Ozena, a rare disease of the nasal passages, causes a greenish discharge, loss of smell, and social isolation. Doctors manage symptoms with antibiotics, nasal irrigation, and surgery. Poverty, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune diseases, vitamin deficiencies, and poor diet increase the risk of contracting the disease.
Ozena, which is also called dry rhinitis or atrophic rhinitis, is a rare disease of the nasal passages. It occurs most often in arid regions such as India, Egypt and the Middle East as well as many other developing nations. There was no cure for this disease as of 2011. Doctors manage symptoms with antibiotics, nasal irrigation, and surgery.
Patients suffering from this condition usually lose their sense of smell. A greenish discharge collects within the nasal passages and large areas of crust fill the nasal cavity. These scabs often bleed if they are removed. The discharge has a very unpleasant smell, and although the patient cannot detect the smell, they may suffer from it in social settings.
Inside the patient’s nose, the nasal passages become inflamed and the mucous membranes and bony ridges deteriorate. The small vessels inside the nose also get sick. Sometimes holes form in the cartilage between the nostrils. The nasal discharge might also contain pus.
Untreated ozena could lead to social isolation. The odor can be so strong that friends and family refuse to associate with the patient. In severe situations, larval flies, called worms, could infest the nose and cause meningitis.
A doctor can diagnose the disease from the patient’s physical symptoms and smell. Later, he labels it primary or secondary atrophic rhinitis. Primary ozena occurs when the patient becomes infected with bacteria such as Bacillus Mucosus or Klebsiella Ozaenae. Secondary forms of the disease are usually the result of radiation, nasal trauma, or surgery.
People living in severe poverty are at a higher risk of contracting ozena than individuals of higher socioeconomic status. Hormonal imbalances, autoimmune diseases, vitamin deficiencies, and poor diet can also contribute to the problem. Teens are also more at risk than adults.
Doctors usually address the symptoms, as the exact cause of ozena is often unknown. Your doctor might prescribe nose drops containing glucose and glycerin to inhibit bacterial growth. Patients are also instructed to flush or flood the nose with solutions such as sodium chloride or baking soda to loosen the discharge and prevent bacteria from colonizing damaged tissue.
Antibiotics are often prescribed alongside other treatments. Patients should continue to flush their nose several times a day after stopping antibiotic treatment. Irrigation should be practiced for the rest of the patient’s life to avoid relapses.
The doctor might also recommend that the patient place mineral oil or glycerin inside the nose to prevent the tissues from drying out. Some doctors also suggest adding an odor control agent such as menthol. Severe cases may even require surgery.
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