Sinusitis causes symptoms such as sinus inflammation and nasal congestion, which can interfere with a person's sense of smell. The condition can also cause bad breath and a discolored, bad-smelling discharge in the nose and back of the throat, all of which may create a bad smell in the nose.
Rhinoliths result from neglected nasal foreign bodies that gradually increase in size. They are usually discovered incidentally during routine ENT examination or due to the associated symptoms such as nasal obstruction or persistent foul-smelling unilateral nasal discharge.
Phantosmia is a condition that causes you to detect smells that aren't actually in your environment. It can happen in one nostril or both — and the odors may be foul or pleasant. Common causes include colds, allergies, nasal polyps and dental issues.
The mucus in infected sinuses smells bad. Infected mucus drips out of the sinuses and down the back of the throat, where it meets the air you exhale, and the odor from the infection transfers to your breath.
Parosmia is a change in your sense of smell. Many people experience parosmia as perceiving a previously pleasant scent as suddenly foul or unbearable. It typically develops after you've had an infection, head trauma, chemical exposure, or other health condition.
Call your doctor if: Your unexplained congestion lasts more than 10 days. You have a fever of 101 or higher. You have yellow or green nasal discharge that is yellow or green and is accompanied by sinus pain or fever.
Clear snot is in the normal range, while white mucus can mean you're congested and yellow or green mucus can sometimes mean that you have an infection.
Vasomotor (nonallergic) rhinitis is inflammation of nasal tissues that results in sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose or postnasal drip. Unlike allergic rhinitis (or hay fever), the symptoms are of an unknown cause. Likely, they result from triggers that irritate your nose. Northeast Ohio 216.444.8500.
If you have phantosmia, the odors can vary from smells that almost make you sick to really pleasant scents. But most people with phantosmia tend to detect bad smells. The odors have been described as “burned," "foul," "rotten," "sewage," or "chemical." You may be smelling it from one or both of your nostrils.
An infected sinus releases mucus that has a foul odor. The mucus drains to the back of your throat, resulting in bad breath. Also, when you have a sinus infection, there may be bacteria trapped in the nasal cavities, which produces an unpleasant smell.
Nasal myiasis is a nasal infestation caused by house fly larvae (maggot). It's a rare condition with only a few reported cases and no treatment consensus.
Several conditions may cause a bad smell in the nose, including sinusitis, tooth/ mouth infections, dry mouth, some medications, some foods/drinks, and olfactory damage. Typically, a bad smell in the nose is not life-threatening but can decrease the quality of life.
Bacterial vaginosis is an overgrowth of bacteria typically present in the vagina. It's a common vaginal condition that can cause vaginal odor. Trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection, also can lead to vaginal odor. A yeast infection usually doesn't cause vaginal odor.
Because the breathing passages are easily blocked, allowing mucus build-up to create an environment perfect for bacterial growth, chronic sinusitis is often present. This can result in many of the following symptoms: Bad breath. Loss of ability to smell.
Common symptoms of a sinus infection include: Postnasal drip (mucus dripping down your throat). Runny nose with thick yellow or green mucus. Stuffy nose.
Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) is characterized by thick sinus secretions, which have a characteristic golden-yellow color and have a consistency like rubber cement.
Snot Tells You A Lot
There are six common colors that snot can take on, including: clear, white, green/yellow, red/pink, brown/orange, and black. mucus can change colors for a variety of reasons, but each color tells a story about what is going on in your body.
Chronic sinusitis can be caused by an infection, growths in the sinuses (nasal polyps) or swelling of the lining of your sinuses. Signs and symptoms may include a blocked or stuffy (congested) nose that causes difficulty breathing through your nose, and pain and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead.
People report certain things—like food or body odor—smelling like garbage, rotten eggs, or chemicals. This altered sense of smell is called parosmia.
Your body odor can change due to hormones, the food you eat, infection, medications or underlying conditions like diabetes. Prescription-strength antiperspirants or medications may help.