Nose Injuries: Check Your Symptoms

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When to See a Doctor

Does your nose look swollen, crooked, or different than normal after an injury?

See significance of a nose looking swollen, crooked, or different than normal if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have a cut or puncture in the skin on your nose?

Yes

Can you see bone or pieces of bone in your wound, inside your nose, or sticking out of your wound?

Yes

Have you had an ongoing clear drainage from one or both nostrils?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Does your nose look crooked or different than normal (not just swollen), but the skin on your nose is not cut or punctured?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Does your nose look moderately swollen after 72 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	April 20, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer