Deviated Nasal Septum [DNS]

• Generally, The nasal septum is the bone and cartilage in the nose that separates the nasal cavity into the two nostrils.
• Moreover, The cartilage is called the quadrangular cartilage and the bones comprising the septum include the maxillary crest, vomer and the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid.
• Normally, the septum lies centrally, also thus the nasal passages are symmetrical.
• A deviated septum is an abnormal condition in which the top of the cartilaginous ridge leans to the left or the right, causing obstruction of the affected nasal passage. Besides this, The condition can result in poor drainage of the sinuses.
• People can also complain of difficulty breathing, headaches, bloody noses, or of sleeping disorders e.g. snoring or sleep apnea.
• All in all, It is common for nasal septa to depart from the exact centerline; the septum is only considered deviated if the shift is substantial or causes problems.

Many people with a deviation are unaware they have it until some pain is produced. By itself, a deviated septum can go undetected for years and thus be without any need for correction.[1]

Types of Deviated Nasal Septum [DNS]

Deviation may involve only the cartilage, bone or both the cartilage and bone.

1. Firstly, Anterior dislocation. Septal cartilage may be dislocated into one of the nasal chambers. Additionally, This is better appreciated by looking at the base of nose when patient’s head is tilted backwards.
2. Secondly, C-shaped deformity. Moreover, Septum is deviated in a simple curve to one side. Nasal chamber on the concave side of the nasal septum will be wider and may show compensatory hypertrophy of turbinates.
3. Thirdly, S-shaped deformity. Either in vertical or anteroposterior plane. Such a deformity may cause bilateral nasal obstruction.
4. After that, A spur is a shelf-like projection often found at the junction of bone and cartilage. Besides this, A spur may press on the lateral wall and gives rise to headache. It may also predispose to repeated epistaxis from the vessels stretched on its convex surface.
5. Lastly, It may be due to organized haematoma or overriding of dislocated septal fragments.[3]

Causes Deviated Nasal Septum [DNS]

Trauma and errors of development form the two important factors in the causation of deviated septum.

[1] Trauma: such as by a blow to the face, during child birth.

[2] Developmental error:

[3] Racial factors. Specifically, Caucasians are affected more than black American.

[4] Hereditary factors. Several members of the same family may have deviated nasal septum.

[5] Congenital disorder

[6] Deviated septum is associated with genetic connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome, Homocystinuria and Ehlers–Danlos syndrome.[1][2]

Sign & Symptoms Deviated Nasal Septum [DNS]

Symptoms of a deviated septum i.e.

• Infections of the sinus
• Sleep apnea
• Snoring
• Repetitive sneezing
• Facial pain
• Headache
• Nosebleeds
• Mouth breathing
• Difficulty with breathing also mild to severe loss of the ability to smell.

Only more severe cases of a deviated septum will cause symptoms of difficulty breathing and require treatment.[1]

Diagnosis of Deviated Nasal Septum [DNS]

1. A history of trauma to the nose is often present including trauma from the either process of birth or microfractures.
2. Physical examination [1].

• Hypertrophied turbinate
• Polyps [2]

Complications of Deviated Nasal Septum [DNS]

• Recurrent sinusitis due to obstruction to drainage of sinus.
• Middle ear infection due to forcible blackening of nose or recurrent upper respiratory infection.
• Mouth breathing causing infection of pharynx, larynx, tracheobronchial tree.
• Asthma: DNS acts as trigger for bronchospasm.
• Atrophic rhinitis on the root side of nose.[2]

Treatment of Deviated Nasal Septum [DNS]

Minor degrees of septal deviation with no symptoms are commonly seen in patients and require no treatment. It is only When deviated septum produces mechanical nasal obstruction or the symptoms given above that an operation is indicated.

Medical therapy:

Nasal sprays including decongestants, antihistamines, or nasal corticosteroid sprays is typically tried first before considering a surgical approach to correct nasal septum deviation.

Moreover, Medication temporarily relieves symptoms, but does not correct the underlying condition. Non-medical relief can also be obtained using nasal strips.

