Runny nose in only one nostril - causes

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Shutofedova Ksenia Yurievna

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Sometimes it happens that an adult or child has a runny nose in only one nostril. Associated symptoms often occur: weakness, headache, watery eyes, drowsiness. Why does this happen? Some believe that this mild ailment will soon pass and there is no point in focusing on it. However, such an assumption is dangerous. In some cases, the cause of congestion in only one nostril can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, it is worthwhile to determine as soon as possible what is causing your stuffy nose. There are many reasons:

deviated nasal septum;
polyps and cysts on the mucous membrane;
medicinal or vasomotor rhinitis;
a foreign object that has entered the nasal cavity;
nasal canal injuries.

Let's look at each of the reasons in more detail.

Deviated nasal septum

Snot from one nostril most often appears due to a deviated nasal septum. This feature is often congenital or acquired as a result of injury. A deviated septum leads to disruption of air movement in the narrow nasal passage. This causes the accumulation of mucus, dust and dirt in it. If this happens regularly, doctors recommend straightening the septum through surgery. After the operation, air passes freely through the nasal passages, the breathing process is normalized, the patient feels much more comfortable and is less likely to suffer from a runny nose.

In the postoperative period, therapy is carried out with vasoconstrictors, moisturizers and analgesics.

With a deviated septum in adults and children, a common cold appears first in the narrower nostril, and after a few days it moves to the other. This type of rhinitis is treated in the same way as regular rhinitis. The doctor prescribes vasoconstrictor drugs and rinsing the nasal cavity with special saline solutions.

It is important to consider that people with a deviated nasal septum are more susceptible to complications resulting from a runny nose. They more often develop sinusitis, sinusitis and sinusitis. Therefore, if such a feature is present, more attention should be paid to the treatment of rhinitis and the prevention of its complications.

Treatment of rhinitis (runny nose)

As we already know, rhinitis (runny nose) is a symptom, therefore, to treat it, it is necessary to identify the disease that caused the runny nose. It is also worth noting that some types of runny nose do not require treatment as such, but simply the prevention of its irritants. For example: sometimes, to stop a runny nose, it is enough to wet clean the living room and remove the source of the pathogen (an animal, some flowering indoor plants, an old carpet, or even change the pillow).

To correctly determine the diagnosis and correct treatment, you must consult a doctor.

To treat a runny nose, vasoconstrictor drops and sprays are mainly used, as well as antiviral drugs that are effective against many types of ARVI viruses.

Vasoconstrictor drugs against the common cold

Various drops and sprays against the runny nose, getting on the nasal mucosa, cause a narrowing of the blood vessels. The swelling in the nasal cavity, which blocked the air, decreases. The rate of formation of new mucus decreases and it becomes thicker.

If you choose between drops and spray, then it is better to give preference to the spray, since it has an exact dosage of the medicine, which is why it is more economical, prevents overdose and side effects from it.

Products containing xylometazoline: “Galazolin”, “Dlyanos”, “Rinonorm”, “Ximelin”, “Farmazolin”.

Read also: acute respiratory infections - symptoms, causes, types, treatment and prevention of acute respiratory infections

Tablets against runny nose

"Sinupret" . Used to treat colds in the bronchi, lungs and nasopharynx. They have mucolytic, expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects. Contains extracts of gentiana, shevel, verbena, elderberry, primrose flowers with a calyx. Contraindicated in children under 3 years of age.

"Koldakt" . A complex preparation based on chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride. It is used to eliminate the symptoms of many colds, accompanied by allergies, swelling of the respiratory tract and nasopharynx, and runny nose. Contraindicated for children under 12 years of age, pregnant women, those suffering from coronary heart disease and hypertension. With the permission of a doctor, take for bronchial asthma, glaucoma, diabetes and the elderly.

"Rinopront" . A vasoconstrictor and antihistamine, it relieves any type of runny nose for up to 12 hours, reduces the permeability of capillary walls and exudative manifestations. Contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women suffering from glaucoma, arterial hypertension and prostate enlargement.

To correctly determine the diagnosis and correct treatment, you must consult a doctor.

Presence of cysts and polyps

The cause of snot from one nostril is often neoplasms in the nasal cavity on a certain side. They can occur as a result of chronic inflammation, as well as in the presence of dental disease.

If the cause of a blocked nostril is a tumor in the nose, then accompanying symptoms may be: frequent colds, headaches, mucus in the nasopharynx, loss of smell.

Only a surgeon can rid a person of cysts, tumors or polyps.

Treatment of a runny nose with folk remedies

Inhalations

Essential oils. Add 2-3 drops of oil to 0.5 liters of boiling water: eucalyptus, juniper, fir or pine. Or a mixture of oils, 1 drop each: lemon + cinnamon, pine + eucalyptus or pine + thyme.

Inhalations with essential oils should not be performed on children under 3 years of age, or anyone with bronchial asthma, allergies or individual intolerance to oils.

Kalanchoe. Add 2 tbsp to 0.5 liters of boiling water. spoons of freshly squeezed Kalanchoe juice and get started.

Onion or garlic juice. Add a few drops of freshly squeezed onion or garlic juice to hot water and begin the procedure.

Herbal decoction. Add the selected herb to 1-2 liters of boiling water: 2 tbsp. spoons of eucalyptus or chamomile leaves, 3 tbsp. spoons of pine buds or 2 tbsp. spoons of chamomile and eucalyptus leaves. Boil for 5 minutes and breathe.

The drug "Rotokan" . Contains chamomile, yarrow and calendula extract. Add 2 tbsp to half a liter of hot water. spoons of the drug and let's get started.

Drops

Aloe. We tear off an aloe leaf, squeeze the juice from it and put 3-4 drops in the nose at least 5 times a day in each nostril. After instillation, massage the wings of the nose for a minute.

Oil. Place 500 g of butter in an enamel bowl and boil for 40 minutes over low heat. Afterwards, strain through a double layer of gauze. Pour the strained oil into a jar and put it in the refrigerator. Take a little oil and melt it in a water bath, cool and drip warm oil into your nose, a couple of drops into each nostril 3 times a day.

Read also Urethritis - symptoms and treatment

Beet. Place 5-6 drops of freshly squeezed raw beet juice into your nose or soak a cotton swab in the juice and place it in each nostril.

Menthol oil. Place 3-4 drops in each nostril throughout the day. When instilling, also lubricate your forehead, temples and sides of the nose.

Ledum and vegetable oil. Take 1 g (a few drops) of wild rosemary extract and 9 g of vegetable oil (almost 2 teaspoons) and steam in the oven. Cool and apply drops to your nose 2 times a day.

Washing

How to rinse your nose?

Pour the solution into a shallow cup, bend over and suck with enough pressure to release it from your mouth. The rinse should be warm. After rinsing, blow your nose.

Chamomile. 2 tbsp. Pour a glass of boiling water over spoons of chamomile flowers and leave for 20-30 minutes.

Eucalyptus and marshmallow. Take 20 g of marshmallow leaves and 10 g of eucalyptus leaves for 1 glass of boiling water. Cook for 5-10 minutes, strain and rinse the nose 5-6 times a day, 2-3 times per procedure.

The cuff is ordinary. 1 tbsp. Pour a glass of boiling water over a spoonful of cuff and leave for 20 minutes.

Sea salt. Dilute 1/3 teaspoon of salt in a glass of boiled water and rinse your nose.

Soapwort root. Leave 30 g of soapwort root in a glass of cold water for 8 hours, boil and cool.

Other remedies for runny nose

Honey cakes with horseradish and rye flour. Mix 1 tbsp. spoon of grated horseradish with 1 tbsp. spoon of honey and add rye flour until dough consistency (no more than 1 tablespoon). We make a cake and place it on the bridge of the nose. Can also be applied to the forehead and eyebrows. If you have sensitive skin, you can place the cake on gauze and then apply it to your face. We do this procedure for several days before going to bed.

Alcohol infusion of pepper. Before going to bed, wrap your feet with gauze soaked in an alcoholic infusion of capsicum. Put on warm socks on top and lie down under the blanket. When you wake up, blow your nose thoroughly. Stay overnight like this for at least 2-3 days.

Laundry soap. Wet a bar of brown laundry soap and lather your wet finger. Lubricate the entire inner surface of both nostrils, reaching as deep as possible. Repeat the procedure 3 times a day.

Viburnum with honey. Mix a glass of viburnum juice with a glass of honey and take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day.

Mustard. Dilute dry mustard in a bowl of hot water and steam your feet before going to bed, and then immediately under the blanket. Or during the day, put mustard in your socks and walk around in them.

Vasomotor and medicinal rhinitis

Vasomotor rhinitis is sometimes called false. It is caused by swelling of the mucous membrane, which appears as a result of various reasons:

overdose of vasoconstrictor drops,
for allergies;
with hormonal changes in the body.

But there may be other reasons, so it is better to consult a doctor in time rather than make a diagnosis yourself.

A characteristic feature of such rhinitis is the fact that nasal congestion occurs in a lying position and precisely on the nostril towards which the body is turned. At the same time, sometimes there is no runny nose itself, but only a feeling of stuffiness.

Vasomotor rhinitis is usually treated topically. To get rid of the problem as quickly as possible, it is important to strengthen the patient’s immunity, since a weak immune system is the root cause of the disease.

If a runny nose appears due to allergies, watery eyes are often an accompanying symptom. To solve this problem, it is enough to take an antihistamine.

Foreign object in the nose

Sometimes children complain that one nostril cannot breathe. At the same time, the child has profuse snot, watery eyes, and periodically sneezes. Typically, the combination of such symptoms indicates the presence of a foreign object in the nose. Children, while playing, can stick something up their nose: paper, a button, etc. The foreign body begins to irritate the mucous membrane, causing the child to sneeze. To expel the object, the body begins to form a large amount of mucus in the nose and tears in the eyes. In most cases, this helps and the object, along with the snot, comes out through the nostril.

