Staph infection in nose: Symptoms, treatment, and diagnosis

A staphylococcus, or staph, infection is an infection caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.

Many people carry Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) on their skin or within their nose.

Here we look at the various causes and symptoms of a staph infection in the nose. We also outline the available treatment options for a nasal staph infection, as well as some tips for prevention.

Share on PinterestExcessively blowing or rubbing the nose is a possible cause of a staph infection in the nose.

The bacteria S. aureus cause staph infection.

Between 20–80% of humans carry S. aureus within their nasal passages. Most of the time, the bacteria do not cause any harm. However, if the skin of the nose becomes damaged, the bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection.

Damage to the surface of the skin may trigger a mild to a moderate staph infection. Damage to the deeper layers of the skin may trigger a severe or even life-threatening staph infection.

Staph bacteria are contagious and can spread to other people through:

• skin-to-skin contact
• sharing personal items, such as toothbrushes, razors, or washcloths
• coughing or sneezing, although these types of transmission are less common

A staph infection in the nose can occur as a result of a scratch, sore, or other types of damage to the skin of the nose.

Some potential causes of a nasal staph infection include:

• nose picking
• excessively blowing or rubbing the nose
• plucking or tweezing nasal hairs

A person who has a nasal staph infection may develop the following symptoms:

• redness and swelling of the nose
• crusting around the nostrils
• boils inside one or both nostrils
• facial swelling
• pain
• fever

In some cases, a staph infection may resolve by itself. In other cases, a person will require treatment to clear the infection and prevent further complications.

Some people may succeed in treating minor nasal infections at home. People can soothe sores and crusting by holding a clean, warm, damp cloth onto affected areas. It is important to wash the cloth afterward to avoid spreading the bacteria.

Some people may develop pus-filled boils inside the nostrils. A doctor will need to drain the boil in order to treat the infection and promote wound healing. This procedure typically involves the use of a local anesthetic.

If a nasal staph infection does not clear up by itself, a person may need to take oral antibiotics or apply topical antimicrobial treatments.

Without treatment, staph infections may recur. This is because S.aureus remains inside the nasal passages.

Prescription antibiotic treatments can reduce numbers of staph bacteria, thereby helping to prevent the staph infection from recurring.

Researchers have been investigating the best treatment to prevent recurrent staph infections. According to a 2015 review, topical antimicrobial medications may be more effective than oral antibiotics. This is because S. aureus may have a lower resistance to topical treatments.

Practicing good personal hygiene may also help to reduce the risk of repeat infections.

If a staph infection enters the bloodstream, it can cause serious complications. We list some potential complications below.

Facial cellulitis

Facial cellulitis is a bacterial infection affecting the deeper layers of the skin. Without treatment, the condition can be life-threatening.

Symptoms of facial cellulitis include:

• tenderness and pain in the face
• rash
• skin redness
• lockjaw
• a fever
• chills
• loss of appetite

Cavernous sinus thrombosis

A cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) is a blood clot that forms in the cavernous sinuses. This is the hollow space between the brain and the eye sockets.

A CST can develop when an infection in the face or skull spreads to the cavernous sinuses. Although rare, the condition can be life-threatening.

Symptoms of a CST include:

• a fever
• a severe headache
• swelling around the eyes
• a weakness of the eye muscles, resulting in drooping eyelids, or double vision
• severe eye pain

Endocarditis

An infection can sometimes spread to the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves. The medical term for this is endocarditis.

Symptoms of endocarditis include:

• a fever
• chills
• fatigue
• aching muscles and joints
• difficulty breathing
• nausea and vomiting
• blood in the urine

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is the medical term for inflammation of one or both lungs. It typically occurs as a result of infection.

In pneumonia, the tiny air sacs, or alveoli, within the lungs fill with fluid or pus. This makes it difficult for a person to breathe.

