For example, often people are treated for allergies when, in fact, they have an easily corrected deviated septum. Some people have had unnecessary surgery for polyps, when they actually had a fungal allergy that could have been cured with a mixture of compounded nasal medications. If you notice that your symptoms last more than 10 days, you have a high fever, you have nasal discharge that is yellow or green, or if you have blood in your nasal discharge, see a doctor immediately.
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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Request Appointment. Symptoms Nasal congestion. Definition Causes When to see a doctor. Products and services. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information.
Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Rhinitis. Accessed Dec. Kliegman RM, et al.
Allergic rhinitis. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Philadelphia, Pa. Peden D. An overview of rhinitis. King TE, et al. The symptoms of sinusitis are mainly nasal congestion, and pain in the area of the affected sinus.
This is most commonly in the forehead or cheeks on one or both sides of the nose. The pain may be worse on bending down. Other symptoms which may occur are dizziness and fever. Sinusitis is usually treated with painkillers and decongestants. Occasionally antibiotics are needed. See the separate leaflets called Acute Sinusitis and Chronic Sinusitis for more details.
Hay fever is caused by an allergy to pollen, and is a common cause of a blocked or stuffy nose. If you have hay fever, you usually also have itchy, watery eyes and sneeze a lot.
Depending on which pollen you are allergic to, you will have symptoms for one particular part of each year. In the UK, this is typically late spring to early summer. The usual treatment for hay fever is antihistamines as tablets, medicines or sprays , steroid nasal sprays or steroid nasal drops.
See the separate leaflet called Hay Fever and Seasonal Allergies for more details. Rhinitis is swelling inflammation of the tissues lining the inside of the nose. It can be due to allergies allergic rhinitis or other causes non-allergic rhinitis. In addition to pollen, other allergies can cause nasal congestion. Symptoms are similar to those of hay fever. It may be possible to have tests, such as skin prick tests or blood tests to see what you are allergic to the allergen.
The treatment is to avoid the allergen if possible. If this is not possible, treatment is similar to that for hay fever. See the separate leaflet called Persistent Rhinitis Sneezing for details of the causes and treatments of both allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis. Nasal polyps are fleshy, non-cancerous benign swellings that grow inside the nose or sinuses.
The most common symptom they cause is a stuffy, runny nose. Steroid nasal drops are commonly used to shrink the polyps. An operation is sometimes needed. Nasal polyps often return after treatment, so steroid nasal sprays are sometimes used daily to prevent them from returning. See the separate leaflet called Nasal Polyps for more details.
Swollen adenoid glands may cause nasal congestion, particularly in children. Adenoid glands are fleshy bits of tissue which hang down from the back of the nose.
If they shrink naturally, often nothing needs to be done. However, if they are causing problems they can be removed often with the tonsils by an operation. For more details, see the leaflet called What do tonsils do? If the dividing tissue between your two nostrils nasal septum is not straight deviated septum , this can cause nasal congestion. It can be the result of injury or just the shape into which your nose has grown since you were born.
Children may get objects such as beads or peas stuck up their noses. Rarely, a tumour in the airways around the nose or sinuses may cause congestion. If you have nasal congestion, often you won't need any tests.
Your doctor can often determine the cause by asking questions about your symptoms and by examining you. Sometimes, a referral to an ENT specialist is necessary.
You may then have skin prick tests for allergy, or blood tests. The ENT specialist may also look further into the back of your nose with a flexible telescope nasoendoscopy. Very occasionally, a computerised tomography CT scan or a magnetic resonance imaging MRI scan may be needed. In many cases of nasal congestion, there is no need to see a doctor. For example, if you have a common cold with no complications, or hay fever, you can often manage this yourself.
A pharmacist may be able to help advise if you need some over-the-counter medication to help with the symptoms. You should consider seeing a doctor if:. Antiviral agents for the treatment of seasonal influenza ; Public Health England - Guidelines, Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions.
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