10 Common Nose Problems – When to Worry and When to See a Doctor

10 Common Nose Problems – When to Worry and When to See a Doctor

1. Deviated Septum

• Description: A crooked or off-center partition between the nasal passages.
• Symptoms: Nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, loss of smell, sinus infections.
• When to Worry: If symptoms persist or worsen, especially if breathing becomes increasingly difficult.
• When to See a Doctor: If you experience significant breathing difficulties, persistent sinus infections, or if symptoms impact daily life.

2. Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)

• Description: An allergic reaction to airborne particles like pollen or dust.
• Symptoms: Runny nose, congestion, sneezing, itchiness, postnasal drip.
• When to Worry: If symptoms persist or worsen, especially during peak pollen seasons.
• When to See a Doctor: If symptoms are severe, persistent, or impact daily life.

3. Sinusitis (Sinus Infection)

• Description: Inflammation or infection of the sinuses.
• Symptoms: Nasal congestion, facial pain, headache, yellow or green nasal discharge.
• When to Worry: If symptoms persist or worsen, especially if fever develops or facial pain increases.
• When to See a Doctor: If symptoms last longer than 7-10 days, or if you experience severe facial pain, fever, or difficulty breathing.

4. Nosebleeds (Epistaxis)

• Description: Bleeding from the nasal passages. It is very common and rarely serious.
• Symptoms: Blood flowing from the nose, often accompanied by nasal dryness or crusting.
• When to Worry: If bleeding is heavy, persistent, or recurrent.
• When to See a Doctor: If bleeding doesn’t stop after an hour, or if you experience frequent or severe nosebleeds.

5. Nasal Polyps

• Description: Growths on the lining of the nasal passages.
• Symptoms: Loss of smell, nasal congestion, runny nose, facial pain.
• When to Worry: If symptoms persist or worsen, especially if loss of smell is significant.
• When to See a Doctor: If you experience persistent symptoms, especially if you have a history of allergies or asthma.

6. Cold, Flu or COVID-19

• Description: Viral infections affecting the nasal passages and respiratory system.
• Symptoms: Runny nose, congestion, sneezing, coughing, fever.
• When to Worry: If symptoms worsen or persist, especially if fever develops or breathing becomes difficult.
• When to See a Doctor: If symptoms are severe, persistent, or if you experience difficulty breathing, chest pain, or severe headaches.

7. Nasal Congestion

• Description: Blockage of the nasal passages.
• Symptoms: Difficulty breathing, stuffy nose, loss of smell.
• When to Worry: If congestion persists or worsens, especially if breathing becomes increasingly difficult.
• When to See a Doctor: If congestion lasts longer than 7-10 days, or if you experience severe breathing difficulties.

• Description: Excess mucus in the throat and nasal passages.
• Symptoms: Coughing, throat clearing, sensation of mucus running down the back of the throat.
• When to Worry: If symptoms persist or worsen, especially if accompanied by sore throat or cough.
• When to See a Doctor: If symptoms impact daily life, or if you experience persistent coughing or sore throat.

• Description: Injury to the nose or nasal passages.
• Symptoms: Pain, swelling, bruising, difficulty breathing.
• When to Worry: If symptoms worsen or persist, especially if breathing becomes increasingly difficult.
• When to See a Doctor: If you experience severe pain, difficulty breathing, or if symptoms don’t improve with self-care.

• Description: Loss or reduction of the sense of smell.
  • It is frequently caused by upper respiratory infections like the cold, flu, or COVID-19 (and is then temporrary); as well as nasal and sinus conditions such as allergies, sinusitis, and nasal polyps.
  • Other causes include head trauma, certain medications, environmental exposures to chemicals, and aging.
  • More serious but rare causes include neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, and rarely, brain tumours.
• Symptoms: Reduced or lost sense of smell, distorted sense of smell.
• When to Worry: If loss of smell is sudden, severe, or persistent.
• When to See a Doctor: If you experience significant loss of smell, especially if it’s accompanied by other symptoms like nasal congestion or facial pain.

Other Nose Problems

Rosacea

• Description: A skin condition that causes flushing or long-term redness on the face – especially on and around the nose. It also may cause enlarged blood vessels and small, pus-filled bumps
• Symptoms: Redness, prominent blood vessels, and pimples on the face
• When to worry: If symptoms persist or worsen
• When to see a doctor: If symptoms affect daily life or self-care measures aren’t effective.

Note. President Donald Trump has rosacea.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

• Description: Also known ‘rodent ulcer’, is the most common type of skin cancer
• Symptoms: Shiny or pearly bump, may scab or bleed; especially on the face (often near the nose)
• When to worry: If you notice any unusual changes
• When to see a doctor: If you suspect skin cancer, consult a doctor promptly.

Wegener’s Disease of Nose

• Description: Wegener’s disease, now known as Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), is a serious autoimmune disease that commonly affects the nose and sinuses
• Symptoms: It can cause inflammation, crusting, and nosebleeds. In some cases, the cartilage in the nose can be damaged, leading to a ‘saddle-nose deformity’; where the bridge of the nose collapses
• When to worry: If you notice any such unusual changes
• When to see a doctor: If you suspect Wegener’s , consult a doctor promptly.