Extremely painful, swollen nose - staph infection?

[kansaspeg]

Came down with a big sore bump inside my left nostril.  Entire left side of nose became red and swollen.  Went to Prime Care and test showed "light staph infection".  Have been taking double-strength Bactrim along with Valtrex in case it could be the start of shingles.  It has been 4 days on meds with no improvement, but no rash either.  Extremely painful.  Wake up every 2 hours and need Vicodin.  Seems to radiate into cheek.  Scalp itches now.  Now also have one swollen, painful lymph node under left jaw.  Shouldn't the Bactrim be working by now?  Is there a more effective antibiotic that I should be using?

[joniall]

I have exactly the same symptoms that comes every few weeks and then disappears. Did you find out the cause and get any treatment
Thanks
Jo

[babynoelle]

I have always suffered with allergies... such as sneezing and then blowing my nose for half a hour a day at least. We bought a home and moved to the suburbs. When I blow my nose a lot it gets red and sore then swells up. This time it has swollen up for 4 days and did not go away. It is just the top of my nose and the circling areas. It hurts bad and looks like rudolph the red nosed reindeer. It is swollen like a balloon... Does anyone have a clue what it could be. I can breath fine and have no dicongestive problems.

[scottyfireman]

I just got out of the hospital for the same thing...
Mine was a serious staph infection in my nose....

This is nothing to play with it is serious you need to go see your doctor right away...

[metooo]

I had a similar problem with my nose...first the right side was really really swollen..went away.. then the left...then went away then my eye..then went away..all that took up about a month out of my life to heal..just when i thought i was out of the woods..i got a zit to the right of my nose..didn't think anything of it and then the zit turned into a cyst and left light scarring under my eye..its gone now..i guess its all a part of getting older :( lol..i usesd warm rags most of the day that made the swelling go down gradually until it was gone..also i drank green tea which has antioxidants in it which reduces swelling and boost immune system...it worked..i didn't take any antibiotics..just stubborn i guess ..

good luck 2 all

[neverquit62]

I'm wondering now if maybe it started in my nose.  I have allergies also.  My nose runs all the time during certain times of the year.  I kept getting scabs on the inside of my nose.  At first I thought I had a pimple on the outside of my nose.  Then it started to look more like a bruise or extremely red.  I tried putting neosporin on the scabs.  They kept coming back.  This last Friday I had something on my neck, I thought it was a spider bite.  I thought one of those Brown Recluse Spiders got me.  Then, I got this big quarter size blistery area. I went to the Dr. he said it wasn't a spider bite.  He said I just had an allergic reaction to something.  I called the oncologist on call and told him my glands were really swollen and very sore and that I had a really bad headache.  He had me go back to Extended Care.  The Dr. I saw this day said I had shingles.  So, is headache a symptom too?  

[tallyslady]

I have had a sore nose for about a mo.. and also I always get an itchy ear which ive had most of my life.. when im nervous i scratch my ear.. i have otic sol.. that i take and my nose sorta stopped itching and scabbing.. well all of a sudden,, my ear wouldnt stop itching and my one  eye is oozing too,, my nose was so sore i went to the dr.. and they took a culture of it.. they said that hopfully it was not sure how to spell it but impatego,, or hopefully not.. a staff inf.. i am on nose cream and batricban for 10 days please let it be something simple since i am getting elective surgery on the 17th and cant go if there is a staff inf.. it is red and the red spread under my nose.. a pipmple on top of my nose too and sooo scabby its sickening.. I wont even go out side.. people look like i have a disease which i hope i dont.. kids said i looked like rudolph and bozo ..

