Sycosis in medicine is called inflammation of the hair follicles, accompanied by suppuration. Damage to the skin and mucous membrane most often occurs in those areas where stiff hair grows. Sycosis of the nose is quite common. This disease often affects men with dense vegetation above the upper lip. Without treatment, the pathology acquires a chronic course and periodically recurs, which can cause serious complications.
What it is
Sycosis of the nose (folliculitis) is a purulent inflammation of the hair follicles in the nostril, at the entrance to the nasal cavity and in nearby areas. The causative agent of pathology is most often Staphylococcus aureus. In more rare cases, the disease is caused by a fungal infection.
Microorganisms enter the follicles through damage to the skin. Bacteria cause an inflammatory process in the hair follicle. Blood serum seeps through the walls of blood vessels and fills the cavity of the follicle. This forms exudate, which is then transformed into pus.
As bacteria multiply, the purulent-inflammatory process spreads to the areas at the entrance to the nostril. In this case, doctors diagnose sycosis of the vestibule of the nose. Men are more likely to suffer from the disease, as this area is often injured during shaving. Typically, sycosis occurs in patients aged 30 to 55 years.
ICD code
Sycosis of the nose in the ICD refers to diseases of the hair follicles. This group of pathologies is included under the heading L73.8 ("Other hair follicle diseases"). The complete code for sycosis of the nose according to ICD-10 is L73.8.0.
Causes
Doctors attribute Staphylococcus aureus to opportunistic microbes. This bacterium causes purulent inflammation only with a decrease in immunity. The following factors can provoke the occurrence of sycosis of the nose:
- Immunodeficiency conditions. A sharp weakening of the body's defenses is observed in diabetes mellitus, HIV infection, thyroid dysfunction, chronic fatigue syndrome and frequent stress.
- Inflammatory diseases of the nasal cavity. Sycosis can be a complication of rhinitis, sinusitis and sinusitis. With these pathologies, the patient is bothered by a constant runny nose. Discharge from the nose irritates the mucous membrane, which leads to its inflammation and infection.
- Sores and scratches. The mucous membrane is often injured during shaving, removing hair from the nostrils with tweezers, and cleansing the nasal passages with cotton buds. With insufficient hygiene, staphylococcus enters the microcracks.
- Dry nasal mucosa. With frequent use of degreasing creams and vasoconstrictor drops, as well as when inhaling dry and dusty air, the function of the sebaceous glands decreases. The mucous membrane of the nasal passages becomes dry, thinned and ceases to fulfill a protective function.
- Mycosis of the nose. Sycosis is also susceptible to patients suffering from a fungal disease of the skin and nasal mucosa - trichophytosis. In such cases, doctors talk about a parasitic variety of pathology.
Symptomatology
Sycosis of the nose usually proceeds in a chronic form. During an exacerbation of the pathology, the patient complains of burning and itching in the nostrils and at the entrance to the nasal cavity. The skin and mucous membranes swell strongly. Rashes of red color appear, which then turn into pustules. Over time, they erupt and in their place greenish or yellowish crusts form.
The disease is also accompanied by the following symptoms:
- It becomes difficult for the patient to breathe through the nose.
- Dryness of the nasal mucosa is felt.
- The patient is worried about severe discomfort in the nasal passages.
If the causative agent of sycosis is not staphylococcus, but the Trichophyton fungus, then painful nodules form on the skin and mucous membrane. When pressed, purulent contents easily come out of them. Doctors call this symptom a "honeycomb symptom."
In severe cases of sycosis in the patient, the general condition sharply worsens. There is an increase in temperature to + 37.5 - +38 degrees, an increase in lymph nodes, severe pain in the area of inflammation, radiating to the forehead and upper jaw.
Complications
Is sycosis of the nose dangerous? Without therapy, this disease can lead to rather serious consequences:
- Extramatization. The patient has weeping rashes, accompanied by severe itching.
- Impetigo. Large pustular rashes form on the skin near the nose. They affect large areas of the epidermis.
- Meningoencephalitis. This complication is rare. However, in advanced cases, an infection can penetrate into the skull with a blood stream and cause severe inflammation of the meninges.
- Cavernous sinus thrombosis. Staphylococcus can enter the vessels of the membranes of the brain. This often leads to blockage of the veins and a sharp increase in intracranial pressure.
Diagnostics
Dermatologists usually diagnose sycosis during an external examination of the patient. This disease is accompanied by characteristic rashes in the area of the vestibule of the nose. However, in some cases, additional laboratory tests are required:
- Clinical blood test. An increase in white blood cell count and ESR indicates an inflammatory process in the body.
- Bakposeva crusts and contents of pustules. This study helps not only determine the causative agent of the disease, but also select the most suitable antibiotic for the treatment of sycosis of the nose.
If a fungal etiology of the disease is suspected, a consultation with a mycologist is required.
Drug treatment
How to treat sycosis of the nose? Before therapy, it is necessary to remove all hairs from the affected areas. Then the area of inflammation is treated with disinfectants: chlorhexidine, potassium permanganate, furacilin or boric acid. Prescribe local antibiotic-based products:
- tetracycline ointment;
- syntomycin ointment;
- Levomekol;
- "Fucidin;
- Bactroban.
These ointments are detrimental to Staphylococcus aureus. With fungal etiology of sycosis, antimycotic local agents are used:
- "Clotrimazole";
- Exoderyl
- Lamisil.
With large nodular formations, the use of tar ointment is indicated. If the patient is worried about severe itching, then local drugs with hormones are prescribed: dexamethasone or prednisone.
In severe and advanced forms of sycosis, oral antibiotics are used:
- Ciprofloxacin;
- Clindamycin;
- Amoxiclav;
- "Doxycycline";
- "Roxithromycin" (with resistance to other antibacterial drugs).
During treatment, the patient is recommended to adhere to a special diet. It is necessary to exclude sweets, fatty foods and alcohol from the diet. Such products adversely affect the condition of the skin and hair follicles.
Physiotherapy
Drug treatment is supplemented with physiotherapy:
- irradiation with ultraviolet rays;
- laser therapy;
- darsonvalization;
- warming up with an infrared lamp "Sollux".
In severe cases, photoepilation is performed using small doses of x-ray radiation before prescribing medications. This allows you to remove hairs from the affected areas.
Prevention
How to prevent sycosis? Dermatologists are advised to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Heal rhinitis and sinusitis in time.
- Avoid mechanical damage to the mucous membrane of the nostrils and skin of the vestibule of the nose.
- Minor scratches obtained during shaving must be immediately treated with disinfectants.
- Strengthen your immunity and harden your body.
- Observe hygiene of the nasal passages.
At the first signs of sycosis, you should consult a dermatologist. This disease cannot be cured by any folk methods. Only the use of antibiotics will help get rid of this skin pathology.