Some common symptoms of pneumonia include:

• rapid or shallow breathing
• breathlessness, even when resting
• chest pain that worsens when breathing or coughing
• rapid heartbeat
• a fever
• chills
• feeling generally unwell
• loss of appetite

Sepsis

Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection. This overreaction leads to a toxic build-up of chemicals within the blood.

Symptoms of sepsis include:

• rapid breathing
• increased heart rate
• a fever
• chills
• feeling confused or disorientated

Toxic shock syndrome

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare condition in which staph bacteria release dangerous levels of toxins into the bloodstream. TSS can be life-threatening.

The symptoms of TSS come on suddenly and worsen rapidly. They include:

• a fever
• flu-like symptoms, such as a headache, body aches, and a sore throat
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea
• a widespread skin rash that appears similar to sunburn
• a bright red coloring of the lips, tongue, and eye-whites
• difficulty breathing
• fainting
• confusion

There are steps a person can take to reduce their risk of developing or spreading a staph infection of the nose or skin. These include:

• regularly washing hands with soap and clean water
• showering or bathing daily to keep skin clean
• covering any cuts or wounds with sterile bandaids or dressings
• avoiding sharing personal items, such as toothbrushes, razors, and washcloths
• covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
• disposing of tissues after blowing the nose
• avoiding picking the nose
• using only sterile equipment to pluck or tweeze nasal hair, or avoiding these practices altogether

Some staph infections may resolve by themselves, while others may require treatment.

People should see a doctor if the staph infection:

• is severe
• lasts longer than a week, or keeps coming back
• is getting worse, or spreading to other parts of the face
• causes a skin rash or redness
• causes fever or chills
• causes breathing difficulty, or a change in heart rate

Anyone who has a weakened immune system should see a doctor at the first sign of a staph infection. This includes people who:

• are elderly
• have an autoimmune disease
• are receiving chemotherapy
• have received an organ transplant

Staph bacteria commonly live inside the nose and are usually harmless. However, if the skin of the nose becomes damaged, the bacteria can enter the wound and cause infection.

A person who has a nasal staph infection may develop redness, sores, or crusting around the nostrils. A person may need antibiotics or topical antimicrobial medications to treat the infection.

People should seek treatment if their infection is severe or persistent or accompanied by other symptoms. People who have a weakened immune system should seek treatment as soon as possible to reduce the risk of complications.

Staph infection in nose: Symptoms, treatment, and diagnosis

A staphylococcus, or staph, infection is an infection caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.

Many people carry Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) on their skin or within their nose.

Here we look at the various causes and symptoms of a staph infection in the nose. We also outline the available treatment options for a nasal staph infection, as well as some tips for prevention.

Share on PinterestExcessively blowing or rubbing the nose is a possible cause of a staph infection in the nose.

The bacteria S. aureus cause staph infection.

Between 20–80% of humans carry S. aureus within their nasal passages. Most of the time, the bacteria do not cause any harm. However, if the skin of the nose becomes damaged, the bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection.

Damage to the surface of the skin may trigger a mild to a moderate staph infection. Damage to the deeper layers of the skin may trigger a severe or even life-threatening staph infection.

Staph bacteria are contagious and can spread to other people through:

• skin-to-skin contact
• sharing personal items, such as toothbrushes, razors, or washcloths
• coughing or sneezing, although these types of transmission are less common

A staph infection in the nose can occur as a result of a scratch, sore, or other types of damage to the skin of the nose.

Some potential causes of a nasal staph infection include:

• nose picking
• excessively blowing or rubbing the nose
• plucking or tweezing nasal hairs

A person who has a nasal staph infection may develop the following symptoms:

• redness and swelling of the nose
• crusting around the nostrils
• boils inside one or both nostrils
• facial swelling
• pain
• fever

In some cases, a staph infection may resolve by itself. In other cases, a person will require treatment to clear the infection and prevent further complications.

Some people may succeed in treating minor nasal infections at home. People can soothe sores and crusting by holding a clean, warm, damp cloth onto affected areas. It is important to wash the cloth afterward to avoid spreading the bacteria.

Some people may develop pus-filled boils inside the nostrils. A doctor will need to drain the boil in order to treat the infection and promote wound healing. This procedure typically involves the use of a local anesthetic.

If a nasal staph infection does not clear up by itself, a person may need to take oral antibiotics or apply topical antimicrobial treatments.

Without treatment, staph infections may recur. This is because S.aureus remains inside the nasal passages.

Prescription antibiotic treatments can reduce numbers of staph bacteria, thereby helping to prevent the staph infection from recurring.

Researchers have been investigating the best treatment to prevent recurrent staph infections. According to a 2015 review, topical antimicrobial medications may be more effective than oral antibiotics. This is because S. aureus may have a lower resistance to topical treatments.

Practicing good personal hygiene may also help to reduce the risk of repeat infections.

If a staph infection enters the bloodstream, it can cause serious complications. We list some potential complications below.

Facial cellulitis

Facial cellulitis is a bacterial infection affecting the deeper layers of the skin. Without treatment, the condition can be life-threatening.

Symptoms of facial cellulitis include:

• tenderness and pain in the face
• rash
• skin redness
• lockjaw
• a fever
• chills
• loss of appetite

Cavernous sinus thrombosis

A cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) is a blood clot that forms in the cavernous sinuses. This is the hollow space between the brain and the eye sockets.

A CST can develop when an infection in the face or skull spreads to the cavernous sinuses. Although rare, the condition can be life-threatening.

Symptoms of a CST include:

• a fever
• a severe headache
• swelling around the eyes
• a weakness of the eye muscles, resulting in drooping eyelids, or double vision
• severe eye pain

Endocarditis

An infection can sometimes spread to the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves. The medical term for this is endocarditis.

Symptoms of endocarditis include:

• a fever
• chills
• fatigue
• aching muscles and joints
• difficulty breathing
• nausea and vomiting
• blood in the urine

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is the medical term for inflammation of one or both lungs. It typically occurs as a result of infection.

In pneumonia, the tiny air sacs, or alveoli, within the lungs fill with fluid or pus. This makes it difficult for a person to breathe.

Some common symptoms of pneumonia include:

• rapid or shallow breathing
• breathlessness, even when resting
• chest pain that worsens when breathing or coughing
• rapid heartbeat
• a fever
• chills
• feeling generally unwell
• loss of appetite

Sepsis

Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection. This overreaction leads to a toxic build-up of chemicals within the blood.

Symptoms of sepsis include:

• rapid breathing
• increased heart rate
• a fever
• chills
• feeling confused or disorientated

Toxic shock syndrome

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare condition in which staph bacteria release dangerous levels of toxins into the bloodstream. TSS can be life-threatening.

The symptoms of TSS come on suddenly and worsen rapidly. They include:

• a fever
• flu-like symptoms, such as a headache, body aches, and a sore throat
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea
• a widespread skin rash that appears similar to sunburn
• a bright red coloring of the lips, tongue, and eye-whites
• difficulty breathing
• fainting
• confusion

There are steps a person can take to reduce their risk of developing or spreading a staph infection of the nose or skin. These include:

• regularly washing hands with soap and clean water
• showering or bathing daily to keep skin clean
• covering any cuts or wounds with sterile bandaids or dressings
• avoiding sharing personal items, such as toothbrushes, razors, and washcloths
• covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
• disposing of tissues after blowing the nose
• avoiding picking the nose
• using only sterile equipment to pluck or tweeze nasal hair, or avoiding these practices altogether

Some staph infections may resolve by themselves, while others may require treatment.

People should see a doctor if the staph infection:

• is severe
• lasts longer than a week, or keeps coming back
• is getting worse, or spreading to other parts of the face
• causes a skin rash or redness
• causes fever or chills
• causes breathing difficulty, or a change in heart rate

Anyone who has a weakened immune system should see a doctor at the first sign of a staph infection. This includes people who:

• are elderly
• have an autoimmune disease
• are receiving chemotherapy
• have received an organ transplant

Staph bacteria commonly live inside the nose and are usually harmless. However, if the skin of the nose becomes damaged, the bacteria can enter the wound and cause infection.

