Rudolph’s red nose sign is a sign of this nasal infection

Santa might want to invest in some health insurance for his reindeer.

A symptom known as “Rudolph’s sign” can be indicative of a larger infection in humans and is especially common in the colder months.

Of course, there is no bright, glowing capacity to drive a sled, but Rudolph’s Sign is marked by a red, sore tip of the nose that can also be tender and swollen. It may also be a visible red boil inside the nose.

During cold and flu season, it’s not uncommon for overuse of tissues to lead to dry, cracked skin around the nostrils, but looking like the North Pole’s most lovable reindeer—sorry Dancer, Prancer and others – may mean that there is something more serious at play. .

It could be a symptom of nasal furunculosis, a deep infection of the hair follicle inside the nasal vestibule, the area just inside the nostril.

Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to treat – but if left untreated, it can lead to rare but life-threatening complications, including blood clots and ophthalmic vein thrombosis, a disease that affects vision .

What causes nasal furunculosis?

It is caused by bacteria and can be the result of a chronic runny nose or an upper respiratory infection. This can make it more common in the winter, when people are prone to colds or runny noses more often from cold temperatures and winds.

It can also be caused by picking your nose or plucking the hairs inside your nose.

How is furunculosis of the nose treated?

The infection can be treated with several methods, including using hot and cold compresses, cleaning any crusts around the nose, and stopping any triggering behaviors such as nose picking.

Doctors may also prescribe antibiotics or anti-staphylococcal agents, as well as topical antibiotic ointments.

In the case of a particularly bad boil, doctors may drain it and give IV antibiotics.

Attention, nose-pickers

Picking your nose can also lead to other health problems. A 2018 study published in the European Respiratory Journal found that digging for gold up there can lead to the transmission of pneumonia.

“Pneumococcal infection is a leading cause of death worldwide and is estimated to be responsible for 1.3 million deaths in children under the age of five annually,” lead researcher Dr. Victoria Connor, a clinical researcher at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Medicine and Royal Liverpool Hospital, said.

They found that bacteria on the hands can get into the nose by picking – but also by rubbing and rubbing.

“It may not be realistic to get children to stop picking, picking and rubbing their noses, and the presence of bacteria can sometimes strengthen children’s immune systems and reduce their chances of getting it again later in life. life, so it’s unclear whether completely reducing the spread of pneumococcus in children is the best thing,” Connor said.

“But for parents, since this study shows that hands are likely to spread the pneumococcus, this may be important when children are in contact with elderly relatives or relatives with reduced immune systems.”

“In these situations, ensuring good hand hygiene and cleaning toys or surfaces is likely to reduce transmission and reduce the risk of developing a pneumococcal infection such as pneumonia.”