone in the nose;
- drug poisoning;
- oncological neoplasms of the brain;
- peripheral nerve damage;
- alcoholism;
- craniocerebral trauma;
- chronic nasopharyngitis.
Nervous system disorders
A person is able to distinguish between smells thanks to the olfactory analyzer, which consists of special cells in the nasal cavities, as well as recognition structures in the brain and the olfactory nerve. Considering the mechanism of smell perception, it is worth noting that a failure in the nervous system can occur both in the central and peripheral parts of it. As a result, a violation of the sense of smell can be observed up to its complete absence (anosmia).
Pathology of the central part
A disorder of smell can be observed against the background of the pathology of the nervous system. The nature of the violations may indicate a certain localization of the pathological focus or indicate extensive damage to the nervous tissue.
If a brain cancer is suspected, olfactory dysfunction is a manifestation of the lesion of the cranial fossa. Symptomatically, the disease is characterized by:
- olfactory hallucinations;
- mental disorder;
- headache;
- dizziness;
- visual dysfunction;
- sleep disturbance;
- epileptic seizures.
Similar symptoms can occur in the postoperative period, when surgery was performed in the area of the cranial anterior fossa. Indications for surgery include neoplasms of the brain, vascular diseases (aneurysms), head trauma.
Olfactory hallucinations are also observed in the inflammatory process in the brain tissue (arachnoencephalitis), Alzheimer's disease, hereditary predisposition.
Peripheral lesion
The trigeminal, glossopharyngeal nerve is involved in the process of recognizing odors. Clinically, their defeat is manifested by painful sensations along the nerve fibers, olfactory dysfunction. A complete lack of smell is observed with damage to the facial nerve.
The smell of blood in the nose can appear against the background of functional disorders, neuroses. Separately, it is worth highlighting senile impairment of smell. With age, atrophic processes in the fibers of the olfactory nerve progress.
The sensitivity of smell is much higher in the fairer sex, so they are better at smelling.
The defeat of the trigeminal nerve of an inflammatory nature is accompanied by:
- attacks of pain syndrome for several minutes. Localization of pain is one of the sides of the face. Consuming solid food, talking or cooling this zone in a draft can provoke the appearance of painful sensations;
- sleep disturbance;
- a change in the perception of aromas, when a person is not able to accurately distinguish between smells.
Therapeutic tactics include the appointment:
- Finlepsin. The drug belongs to antiepileptic drugs;
- anti-neurological medicines;
- physiotherapy procedures, for example, UHF, electrophoresis with novocaine, dry heat.
As for the defeat of the facial nerve, the disease is often caused by hypothermia. Clinical symptoms are presented:
- violation of sensitivity, motor ability of the muscles of the face, due to which its asymmetry appears;
- a change in facial expressions. A person cannot puff out his cheeks, frown, or bared his teeth;
- dryness of the conjunctiva or lacrimation (it depends on the location of the nerve damage);
- dysosmia with possible bloody odor;
- soreness in front of the ear, in the mastoid area.
The complex of therapeutic measures includes:
- the appointment of anti-inflammatory drugs. Their action is aimed at reducing swelling, inflammation and pain in the nerve;
- vitamins of group B (Milgamma, Kombilipen) - for nutrition, restoration of nervous tissue;
- corticosteroid drugs, the action of which is aimed at blocking the inflammatory process;
- diuretic medicines needed to reduce tissue swelling;
- Neoserine - to restore tone.
For 10 days, thermal procedures are carried out on the affected facial part, after which massage and therapeutic gymnastics are prescribed. From physiotherapeutic procedures, applications (paraffin, ozokerite, mud), electrophoresis, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, acupuncture are also recommended.
Malignant lesion of the nasopharynx
The reasons for the formation of a malignant focus in the area of the nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses are not fully understood. Among the factors that increase the risk of oncopathology, it is worth highlighting:
- long experience of smoking;
- alcohol abuse;
- addiction to spicy, spicy food;
- chronic inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx of an infectious nature;
- ionizing radiation;
- occupational hazards (excessive exposure to sunlight, heat);
- hereditary predisposition.
There are several classifications of malignant diseases, which are based on the cellular structure of the tumor, the prevalence of the oncological process.
The clinical picture of the disease consists of:
- nasal manifestations. This group includes recurrent bleeding, nasal congestion, nasal odor, the smell of blood in the nose, putrid odor from the mouth, pain in the paranasal region;
- ear signs (soreness in the ear area, auditory dysfunction, noise, ringing in the ears);
- neurological symptoms, which include frequent headaches, impaired speech, swallowing, sensory disorders, and motor ability of the facial muscles.
The risk of bleeding increases significantly with thrombocytopenia (a decrease in the number of platelets that are part of the coagulation system).
When the process is running, the malignant neoplasm spreads to the surrounding tissues, which is why:
- visual dysfunction;
- disorder of taste;
- breathing disorder;
- dry mucous membranes or excessive salivation;
- damage to regional lymph nodes. They become enlarged, dense and immobile due to adhesion with adjacent tissues.
When a tumor spreads to internal organs, their dysfunction is noted. Nowadays, malignant pathology is often diagnosed at the stage of metastases. One third of cases are characterized by bilateral lymph node involvement.
In cancer of the nasopharynx, metastatic foci primarily affect the liver, bone structures, and lung tissue. As the disease progresses, cancer intoxication develops and body weight decreases.
The diagnosis is made based on the analysis of anamnestic data, complaints, as well as diagnostic results. At the reception, the doctor examines the affected area, conducts a physical examination.
Then a rhinoscopy is prescribed, in which a neoplasm is detected.To assess the extent of the spread of the oncological process, radiography, computed tomography, ultrasound examination, and MRI are performed. The listed instrumental techniques make it possible to determine the type of education, to analyze the state of the surrounding organs.
A neurological examination makes it possible to establish the degree of damage to the cranial nerves. Treatments include:
- irradiation;
- chemotherapy;
- surgical intervention (with a limited process).
Dysosmia
Dysosmia (a perverted sense of odors), can lead to a smell of blood. Smell disorder occurs due to:
- hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy;
- age-related changes in the structure of nerve endings;
- long-term smoking;
- receptor damage (allergy, infection, toxic effects of medications);
- damage to brain structures, peripheral nerves in diabetes, epilepsy, neuritis, trauma, tumors, Parkinson's disease.
Treatment is based on the cause of the olfactory dysfunction.
Nasopharyngitis
In rare cases, a feeling of a bloody odor is observed with chronic inflammation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. Chronization of the process occurs against the background of immunodeficiency. It can be a serious infection (AIDS), systemic diseases of autoimmune origin, or taking strong medications (chemotherapy, long-term antibacterial, hormonal therapy).
An exacerbation of chronic nasopharyngitis is observed after hypothermia, inhalation of cold air or the use of chilled drinks.
Regardless of the reason for the appearance of the smell of blood in the nasal cavities, this is considered a pathology and requires mandatory consultation with a specialist. Having diagnosed the disease in a timely manner, you can avoid its progression and the development of complications.
