The appearance of an unpleasant odor from the nose is always an alarming symptom. What exactly will smell - depends on the specific reason that caused it. Smelly snot can appear spontaneously and just as suddenly stop. In some cases, they make a person suffer until the disease of which such discharge is a symptom is completely cured.
Causes of discharge "with a smell"
Of course, only a doctor can establish the correct cause and prescribe an adequate course of treatment. The key to successful treatment is its timely start.
Doctors distinguish between 3 main types of "smelly" discharge from the nose:
- snot with a burning smell - usually appears from time to time;
- snot with a rotten smell - can be either permanent or episodic;
- snot with the smell of pus - often permanent, traditionally accompany diseases of the nasopharynx, which have an infectious origin.
Why does snot stink? There are a number of reasons for a foul odor from the nose.
- Ozena is the name of a fetid rhinitis. It is rare enough. Today, unfortunately, there are no clear and well-reasoned assumptions about the reasons for this disease. At the same time, most doctors tend to believe that this nuisance can be transmitted genetically.
Ozena is characterized by inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which even affects bone tissue. As a result, the nasal passages are covered with small dried crusts that exude a real stench.
A bacterial infection is one of the most common causes of snot stinking in a person. The fact is that sometimes the body can give an unpredictable violent reaction to any infection or allergen. The result is a disgusting odor coming out of the nose. True, in this case, it appears sporadically.- Acute rhinitis is a disease that has an infectious origin. A characteristic symptom is inflammation of the nasal mucosa, accompanied by purulent discharge from the nasal passages. Accordingly, the snot smells of pus. If you start a course of competent treatment on time, the symptoms are eliminated, and with them the smell disappears.
- Sinusitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. It is easy to determine by headache, purulent rhinitis and unsatisfactory general health. Snot with a smell with sinusitis may appear at times. However, this smell is extremely strong, therefore it causes significant discomfort to a person and those around him. It should be noted that this is a rather serious disease, with the treatment of which in no case should be delayed. If you ignore its symptoms, it can provoke dangerous complications.
Parosmia - this is the name of a violation of the perception of odors. A person suffering from this disease may feel badly any smells, but the putrid stench, which in reality does not exist, he will feel quite brightly. Parosmia usually does not appear on its own, but as a result of another disease. In certain cases, it signals a disturbance in the activity of the brain. Then the patient needs urgent diagnosis.- Foreign object stuck in the nose. In this case, we are talking about babies. They can stuff a wide variety of things into the nasal passages and, of course, not admit what they have done to their parents. A foreign body trapped in the nose causes inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the nasal passages, accompanied by painful sensations. One of the first signs that something is clearly superfluous in the child's nose is a pungent smell. If you feel that his nose smells very unpleasant, you should immediately seek the advice of a specialist.
A bacterial infection is one of the most common causes of snot stinking in a person. The fact is that sometimes the body can give an unpredictable violent reaction to any infection or allergen. The result is a disgusting odor coming out of the nose. True, in this case, it appears sporadically.
Parosmia - this is the name of a violation of the perception of odors. A person suffering from this disease may feel badly any smells, but the putrid stench, which in reality does not exist, he will feel quite brightly. Parosmia usually does not appear on its own, but as a result of another disease. In certain cases, it signals a disturbance in the activity of the brain. Then the patient needs urgent diagnosis.What to do if snot smells
Depending on the form in which the disease proceeds, and what caused it, doctors resort to different methods of treatment:
- conservative - it is aimed at actively fighting infection and removing crusts from the nasal passages;
- complex medication - mandatory rinsing of the nose, the use of special drops, as well as streptomycin or any other antibiotic;
- phytotherapeutic - rinsing the nasal passages with medicinal herbs;
- operational - if there is an urgent need to narrow the nasal cavity.
If snot with a smell in an adult appeared due to any disease, then doctors, first of all, direct all efforts to cure him. After all, as you know, by eliminating the cause, you can remove the consequences.
In any case, you will additionally need to rinse your nose with the help of various medications that effectively remove foul-smelling discharge and at the same time fight infection.
Let's summarize
If you suddenly feel that your nose has begun to smell disgusting, in no case should you try to diagnose yourself on your own, and even more so - to prescribe treatment for yourself. Such actions can adversely affect your condition, aggravate it and even lead to the development of complications.
Find out why smelly snot causes you discomfort and how to deal with them, you can only from a qualified specialist. Choosing a treatment strategy, he will be based on the specific reasons that triggered the appearance of foul-smelling nasal discharge.
By starting the correct treatment on time, you can avoid complications and quickly eliminate unpleasant symptoms. It is highly undesirable to procrastinate in this case. After all, a disgusting smell from the nose can also be caused by rather dangerous diseases that can cause significant damage to your health.
