A nasal infection is a condition caused by a bacteria that affects the skin in or around your nostrils, and it can be uncomfortable, irritating, or unsightly.
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A nasal infection is a condition caused by the bacteria staphylococcus. Staphylococcus is a commonly found bacteria that often lives on your skin without causing problems. But if you have small cuts in or around your nostrils, this bacteria can get inside and cause the infection.
Sometimes a staph infection in your nose can clear up on its own, and it usually only leads to redness, swelling, inflammation and crusting. But in rare cases it can lead to more serious conditions such as sepsis or toxic shock syndrome.
Anyone can get a staph infection in their nose, but you’re more likely to experience it if you’ve picked your nose too much or blown it a lot. It’s thought that your nose is one of the most common places for staphylococcus bacteria to live on your skin, so it only takes a small cut or abrasion in this area for you to develop a staph infection there.
Nasal infections are very common. It’s estimated that around 50% of the general population experiences intermittent ‘colonisation’ (where the bacteria have multiplied to high levels) of the nose from staphylococcus aureus - the bacteria that causes nasal infections.
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When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy
The bacteria that causes nasal infections, staphylococcus aureus, is usually harmless. You’ll often have it on your skin without it causing any issues. But sometimes it can enter a break in your skin and multiply - giving you some irritating symptoms.
Some of the things that can make you more likely to develop cuts or abrasions on or in your nose include:
Nasal infections can potentially cause a range of symptoms, such as:
If you’re experiencing some of these symptoms and think you might have a nasal infection, chat with us about your health. Our doctors should be able to diagnose you and offer suitable treatments based on your needs.
Most of the time, a staph infection in your nose will clear up on its own - often without the need for treatment. But sometimes it can develop and cause further issues.
On rare occasions, staph infections in your nose can enter your bloodstream and quickly worsen. This could lead to you developing more serious secondary conditions such as cellulitis (a bacterial infection that affects the deeper layers of your skin), cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) - a rare condition that causes a blood clot to appear between your brain and eye sockets, or sepsis.
If you notice your symptoms quickly worsening, it’s important that you seek medical help to avoid your condition becoming more serious.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy
The Role of Staphylococcus aureus in Patients with Chronic Sinusitis and Nasal Polyposis. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, [online] 19(4).
Are Host Genetics the Predominant Determinant of Persistent Nasal Staphylococcus aureus Carriage in Humans? The Journal of Infectious Diseases, [online] 202(6), pp.924–934.
Easy-to-take antibiotic medicine that works to clear infection-causing bacteria.
Antibiotic tablet for nasal infection that combines two active ingredients to kill bacteria.
Medicine to take care of pain and fever caused due to nasal infection.
Nasal spray that helps reduce congestion and swelling in the nasal passages.
Saline solution to moisten the nasal passages and help clear out mucus and debris from the nose.
Daily-use, easy-to-apply ointment to treat nasal infections caused by bacteria.
Ointment to apply inside your nose to kill bacteria causing your nasal infection.
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