Perfume, air fresheners, hair products, laundry detergents, and candles are just a few of the many items that cause me extreme ears, nose, throat, and even chest pain. As soon as I get a whiff of the offensive odors my ears and nose begin to burn. If I cannot immediately get away from the odor, the burning moves to my throat and chest. The burning pain will turn into a full blown sinus infection, upper respiratory infection, and bronchitis and it takes me 2-4 weeks to get over it. When I encounter a perfume smell I must quickly block my nose by stuffing it with tissue. This will prevent me from getting sick. I really look quite stupid walking around with tissues stuck up my nose! Especially as a RN walking into a patients room, explaining "No, I'm not sick. I'm just sensitive to the perfume my co-worker is wearing." I know people should have the right to wear perfume, but if they could only experience once how sick it makes some of us feel, they would quit!
Hi,
I personally feel CT/MRI is of little help, because what you are having is more of vasomotor rhinitis. Avoid using Afrin spray for a long time as it causes rhinitis medicamentosa - a condition where in you will be feeling better while using the spray, when you use it for long and discontinue there is rebound congestion of the nose. Try with oral decongestants and steroid spray; avoid getting exposed to perfumes and cologne. Best is to visit your ENT specialist for further management.
Regards
OHNS2010
Thanks for your answer it is much appreciated. I have tried nasal steroids, but it didn't do much. The only spray I've found that works is Afrin, and that only works temporarily while I use the spray, when it wears off I'm stuck again. I think I need an MRI or CT scan of the nasal area sinuses. I'm just wondering what causes all this.
Hi,
Certain chemicals like Benzyl alcohol, Benzyl acetate, Alpha-Terpineol,etc present in cologne, perfumes, soaps, etc irritates the nasal mucosa. This stimulates the nasal mucosa to secrete excessive mucus causing nasal stuffiness and irritation in the ear because of eustachian tube block. As this is a non-allergic condition (termed as vasomotor rhinitis) antihistamines are of no use so you can try with nasal spray (containing steroids), saline nasal drops and nasal decongestants (such as Sudafed).
Regards
OHNS2010