The bad smell in the nose is a symptom that can be caused by situations such as bacterial sinusitis, covid-19, rhinitis, caries or due to the presence of a strange object in the nose, for example.
Other symptoms that can also accompany the bad smell in the nose, according to the cause of this condition, are headache, bad breath, weight sensation and head pain, and persistent cough.
When the bad smell in the nose is persistent and/or accompanied by other symptoms, it is advisable to consult the otolaryngologist or general practitioner, to make a complete assessment and indicate the proper treatment, which may include the use of oral, decongestant medicines and, in some cases, psychotherapy.
What can be bad smell in the nose
The possible causes of bad smell in the nose are:
1. Bacterial sinusitis
Bacterial sinusitis is an inflammation of nasal breasts caused by bacteria, causing symptoms such as bad smell in the nose and bad taste in the mouth, bad breath, fever and weight sensation and head pain. Get to know all the symptoms of bacterial sinusitis.
What to do: The doctor may recommend the use of antibiotics, such as amoxicillin and cephalosporins, oral antiallergic, decongestant and painkillers, to combat bacteria, reduce inflammation, unclog the nose, relieve headache and decrease runny nose, for example.
In addition, the doctor may also recommend conducting nebulization, which is done with saline and/or medicines such as corticosteroids or bronchodilators, which help to humidify respiratory pathways, dilute secretions and unclog airway.
2. COVID-1
Smelling bad smell in the nose is one of Covid’s possible sequelae, being caused by a parosmia, a disorder of the smell that makes the smells that were previously normal or pleasant, to be felt as unpleasant or unbearable. This symptom can start about 3 months after the onset of infection.
Other possible covid-19 sequelae may include loss of taste and smell, excessive tiredness, muscle pain, persistent cough and a sense of shortness of breath.
Also read: COVID-19 sequelae: what are and what to do
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What to do: COVID-19 Parosmia usually improves alone over time without the need for treatment. However, the doctor may recommend olfactory training, which consists of inhaling for 20 seconds, 2x/ day, coffee powder, vanilla essence, concentrated passion fruit juice or tangerine, red wine vinegar, clove, mint toothpaste and honey.
3. Rhinitis
Rhinitis is an inflammation in the nasal mucosa that causes symptoms, such as bad smell in the nose, cough, dripping or clogged nose, frequent sneezing, headache and red eyes, watery and scratching.
Also read: Rhinitis: what it is, symptoms, causes, types and treatment
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What to do: Some precautions during the treatment of rhinitis include keeping the environments always clean, avoid carpets, curtains and stuffed animals and keeping the house airy.
In addition, the doctor may also indicate nasal washing with saline or sodium chloride saline 0.9%, or the use of oral medicines such as corticosteroids and antihistamines, for example.
4. Strange object on the nose
The presence of a foreign object in the nose can cause internal injuries, leading to the emergence of symptoms such as headache, nasal bleeding, yellowish secretion or bad smell in the nose.
What to do: It is recommended to seek emergency care, where the treatment will be done with the removal of the object with curettes, tweezers or probes. In addition, the doctor may also suck the object with flexible suction catheters.
5. Caries
Caries is a teeth infection caused by bacteria naturally present in the mouth and accumulating forming hard and difficult to remove plates. Symptoms that may be present in caries are toothache, bad breath and bad smell in the nose, presence of holes in one or more teeth and swollen gum.
Also read: Caries: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment
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What to do: Treatment should be done by the dentist through a tooth restoration to remove caries and all infected tissue, and the application of resin.
According to the stage of caries, the dentist can perform a canal treatment or remove the tooth, which then needs to be replaced by a prosthesis.
6. OLFATIVE REFERENCE DISORDER
The bad smell in the nose may be present in the olfactory reference disorder, a condition that is characterized by a false belief that someone gives an unpleasant or offensive body odor. Although people with this condition believe they really smell bad, other people can’t feel the odor.
This disorder can also cause social anxiety and excessive and repetitive behaviors, such as repeatedly checking whether there is bad body odor or washing clothes several times.
What to do: Treatment, indicated by the doctor, may include the use of antipsychotic and antidepressant medications. In addition, the doctor can also prescribe psychotherapy sessions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy.
When to go to the doctor
It is recommended to go to the doctor, when the bad smell in the nose lasts more than 1 week and/or is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, clogged nose, headache and nasal bleeding.
After evaluating the symptoms presented by the person, the doctor can identify the cause of the bad smell in the nose and thus indicate the most appropriate treatment.
Source: www.tuasaude.com