A person who has a nasal staph infection may develop redness, sores, or crusting around the nostrils. A person may need antibiotics or topical antimicrobial medications to treat the infection.

People should seek treatment if their infection is severe or persistent or accompanied by other symptoms. People who have a weakened immune system should seek treatment as soon as possible to reduce the risk of complications.

Treatment of the sinuses and Staphylococcus aureus in Kaliningrad

Treatment of the nose is one of the main areas of work of Laura . The Potocki clinic in Poland has everything you need to deal with such pathologies as deviated septum, polyps, etc. It is in the treatment of the nose that surgical techniques are most widely used.

Symptoms of nasal diseases are most often associated with infectious or allergic causes . It can also be various neoplasms, as well as accumulations of fluid or mucus in the sinuses. To accurately identify the sources of the disease, you should undergo a complete examination at the ENT. You can make an appointment for diagnostics in our clinic in Kaliningrad by phone: +7 (921) 262-29-59.

Diseases of the nose and their treatment

There are several types of common pathologies that we offer treatment:

• vasomotor rhinitis;
• chronic sinusitis;
• nasal polyps;
• deviated septum;
• staphylococci.

Each of these diseases causes breathing problems (chronic nasal congestion), pain, malaise, loss of smell and many other unpleasant consequences up to the external change in the shape of the nose. In this case, drug treatment often does not give a significant result.

The Potocki clinic in Poland is equipped with modern hardware and surgical equipment that allows for minimally invasive and effective procedures for the treatment of sinuses . Recovery from such operations does not take much time. Almost always, patients leave the clinic on the day of surgery and, after following the doctor’s recommendations, return to their normal routine within a few days.

Treatment of staphylococcus in the nose

Laura’s help may also be needed in the fight against staphylococcus. It is curious that these bacteria accompany a person all his life. They manifest themselves only during periods of weakened immunity, serious inflammatory processes and nasal injuries.

Staphylococcus aureus is especially dangerous. Usually this type of bacteria is not present in the body. It enters it from the outside and is capable of provoking severe inflammation. It is not only about rhinitis, otitis or tonsillitis. All adjacent respiratory organs are affected and diseases such as:

• bronchitis are caused;
• tracheitis;
• adenoiditis;
• sinusitis.

Under the most unfavorable scenarios, in the absence of diagnosis and treatment of Staphylococcus aureus, the bones, heart, kidneys, and brain are affected. The bacterium is especially dangerous for the elderly and children. Remember the symptoms in which you need to immediately contact an ENT doctor: the presence of impurities in the mucus from the nose, a violation of smell, a change in the timbre of the voice, fever (up to 39degrees or more), general malaise, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis.

Treatment of staphylococcus in the nose in adults and children should be timely and effective . Most often it is associated with taking medications, injections of drugs and local treatment of the mucosa. When ulcers appear, surgical intervention may also be required. Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in the nose in adults should be fully controlled by a doctor. This will help avoid terrible consequences.

You can make an appointment for diagnostics and treatment of the nose at the Potocki clinic in the city of Braniewo, 5 km from the border of Poland and the Kaliningrad region, by phone or through the form on the website. Contact the professionals and be healthy!

Furuncle in the nose or pimple: symptoms and treatment

A painful, but seemingly harmless pimple in the nose, which causes discomfort to a person, but rarely causes a visit to a doctor, may not be such a modest skin “surprise” as it seems at first glance.

A furuncle in the nose may be the result of an infection in the body – in this case, an abscess in the nose will be fraught with very unpleasant health consequences. Therefore, it is worth being able to distinguish an ordinary pimple in the nose from an infected abscess, which will not go away by itself, but will worsen.

