Deviated Septum Symptoms

The nasal septum is a cartilage wall that separates the right and left nasal cavities. Ideally, the septum should be located at the center of the nose separating the two sides, however, due to various reasons, the septum may become deviated or displaced, making one nasal passage smaller. This condition is called deviated septum. Primarily, this problem can occur during fetal development (at birth) or it may result from injury to the nose or head.

What Indicates A Deviated Septum?

As mentioned earlier, a deviated septum causes one nasal passage to become smaller. This in turn causes obstruction of one or both the nostrils. This symptom becomes severe in an event of an upper respiratory infections or allergies, as such illnesses make the nasal passages swell and become narrow.

Common signs include nosebleed, sinus pain, frequent sinus infections and congestion. Children or infants may suffer from noisy breathing when affected by a deviated septum. Other symptoms are headaches, and facial pain.

Treatment

A surgery is the only permanent fix a deviated septum. The surgery, known as septoplasty, involves the repositioning of the displaced septum in the center of the nose. This helps in the restoration of normal breathing and mucus flow. The recovery depends upon the severity of the deviation of the septum. Complications such as septal perforation, bleeding, change in shape of the nose, feeling of numbness of the front teeth or a loss of the sense of smell, may arise post surgery.

When it comes to managing the deviated septum symptoms, recommended medicines are decongestants, antihistamines and nasal cortisone sprays. Decongestants are primarily used for reducing nasal congestions. Their administration aid in keeping the airway of both sides of the nose open. Cold and allergy may cause the symptoms to worsen over time. So, it is important to avoid such episodes by taking antihistamines. As mentioned earlier, sinus infection is one possible symptom of a deviated nasal septum and it can be very uncomfortable at times. By using nasal cortisone sprays, one can reduce the risk of inflammation of the nasal passages and hence the occurrence of any sinus infection.

One cannot do much about a deviated septum which has its occurrence at birth. However, for those who have not come across this medical disorder, it is wise to take the necessary steps to prevent any injuries to the head or nose. Always wear seat belts while driving and helmets while riding bikes. People who indulge in sports wherein there are possible chances to sustain injuries to the head or nose, should take appropriate protection.

Normally, a deviated septum does not raise any major concern and it can be dealt with using medications. Problem occurs when the deviation is so severe that it can block the nasal passage completely and the affected person finds it difficult to breathe through his nose. This could be more severe in small children.