A minor surgical procedure known as septoplasty can cure symptoms related to septal deviations. Additionally, The surgery lasts roughly one hour and does not result in any cosmetic alteration or external scars. Nasal congestion, pain, drainage, or swelling may occur within the first few days after the surgery. Besides this, Recovery from the procedure may take anywhere from 2 days to 4 weeks to heal completely,^] Septal bones never regrow. If symptoms reappear, they are not related to deviations. Lastly, Reappearance of symptoms may be due to mucosal metaplasia of the nose.

Currently, the most gentle and effective treatment is laser sept chondroplasty for the septal cartilage segment deformity and ultrasound septoplasty — effective for the septal cartilage and bone deformation.[1]

Homeopathic Treatment of Deviated Nasal Septum [DNS]

Homeopathic treatment is based on individualization in which a doctor selects a medicine according to your/ patients constitution rather than matching only symptoms similarity, so before taking any homeopathic medicine you have to firstly consult a homeopathic physician for your concern problem’s, there are so many remedies work in this case but some of the few therapeutic indications of homeopathic remedies in the cases of DNS are as follows.

Allium Cepa: 

Especially indicated in DNS. Sneezing, especially when entering a warm room. Copious, watery and extremely acrid discharge. Feeling of a lump at root of nose. Hay-fever. [Sabad.; Sil.; Psor.]. Fluent coryza with headache, cough, and hoarseness. Polypus. Catarrhal headache, mostly in forehead; worse in warm room towards evening.

aggravation from; evening, warm room. on the other hand, amelioration from; open air, cold room.[2]

Arsenic Album: 

Coryza with thin, watery, excoriating discharge. Nose feels stopped up. Sneezing without
relief. Hay-fever and coryza; worse in open air; better indoors. Burning and bleeding from nose. Headaches relieves by cold, other symptoms worse.

aggravation from, wet weather, after midnight; from cold, cold drinks, or food. Seashore. Right side. on the other hand, amelioration from; from heat; from head elevated; warm drinks.

Arum Triphyllum:

Specific medicine for DNS. Acridity is the keynote of the kind of action characteristic of Arum. Additionally; Soreness of nostrils. Acrid, excoriating discharge,
producing raw sores. Nose obstructed; must breathe through mouth. Boring in the nose. Coryza; discharge blood-streaked, watery. Nose completely stopped, with especially fluent, acrid discharge. Hay-fever, with pain over root of nose. Large scabs high up on right side of nose. Face feels chapped, as if from cold wind; feels hot. Constant picking at nose until it bleeds. Headache from too warm clothing, from hot coffee.

< northwest wind, lying down.[2]

Syphilinum:

Indicated for Caries of nasal bones, hard palate also septum, with perforation; ozaena.

aggravation from; at night, sundown to sunrise, seashore, in summer. on the other hand, amelioration from; inland and mountains, during day, moving about slowly.

Euphrasia: 

Good medicine for DNS. Patient is better in open air. Catarrhal affections of mucous membranes especially of eyes also nose. Profuse acrid lachrymation and bland coryza; worse, evening. Hawking up of offensive mucus.

< in evening, indoors, warmth; south winds; from light.

Ferrum Phosphoricum:

Useful medicine for first stage of colds in the head. Additionally, Predisposition to colds. Epistaxis; bright red blood. The typical Ferr. phos.
subject is nervous, sensitive, anemic with the false plethora and easy flushing of Ferrum. Besides this, Indicted in pale, anaemic subjects, with violent local
congestions. Haemorrhages are bright from any orifice.

< at night and 4 to 6 p.m.; touch, jar, motion, right side.by cold applications.

Kali Iodum:

Basically, the profuse, watery, acrid coryza that the drug produces serves as a sure guiding symptom, especially when associated with pain in frontal sinus. In detail, Violent headache in which pain intense over eyes and root of nose. Nose is red, swollen. Tip of nose red; profuse, acrid, hot, watery, thin discharge. Ozaena, with perforated septum. Sneezing. Nasal catarrh, involving frontal sinus. All in all, Stuffiness and dryness of nose, without discharge. Profuse, cool, greenish,
unirritating discharges.