[inlaymansterms]

What you are describing is a classic soft tissue infection or "cellulitis," which  can be caused by many organisms -- all susceptible to certain antibiotics and not others.  Some organisms cause a pretty consistent set of symptoms and appearances that your primary care physician will be able to recognize but which you may not.  This may give him/her a better idea about which antibiotic to use to treat your infection.  Thus, it is important that you see your physician face-to-face; don't ask him/her for antibiotics over the phone or by email.  He/she will likely use an oral or topical (a cream) antibiotic (probably a penicillin or cephalosporin), and may give you a lidocaine cream in addition -- which is a local anaesthetic.  If he/she doesn't, a dilute cream is available OTC in any pharmacy.  Of course, not to be used in your eye!  Do not use neosporin cream as a home remedy, as extended use >7 days can lead to a nasty rash which would only further complicate your situation.

As far as Bactrim for soft tissue infection -- it is not wrong, but it is far from first line therapy, given its coverage.  A penicillin like oxacillin, or a cephalosporin like Keflex (cephalexin) are first line.  Again, these can be prescribed as creams or pills.

Eye infections are a different story, and your primary doctor will likely refer you to an opthalmologist to ensure that you don't end up with permanent vision problems because of this infection.

If you have a lesion like this that doesn't go away in 7-10 days or is causing you discomfort, you should see your primary care physician or nurse practitioner.  Any cyst should prompt you to see your primary doctor, because oral antibiotics are simply not effective without drainage of the cyst/abscess.  Sometimes this kind of thing will go away on its own, but can require hospitalization and IV antibiotics in extreme situations.

Bottom line - see your primary physician for any non-healing lesion, wound, or persistent hot/swollen/red area.

-E

[Stephaniek802]

In just the last few days the top bridge of my nose had gotten swollen and puffy red. It hurts like heck and I can bearly stand to wear my glasses.

Any ideas as to what it may be??

Thanks! Steph

[SusanP2008]

The bridge of my nose is sore too - almost like I hit it on something.  It seems to look sort of sunburned too, but there's no reason for it to be.  It was sore about a week ago, then went away, but has come back again.  I'm interested in ideas too.  Thanks! SusanP

[KelEDee]

I've had a swollen nose (wow does it hurt to the touch) and can hardly stand to wear my glasses.  This is the third day.  I don't know if I should see a general practioner or ENT.  Please help!  I feel like a clown.

Thanks!
Kelly

[KelEDee]

If this could be a staph infection I went to get to the doctor asap.  Like Stephanie & Susan it looks like I hit it, but I did not.  I also had some scabs inside my nose about a week ago.  Ibuprofen, Alka Seltzer, warm compress & cold compress do not reduce the swelling.

[KelEDee]

Did you go to a primary care doctor / general practioner, ENT or ER?  Now I'm scared and want to get to the doc. asap.

[greeneyes44]

I have all the symptoms everybody is describing... Sore nose, red, swollen and hurts like ****, nothing seems to work, headache like omg. If it is staph how in the world could you get it in the nose!!!

[KelEDee]

Ok - I went to the ENT Dr. (ear, nose and throat) / Otolaryngologist 10/23.  She just looked inside my nose and said that it's a sinus/staph infection.  She said it's not the serious staph and that everyone has staph in their nose.  She put me on a second round of antibiotic right away instead of messing around with the first round because she thought that they swelling was unusual.  The antibiotic I'm on is called "Avelox" and I saw improvement with the swelling in <24 hrs.  The swelling and paint is almost completely gone!

What a relief!  Good luck & take care!

[marciamay]

I have had the red, throbbing, nose syndrom along with extreme headaches,( migraine & sinus) for the past few years.  Along with that though, I have mucous that seems trapped above the passage where it is blown out of nose.  I even had a septoplasty this past spring that took care of a deviated septum, a bone spur and something to do with my turbinates but this red nose thing with headaches still happens to me along with the fact that whenever I get sinus stuffiness, my nose cannot ever eliminate it.  It stays in sinuses or has to go down my throat. It is now 5AM and I had the usual red nose throbbing and swollen bridge this whole week followed with an excruciating headache at 3AM.  That is the usual cycle.  I am so frustrated and don't know where to go with this.

