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Furuncle of the nose
A furuncle is an acute purulent inflammation of a hair follicle in the nose. The boil forms only on the hairy surface of the skin, so it can only be found in the anterior part of the nasal cavity (the vestibule of the nose).
The vestibule of the nose consists of a lateral and internal wall, which are separated from each other by thickened skin, which is covered with hair. Inflammation can occur on the side or inner wall, or at the junction of two walls, as well as on the bottom of the nasal cavity.
Causes of a boil in the nose
A boil occurs when staphylococcus bacteria enter the hair follicle.
Complications of nasal furunculosis
A nasal boil is a very dangerous condition because it can cause severe deformation of the nose after the boil heals. Basically, the tip of the nose or the side wall is deformed.
The structure of the external nose has a special venous outflow (drainage) system, and it flows into a vein that runs near the trochlear walls of the external nose. Through the ophthalmic vein, the venous drainage of the nose connects to the blood sinuses, which are located on the cavernous sinus (cavernous sinus).
The angular vein also connects to the pterygoid plexus, which in turn connects to the cavernous sinus.
The infection, which is located in the pus of the boil, can spread to the cavernous sinus through retrograde thrombophlebitis. Through the cavernous sinus, pus spreads into the eye and blindness develops in one eye, and if the pus gets into the internal cavernous sinus, blindness may occur in the second eye.
Meningitis can also develop due to bacteria entering the cavernous sinus. This condition is especially dangerous for people with diabetes, or when the patient has low immunity.
The angular vein has no closing valves, so blood can flow in any direction. And, at first, a harmless boil can cause paralysis of the anterior facial vein.
Causes of nasal boils
- In case of injury to the hair root, which can occur when plucking nose hair.
- The habit of picking your nose (usually with dirty hands), which brings bacteria deep into the nose.
- Squeezing boils in the nose leads to the spread of pus to other parts of the nose.
- The habit of frequently blowing your nose.
- Low human immune system.
- Diabetes disease.
- Obesity.
- Incorrect food.
Course of the disease with nasal furunculosis
For example, when a hair is plucked and the infection gets into the hair follicle, a red swelling forms. Swelling can form anywhere on the outer nose. In turn, a blockage of the lymphatic vessels occurs, as a result of which a swelling forms both inside and outside the nose (at the tip, on the side, at the beginning of the nostril).
Suppuration begins at the site of redness and swelling.
When the boil matures, pus flows out and the inflammation process passes.
Complications of a nasal boil
In rare cases, due to a weak immune system or diabetes mellitus, the inflammatory process spreads and the following complications arise:
- Septal abscess.
- Perichondritis of the nasal septum.
- Retrograde thrombophlebitis.
- Cavernous sinus thrombosis.
- Pyemia (purulent bleeding).
Symptoms of a nasal boil
ENT surgeon, Kochetkov P.A.: “The onset of the disease is acute. There is slight discomfort in the area of the vestibule of the nose, which gradually increases and turns into pain. The pain can be moderate to severe.”
- Pain in the vestibule of the nose
- Sensitivity of the nose when pressed
- Swelling and redness of the tip of the nose and the front of the nose
- Systemic symptoms: fever, toxemia.
In complex cases, swelling may be accompanied by more pronounced symptoms:
- Enlarged local lymph nodes.
- Cord-like thickening in the angular vein, due to the occurrence of a blood clot.
- When a blood clot occurs in the cavernous sinus, a high temperature is observed.
- Swelling of the eyelids.
- Redness of the eyes.
- Conjunctival ecchymosis.
- Blurred vision.
- Protrusion of the eyeball.
- Complete loss of vision (due to swelling of the retinal veins).
- Difficulty moving the eyeball.
- Papilledema.
- Complete paralysis of the eye muscles.
Treatment of furuncle of the nose
In most cases, boils go away on their own within a few days of their occurrence. But sometimes boils need to be treated to relieve swelling and pain. When treating a nasal boil, you need to consult a doctor so that he can prescribe adequate doses of an antibiotic.
For severe pain, you need to take painkillers. An inflamed nose should not be rubbed and touched every 5 minutes, otherwise the infection can spread even deeper.
If nasal boils occur frequently, you need to change your lifestyle and strengthen your immune system.