< warm clothing, warm room, at night, damp weather.

> motion, open air [2].

Nux Vomica:

In general, Indicated for stuffing up of nose < at night especially. Also useful for Stuffy colds, snuffles, after exposure to dry, cold atmosphere; worse, in warm room. Coryza is fluent in daytime; stuffed up at night and outdoors; or alternates between nostrils. Bleeding especially; in morning. Acrid discharge, but with stuffed up feeling. Lastly, Frontal headache, with desire to press the head against something.

< morning, mental exertion, after eating, touch, spices, stimulants, narcotics, dry weather, cold.

> from a nap, if allowed to finish it; in evening, while at rest, in damp, wet weather, strong pressure.

Silicea:

There is Itching at point of nose. Dry, hard crusts form, bleeding when loosened. Nasal bones sensitive. Sneezing in morning. Obstructed and loss of smell. Perforation of septum. Headache in which pain begins at occiput, and spreads over head and settles over eyes. Silica patient is cold, chilly, hugs the fire, wants plenty warm clothing, hates drafts, hands and feet cold, worse in winter. Great sensitiveness to taking cold.

< new moon, in morning, from washing, during menses, uncovering, lying down, damp, lying on, left side, cold.

> warmth, wrapping up head, summer; in wet or humid weather.[2]

Mercurious Solubilus:

Useful for Cold & Coryza in which there is much sneezing, in sunshine. Coryza; acrid discharge, but too thick to run down the lip; worse, warm room. Nostrils raw, ulcerated; nasal bones swollen. Yellow-green, fetid, pus like discharge. Pain and swelling of nasal bones, and caries, with greenish fetid ulceration. Nosebleed < at night. Copious discharge of corroding mucus.

< at night, wet, damp weather, lying on right side, perspiring; warm room and warm bed.

Natrum Muraticum:

Better indicated in Deviated Nasal Septum [DNS]. Useful for violent, fluent coryza, lasting from one to three days, then changing into stoppage of nose, making breathing difficult.
Discharge thin and watery, like raw white of egg. Violent sneezing coryza. Infallible for stopping a cold commencing with sneezing.
Loss of smell and taste. Internal soreness of nose. Dryness. Frontal sinus inflammation.

< noise, music, warm room, lying down about 10 a. m at seashore, mental exertion, consolation, heat, talking.

> by open air, cold bathing, going without regular meals, lying on right side; pressure against back, tight clothing.

Aurum Metalicum:

Generally, Indicated for Ulcerated, painful, swollen, obstructed nose. Furthermore, Inflammation of nose; caries; fetid discharge, purulent, bloody. Boring pains in nose; especially, worse at night. Putrid smell from nose. Sensitive smell. Horrible odor from nose and mouth.
Besides this, Knobby tip of nose.

< in cold weather when getting cold. Many complaints come on only in winter; from sunset to sunrise.[2]

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult a specialist & get answers to your questions!

1. Firstly, Avoiding sweets, milk products, bakery products and heavy to digest foods is the first line of defense.
2. Secondly, eat mindfully. Do not binge or overeat. Food timing also eating when hungry work as essential remedies to treat this condition.
3. Thirdly, avoid cold foods e.g. ice creams and certain fruit juices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Deviated Nasal Septum?

Nasal septum deviation is a physical disorder of the nose, involving a displacement of the nasal septum.

Homeopathic Medicines used by Homeopathic Doctors in treatment of Deviated Nasal Septum?

• Allium Cepa
• Arsenic Album
• Arum Triphyllum
• Syphilinum
• Euphrasia
• Mercurious Solubilus

What are the symptoms of Deviated Nasal Septum?

• Infections of the sinus
• Sleep apnea
• Snoring
• Repetitive sneezing
• Facial pain
• Headache
• Nosebleeds
• Mouth breathing

What causes Deviated Nasal Septum?

• Trauma
• Developmental error
• Racial factors
• Hereditary factors
• Congenital disorder