How to determine the cause of pimples in the nose and determine whether to worry when they appear? When should you show an abscess to a doctor? What is the treatment for a furuncle in the nose ? Read all about it in the article below.

• Nasal abscess – causes and potential danger
• Furuncle treatment in the nose

Nasal Boil – Causes and Potential Dangers

A boil in the nose can be annoying and annoying, but not a serious problem. Or it could be an indication of an infection. If you can tell the difference, you will prevent further spread of the infection and worsening of the disease.

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How do pimples form? The entire skin is covered with microscopic holes – pores. Also in the skin are the sebaceous glands, most often associated with hair follicles. When, for various reasons, the pores become clogged with excess sebum, acne occurs. In addition, bacteria can enter the pores, which provoke inflammation and purulent abscesses.

Read also: Furunculosis: fighting the disease radically

Bacteria in the nose can cause nasal vestibulitis (folliculitis). Nasal vestibulitis can be characterized by both a single pimple and multiple pimples on the mucous membrane of the nostrils. One of the most common causes of folliculitis is the bacterium staphylococcus aureus.

Typical causes of folliculitis are frequent picking of the nose (usually done with dirty hands) or constant blowing of the nose, which opens a gate for bacteria.

More serious infections provoke the formation of abscesses – boils. Their main danger is that they can result in panniculitis (inflammation of the subcutaneous adipose tissue) – the formation of inflamed and swollen areas on the skin, nodular tissue changes and the formation of pits in the skin. In some cases, panniculitis is even fraught with death in case of systemic tissue damage throughout the body.

And panniculitis is caused by the same bacteria – staphylococcus aureus, MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and streptococcus. MRSA does not respond to most antibiotics and is therefore difficult to treat.

Why is an infected purulent abscess in the nose dangerous? The veins in the nose are sometimes intertwined with vessels leading to the brain.

In some cases, a boil in the nose can trigger the infection to spread deeper and form a blood clot in a large vein at the base of the skull.

Although cavernous sinus thrombosis is a very rare disease, its risk should not be discounted. It occurs, including when bacteria spread from the sinuses and nasal mucosa. Such a diagnosis can be fatal even with timely treatment.

TCS symptoms:

• headache
• visual impairments
• bulge
• high temperature

By the way, if you regularly get pimples in your nose, think about whether you are at risk, because they are typical for diabetes, weakened immune system and obesity.

Treatment of a boil in the nose

There are several symptoms that accompany a pimple in the nose, in the presence of which it is necessary to consult a doctor.

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Among these symptoms:

• visual disturbances
• dizziness
• high temperature
• irregular pupils

In addition, if after a certain time the abscess in the nose does not go away, but only starts to hurt even more or increases further, you should not hesitate to visit the doctor either.

See also: How to identify the symptoms of a developing abscess

Treatment of a boil in the nose depends on its nature and cause. If you are firmly convinced that this is an ordinary pimple, it is easy to cure it at home. However, if you have even the slightest doubt about the nature of the origin of the abscess in the nose, then it is better to confirm your suspicions (or exclude them) by visiting a doctor!

If a bacterial infection is the cause, treatment is usually topical and includes antibiotic ointments.

If the case is serious (or the situation is advanced), it may be necessary to take internal antibiotics. In some situations, hospitalization is possible (especially when it comes to cavernous sinus thrombosis).

Anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen) are used to relieve painful and swollen nasal conditions.

Important note: Never, ever try to pop a pimple in your nose! Even if it seems to you that he is “ripe”.

It seems to be a banal recommendation, however, as practice shows, it is useful to recall this. After all, squeezing out an abscess in such a dangerous area as the nasal mucosa can only aggravate the situation and allow the infection to spread even deeper and further, capturing new areas. Or you can introduce additional bacteria into a pimple that would go away on its own – and again get serious problems.

We hope this article was useful to you and helped you understand what a common boil in the nose is fraught with, when it is worth running to the doctor with it and how to treat this unpleasant “surprise”.