Often people are forced to face a pathology such as pus from the nose. There are several reasons for this, in connection with which it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor. Timely diagnosis and treatment will avoid possible complications.
Features of pus formation
The bacteria that got on the nasal mucosa, defeating the immune system, begin to actively multiply and distribute toxins. Tissues eventually undergo inflammation, pus appears. It has an unpleasant aroma, causes headache, malaise, intoxication, is a source of the formation of dry green-gray crusts. You need to know that pus in the nose is very dangerous for the body, since it can provoke inflammation of any of the internal organs. That is why it is necessary to get rid of it.
Causes of pathology
Pathological processes can provoke bacteria, infections and fungi. Especially often, pus from the nose appears due to sinusitis, that is, inflammation of the paranasal sinuses of an acute nature. Sinusitis mainly causes SARS, but in some cases, the cause is vasomotor rhinitis, allergies, pulpitis, caries, hypothermia of the nasopharynx. The localization of the inflammation process affects the existence of several varieties of the disease.
The most common cause of pus from the nose is sinusitis, that is, inflammation of the nasal sinuses. Appears due to colds, untreated runny nose, less often - due to caries. As a result, due to congestion of the nasal passages, mucus accumulates in the sinuses, and purulent fluid is accumulated. Sinusitis is accompanied by pain in the cheeks and temples (discomfort intensifies during tilting the head forward and to the side), general weakness and fever. Purulent mucus can enter the lungs and throat.
Etmoiditis is a process of inflammation in the mucosa of the ethmoid labyrinth, that is, in one of the sinuses near the nose. It causes swelling near the eyes, swelling, pain is felt between the eyes. Nasal congestion is noted, the sense of smell is partially lost.
Pus from the nose often provokes sphenoiditis, that is, the inflammatory process of the sphenoid sinuses. It happens quite rarely, it is accompanied by pain in the upper region of the head, in the neck and ears.
Purulent frontal sinusitis is a process of inflammation of the frontal sinuses. The patient feels an acute headache, heaviness in the forehead.
General malaise, fever, discharge of pus from the nose, as well as its stuffiness, are common signs of all types of sinusitis. Pain is determined by the location of the inflamed sinuses.
When you press with your fingers on the affected area (cheeks - for sinusitis, forehead - for frontal pain) pain. The reasons for the smell of pus in the nose may be other.
It should also be noted separately purulent rhinitis, that is, inflammation of the nasal mucosa of an acute nature. Appears due to exposure to bacteria and viruses. The disease is easily tolerated, often children get it.
Boil in the nose
Pus from the nose can occur due to a boil, that is, inflammation of the hair bulb and the area near it, pathology is accompanied by purulent discharge. It occurs in the nasal vestibule, in the area that is covered with hairs. The infections causing the boil penetrate the nose through foreign objects, hygiene items and dirty hands.
Also, diphtheria angina, tonsillitis and purulent pharyngitis can cause it. These diseases are characterized by pain when swallowing, in the throat, the patient has a purulent taste in the nasopharynx. In addition, purulent processes can provoke polyps, injuries of the sinuses and septum.
Therapy Features
If the patient saw that pus comes out of the passages, purulent mucus oozes from the nose, you should immediately consult a specialist. Sometimes there may be blood in the pus. Only a doctor can determine the source of discharge.
The patient is prescribed local anti-edema drugs that reduce nasal congestion and remove suppuration; you can also rinse your sinuses every day with a weak solution of salt (sea).
In the treatment of acute sinusitis, antibiotics are prescribed. It is very important not to stop the use of drugs if there are improvements, as this allows the bacteria to activate again. If the nose smells of pus, not everyone knows what to do.
In addition, topically applied "Furacilin", "Miramistin" and other antiseptic solutions. Half an hour after washing, patients can use drops that narrow blood vessels, if necessary, special sprays with hormonal and antihistamine ingredients.
If there are indications, anti-allergic systemic drugs are also prescribed for patients: Suprastin, Claritin, Tavegil, Tsetrin, Loratadin.