If the foreign body does not come out, you should show the child to the doctor as soon as possible. He will carefully remove the object with a special tool and after that the symptoms will disappear. The problem cannot be ignored, otherwise the breathing process will be constantly difficult, and the runny nose will become chronic and lead to serious complications.

Main reasons

First you need to find out the reasons why snot flows from one nostril. The most common of them include:

the presence of cysts or polyps;
deviated nasal septum;
development of vasomotor or medicinal rhinitis;
presence of a foreign object;
mechanical damage to the mucous membrane.

Deviated septum

A runny nose from one nostril often occurs due to a deviated septum. This anomaly can be congenital or acquired, and is often a factor in persistent nasal congestion and unilateral rhinitis.

When colds develop with this anomaly, at first one nostril is blocked, but literally the next day snot begins to flow from the second. Until the problem is eradicated, it will not be possible to get rid of problems with nasal breathing.

A deviated septum is the most common cause of pathology in a child. Although this factor cannot be excluded in an adult.

Cystic formations and polyps

Often, a runny nose, in which one nostril does not breathe, is caused by the appearance of polyps or cysts on the mucous membranes. In this case, the pathological process may be accompanied by:

headaches;
frequent development of colds;
pain in the eyes;
poor sleep;
congestion in the ears.

Polyps and cysts are a fairly common cause of a runny nose from one nasal passage in an adult. In this case, an almost complete loss of smell occurs, the patient secretes clear or yellowish mucus from the right or left nasal passage, and it becomes almost impossible to breathe through the nose in the late afternoon.

If a runny nose does not go away, it may be caused by polyposis or a cyst; no home remedies will help here - only a doctor will solve the problem.

Development of vasomotor rhinitis

The problem often appears with the development of vasomotor rhinitis. It becomes a consequence of an overdose of nasal drops or sprays, or hormonal changes. Vasomotor rhinitis often occurs in the early stages of pregnancy, when the female body begins to prepare for bearing a fetus.

Presence of a foreign body

This happens especially often in young children, so before panicking, the baby’s parents should carefully examine him. If a foreign body is detected, it is necessary to show the child to a specialist as soon as possible. Using a special tool, he will carefully remove the object without harming the mucous membranes.

If a child has rhinitis from one nostril precisely because of the presence of a foreign object, then sometimes the stuck body comes out on its own along with streams of mucus. But if the snot flows for a long time and does not go away, a visit to the doctor cannot be postponed.

Injuries to mucous membranes

Various epithelial injuries are common causes of snot from one nasal passage in an adult, although small children are not immune from them. As a rule, under such conditions, not only one nostril is blocked, but there is also a copious secretion of mucus mixed with blood.

This deviation can be caused by falls, blows or bruises. The bad habit of putting your fingers in your nose can also lead to injury. And since such a situation is fraught with serious consequences (a bacterial infection occurs and various diseases develop), you should not let the situation take its course. Moreover, after blows or falls, a runny nose is accompanied by swelling of the nose and bleeding, which may indicate a crack or fracture of the bone.

Drug-induced rhinitis

Snot from the right or left nostril may be a consequence of the development of a drug-induced runny nose.

Drug-induced rhinitis is a pathological process caused by the uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictor nasal medications. With prolonged use, as well as when the permissible dosage is exceeded, the mucous membrane becomes irritated. As a result, one nostril does not breathe, and whitish or transparent discharge comes from it. Read more about nasal discharge →

Rhinitis medicamentosa cannot be neglected, as it leads to extremely serious complications. In particular, against its background, hyperplasia of the nasal epithelium begins, which will entail the development of polypous sinusitis.

Other Possible Causes

There are several other causes of pathology:

The presence of tumors in the nose or sinus cavity . We are talking about cancerous tumors that can affect one or both nasal passages. In this case, it is not advisable to expect that rhinitis will go away on its own. Moreover, it is unsafe. If in the morning and evening purulent clots and profuse snot appear in one nostril in an adult, nausea, constant headache and the sensation of a foreign object in the nasal passage are observed, you should immediately seek medical help.
Allergies are a common cause of rhinitis from one nasal passage. If an adult or a small child has clear snot, severe sneezing, itchy eyes and nasal congestion, this may be a sharp reaction of the body to external irritants - allergens. This type of rhinitis is temporary, but if contact with an irritating mucosal component is not excluded, discharge from one nasal passage will continue to darken the life of the allergy sufferer.

Snot flowing from one nostril in a child or adult can even occur due to simple hypothermia. Be that as it may, rhinitis that comes from one or another nasal passage should not be ignored. There are many reasons for this anomaly, so understanding them without the help of a specialist is extremely problematic.

Nasal canal injuries

In some cases, a runny nose in one nostril and a watery eye may be symptoms of injury to one of the nasal canals. This can happen not only from any external influence, but also as a result of medical procedures, for example, probing.

Only a doctor will give an exact answer to the question why a runny nose appeared in only one nostril. The diagnosis made independently does not always correspond to reality.

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