inflamed nostril

what may be the cause of a swollen nostril?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

How are you?

Swollen, red nose or nostril without any apparent cause could be due to insect bite, allergies like hay fever or eczema.Antihistaminics like benadryl/Claritin/zyrtec, cold compresses on the nose and OTC pain killers for the pain are helpful in this case.

Swollen red nostril can also be due to common cold or flu or sinusitis.Sinus congestion, or sinusitis, is one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States. It can cause difficulty breathing through the nose, pressure-pain in the nose, thick nasal discharge, reduced sense of smell, aching in the upper jaw or teeth, bad breath, post-nasal drip, and persistent coughing. . Treatment involves decongestants,antibiotics and steam inhalation in that case.

Injury on the nose or nostril can lead to staph infection or cellulites which can cause swelling of the area. Antibiotics are to be taken in such cases.

Hope it helps.Take care and regards.