With severe pain, analgesics and antispasmodics are prescribed, for example, Pentalgin, Ketorol, Ketanov. If the disease has a viral origin, then Rimantadine, Groprinosin, Amizon and other antiviral agents are used. Bacterial infections can be controlled through Augmentin and Azithromycin. Vibrocil, Nazol and Evkazolin drops are able to remove pus from the nose and reduce swelling.
If there is a boil in the nasal cavity, it must be opened surgically. You cannot remove it yourself, since the infection can penetrate the bloodstream and cause many complications. In addition, heating is prohibited.
Flushing and antibiotics
Pharyngitis and tonsillitis are treated with washings and antibiotics. Products that irritate the mucous membranes must be removed from the diet until a full recovery occurs. Alcohol and smoking are also not recommended.
If purulent mucus in the nose is formed due to foreign bodies and injuries of the nasopharynx, therapy is aimed at eliminating these formations (damage).
With tonsillitis and pharyngitis, patients are prescribed antibiotic therapy, and also the sinuses are washed with decongestant and disinfectant solutions. Patients should be sure to exclude smoking and alcohol at least for the period of treatment, eliminating additional irritation of the mucosa and not provoking an even greater separation of pus.
Consider in which cases pus is removed from the nose.
When is surgery required?
Surgical intervention is necessary in the following cases:
- the temperature rises to 38 degrees or higher, does not decrease;
- transparent (“healthy”) mucus is not secreted from the sinuses of the nose;
- there are signs of infectious and inflammatory pathologies simultaneously with purulent discharge from the nose, all this remains longer than three weeks;
- conservative therapy does not help;
- when the head is tilted left and right, the patient feels an acute attack of pain (discomfort in the nose and temples).
It is important to remember that the nasal boils are also removed exclusively by the surgical method. Patients who have encountered such a problem should in no case be allowed to warm their sinuses. In addition, you can’t try to squeeze the abscess yourself - its contents can penetrate the upper respiratory tract and cause serious complications.
Treatment of pus in the nose using folk methods
Recipes of traditional medicine will also help fight pus:
- You can grate horseradish, and then breathe over the resulting mixture for 3-5 minutes. After a day, you will feel relief.
- Grate the onion on a fine grater. Before this, anoint the face with a fat cream, covering it with cotton swabs. Apply gruel from onions to areas of inflamed sinuses (maxillary sinuses, nose bridge, forehead).
- With purulent pathologies of the nasopharynx, inhalations are done using a pair of warm potatoes, boiled in their uniforms, you need to breathe a nose over it.
During exacerbation of purulent sinusitis, warming is prohibited, but during the recovery period it is allowed to warm the nose with boiled eggs and salt. You can eliminate suppuration from the nasopharynx using a solution of soda, salt, a decoction of propolis and chamomile.
Pus: consequences
With untimely and incorrect therapy of diseases that caused accumulation of pus in the nasopharynx, it can cause some complications.
For example, pus with sinusitis can spread to adjacent connective tissues, and the process of inflammation often goes to the throat. Flowing into the lungs mucus causes pneumonia. Untreated neglected sinusitis causes the following complications:
- renal disease;
- meningitis, i.e. inflammation of the meninges;
- disorders of the system of the heart and blood vessels;
- defects of the optic nerve.
Prevention
To prevent inflammatory-purulent pathologies of the nasopharynx, it is advisable to constantly carry out a set of measures, the purpose of which is to strengthen the immune system: physical activity, hardening, intake of mineral and vitamin formulations.
In addition, diseases caused by bacterial and viral infections must be avoided. It is necessary to monitor your hygiene, wash your hands on time, in the season of exacerbation of seasonal SARS, it is advisable to bypass those places where there are a lot of people.
Every day you need to rinse your nose with a weak salt solution, treat a cold in time, and if you have a protracted runny nose (longer than a week, with brown, yellowish and green secretions), you should consult a doctor.
Now we know how to treat pus in the nose.