[KelEDee]

I would see a different ENT specialist to get another opion.  That just doesn't sound right.

[katkitty]

Say for me.  I NEVER had any sinus troubles until about 4 years ago.  I have severe migraines, my nose smells aweful and up in the corners of my nose it gets sore and sometimes there is goey stuff.  It also swells in the inside. I don't understand it.  Are you more prone to allergies and sinus infections when you get older?  I think sometimes they are sinus infections; the other times, I have no idea what the problem is?  My doctor has given me bacitrin, but it doesn't help.  I am so sick of it.  SOMEONE HELP!!

[marciamay]

I just read your post and I think for me my problems started a few years ago also when I had oral surgery that turned into a nightmare of pain in my face day and night and missing a month of work.  Have you had any oral surgery or tooth problems in the past four years?  I do believe somehow that a virus invaded my system at that time.  I did go to an ENT last week and he gave me an antibiotic for the soreness inside my nose and levaquin(antibiotic for bacterial infections).  It has helped a bit but tomorrow I will go for another sinus scan.  I do know in the past that the medradose pac (not sure of spelling) a steroid has helped in the past with sore swollen nose but they aren't good to stay on as they weaken the immune system.  There are answers for this I know.  Let me know how you are doing with your problem.

[Cman_1252]

It all started a few days ago...My nose got really sensitive on the inner right side, then what appeared to be a zit/pimple came up. My nose is swollen and its making my entire face hurt. i got very irritated and popped the zit. for the last 24 hours ive been applying Campho-Phenique to it. It helps the pain a little bit but my nose is still red, swollen and sore to the touch. I feel like Kimbo Slice just punched me in the face!

[Angemela]

I had a sore throat for the past few days.. Hard  to swallow..feels like a lump in my throat.  Went to the dr. and she gave me amoxicilin and said its was strep throat.  Today my right side of my nose is hot and swollen and my right jaw hurts and under my chin... not sure if I need to go back to the dr. or wait a few days to let the antibiotics work?

[KelEDee]

I would call the doctor and see what he/she says.  He/She may want you to come back in or give you a different antibiotic.  Good luck!

[lmuzyka]

Last week I blew my noise and some blood was noticeable along with what appeared to be a small scab.  Since then the inside right nostril has been very painful with a hardening and swelling of the tissue.  I suspected it was infected.  I treated it with a warm sea salt solution applied to the inside of my nostril.  The warm salt water was very soothing and appears to have reversed the swelling and eliminated the pain.

The hard swollen area still remains, but it is smaller and the pain is almost completely gone.  My doctor prescribed an antibiotic in the event that my condition continues to worsen.  I did not fill the prescription yet.

I was worried when I read of the similar symptoms you all were experiencing.

Larry

[bbuie31]

I have had a really bad sore nose with crusty like stuff inside.  This started about 3 yrs. ago.  I have been on antibiotic after antibiotic.  This infection goes away while on the antibiotic but then it returns again after being off the antibiotic for a few weeks.  It is painful and I have headaches with sinus pain and pressure.  I just feel sick when I have this infection.  I have been told over and over again that it is staph and just take the meds and it will go away.  I have gone to three doctors and one of which told me to get a nose job and the second told me he wouldn't reculture it again and the last ENT doctor did sinus surgery on me and it is week 10 after surgery and the infection was back in two weeks and my cartilage is collapsed now so I can't breath out of the left side of my nose.  Now I am seeing yet another ENT doctor.  When will this end?  No one can get rid of it.  I am beginning to see some sort of a line going around my nose and inside this line it is somewhat swollen and red.  I am afraid I may lose my nose before someone can help me.

***@****
please help

[deco70]

you may have the MRSA staph...it needs intraveinous antibiotics...it  has been all over the news and is resistant to oral antibiotics...look it up and definitely get it chcked out...people have gotten VERY sick when it hasn't been taken care of correctly