One-sided Nose Swelling

Systemic disease

Nose swelling may also be caused by disease, such as:

• Autoimmune disease: An autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system which usually works to protect you against diseases and infections instead starts to attack the healthy cells that make up your body. Some autoimmune diseases attack the cells that make up your nose and can cause internal swelling along with other symptoms like bleeding, deformity, pain or tenderness, reduced sense of smell and difficulty breathing through the affected side.
• Allergic disease: People with allergies can also have generalized internal swelling of the nose leading to congestion and difficulty breathing through the affected side, and other symptoms like clear runny discharge from the nose, itchy/watery eyes, and sneezing.

Abnormal cell growth

Sometimes one-sided nose swelling can be caused by the abnormal growth of cells in your nose. Sometimes these growths are non-cancerous, soft, painless swellings called nasal polyps. Other times the cells that grow out of control might form a tumor; several types of tumors can grow in the nose, although nasal tumors are very rare. Polyps and tumors can both lead to nasal blockage and the associated symptoms that occur like congestion and difficulty breathing. Some tumors of the nose can also be associated with bleeding, a decreased ability to smell and sinus infections.

3 conditions of one-sided nose swelling

This list does not constitute medical advice and may not accurately represent what you have.

Relapsing polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis is an episodic, inflammatory and destructive disorder involving primarily cartilage of the ear and nose. It can also potentially affect the eyes, tracheobronchial tree, heart valves, kidneys, joints, skin, and blood vessels.

You should visit your primary care physician for mild severity of relapsing polychondritis. Medications such as NSAIDs and steroids are generally prescribed.

Nose or sinus tumor

A tumor in the nose or one of the sinuses occurs due to abnormal growth of the cells lining the inside of the nose and sinuses. These tumors are rare and can cause symptoms like congestion or blockage, nose bleeds and sometimes facial pain or swelling.

You should visit your primary care physician to discuss your symptoms and to get further tests done. Referral to an ENT surgeon is likely needed.

Rarity: Ultra rare

Top Symptoms: new headache, congestion, vision changes, ear fullness/pressure, ear pain

Symptoms that never occur with nose or sinus tumor: improving congestion

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Iatrogenic nose condition

Surgery of the nose or nose piercing can result in side effects ranging from infection, pain and swelling to numbness and decreased sense of smell.

You should contact a healthcare provider to decide whether your symptoms need further examination and treatment. If you have signs of an infection, it is likely a course of antibiotics will be prescribed.

Common cold

The common cold is a contagious viral infection that can cause cough, congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. Most adults catch two to three colds per year, and kids can get more than eight colds each year.

Rest and drink plenty of fluids. Colds are contagious and can easily spread to other people, so if possible, avoid close contact with others, such as hugging, kissing, or shaking hands. Colds typically resolve within 7 to 10 days.

Bacterial sinus infection (sinusitis)

Acute bacterial sinusitis, also called bacterial rhinosinusitis or "sinus infection," has symptoms much like viral rhinosinusitis but a different treatment.

Any sinusitis usually begins with common cold viruses. Sometimes a secondary bacterial infection takes hold. Like cold viruses, these bacteria can be inhaled after an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Anyone with viral sinusitis, upper-respiratory allergy, nasal passage abnormality, lung illness, or a weakened immune system is more prone to bacterial sinusitis.

Symptoms include thick yellowish or greenish nasal discharge; one-sided pain in the upper jaw or teeth; one-sided sinus pain and pressure; fatigue; fever; and symptoms that get worse after first improving.

See a doctor right away for severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, or vision changes. These can indicate a medical emergency.

Diagnosis is made with a simple examination in the doctor's office.

Bacterial sinusitis can be treated with antibiotics, but this is not always necessary.

Often rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain relievers and decongestants are enough.

Prevention is done through good lifestyle and hygiene to keep the immune system strong.

Why can't I smell when I have a cold or nose swelling?

The nerves that are responsible for your sense of smell are found high up in your nose. Anything that interferes with the ability of a molecule that carries scent to travel into your nose and up to where the nerves live can lead to a decreased sense of smell. This is why when you have nasal congestion due to infectious or allergic causes, or a physical blockage due to an abnormal growth, you may notice your ability to smell decreases or goes away completely.

Why do I have a decreased ability to taste when I have nasal congestion?

Your sense of smell is also tied to your ability to taste. Without the sense of smell your taste buds don't work as well, so you may find you enjoy food less during a cold or when you have some other reason for any nasal blockage.

What causes nasal polyps?

Nasal polyps are small, non-cancerous growths in the nasal cavity or the sinuses. They can block the nasal passage leading to a decreased ability to breathe, can interfere with the ability to smell, and can also encourage bacterial or fungal infection by interfering with the body's natural methods of clearing irritants and pathogens that are everywhere in the environment. They are often associated with allergies and asthma but we still don't know exactly what causes them.

Why do allergies cause my nose to swell?

Allergies can cause nasal swelling because your body's reaction to an allergy-causing material is to alert your immune system to activate cells that fight whatever is causing the allergy. These cells release substances, including histamine, that aim to fight the offending material; however, this also leads to swelling of the nasal lining and opening of the blood vessels which causes redness. Since this reaction occurs due to the body's production of substances like histamine, antihistamines like Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl work to reduce the response when it occurs because of generally harmless particles like plant pollen, molds, and animal hairs.

How can nasal polyps be treated?

This depends, as nasal polyps can grow and shrink over time. Since they are non-cancerous, they do not necessitate removal unless they are impeding your quality of life. Treatment with oral or nasal steroids can help shrink polyps but they sometimes require surgery for complete removal.

Why does one side of my nose hurt when I touch it?

Pain when touching one side of the nose could be due to an infection, such as sinusitis, or an allergic reaction. It could also be due to a deviated septum, trauma, or a tumor. You may need to see a doctor to examine the issue if there's not an obvious cause.

What are the possible causes of a swollen or inflamed nostril?

Possible causes of a swollen nostril include allergies, sinus infections, trauma, and foreign objects in the nose. Remedies for the swollen nostril may include taking antihistamines or decongestants for allergies, taking antibiotics for sinus infections, applying a cold compress to reduce swelling, and removing any foreign objects from the nose.