Dr. Akshay. B. K.
Otolaryngology (E.N.T)
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I am experiencing high levels of anxiety due to my fear of water entering my nose. Here is my situation: I came out of the shower and inserted a three inch Q-tip up my nose. It went in 2 inches deep from the nostrils. My fear is that my nose might have had water in it from the shower, and I am afraid I might have collected some drops on the Q-tip and pushed it into the olfactory mucosa. I am fearful of Naegleria fowleri. It is tap water, but I still fear that the Q-tip had enough drops to push it into the olfactory mucosa region. My question is: How deep into the nose is the olfactory mucosa? Could two inches of the Q-tip reach there? It seems it got to a point where it could not go in any further. Would a few drops of water on the Q-tip pose a risk if contaminated?
Kindly help.
Hello,
Welcome to the icliniq family.
I understand your anxiousness.
Please do not worry. Let me help you. The olfactory mucosa is deeply located near the skull base, specifically in the cribriform area. There is no way a QTIP can reach that space. During endoscopy, doctors employ careful maneuvering to access the olfactory area. Therefore, rest assured that your olfactory mucosa is safe.Regarding Naegleria fowleri, this organism has been present in the world for many years. It is an opportunistic pathogen that typically causes problems in individuals with immunodeficiency or compromised immune systems. The nasal mucosa itself has a strong defense mechanism, so there is no way the organism could have become implanted. Please stop inserting Q-tips into your nose as it can cause trauma to the nasal mucosa, which is not ideal.
I hope I have answered your queries. Feel free to contact me anytime if you need further assistance.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
I appreciate your answer.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
No worries, it is my duty. Glad I could help you out. Rest assured, you need not worry. You do not have any serious disease. Take care.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
Very anxious again. I just want reassurance. I have a fear of water going up my nose. Here is my situation: After coming out of the shower, I inserted a three-inch Q-tip up my nose, going in two inches deep from the nostrils. My fear is that my nose might have had water from the shower, and I am worried that I may have collected some drops on the Q-tip and pushed them into the olfactory mucosa. I am fearful of Naegleria fowleri. Although it is tap water, I still worry that the Q-tip had enough drops to reach the olfactory mucosa area. My question is: How deep is the olfactory mucosa in the nose? Could a two-inch Q-tip reach that far? It seemed to reach a point where it could not go in any further. Would a few drops of water on the Q-tip be a risk if contaminated?
Hi,
Please do not worry; you can always contact me anytime for reassurance or any doubts you may have. As I mentioned before, inserting a Q-tip into your nose is harmful to your nasal mucosa. The olfactory area is located medially to what is known as the middle turbinate and is roughly 2.8 to 3.2 inches above the floor of your nose. It is highly unlikely that your Q-tip would have reached that space. Using a Q-tip will not put you at risk of contracting Naegleria. The nasal mucosa has its own defense mechanism through the production of mucus and ciliary activity, which further prevents such infections. Please, for your own good, avoid inserting a Q-tip into your nose. Instead, a simple nasal rinsing would be sufficient.
I hope this has helped you.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
And one drop of water would not be enough to cause any infection?
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
It is not a botheration at all. I can feel the anxiousness you might be experiencing, and I will definitely help you out of it. If you think about our daily routine, do not you wonder when a person swims in a pool or the ocean, water naturally enters our entire nose, right? Does anything happen to the people who swim? In the same fashion, what I want you to understand is that the nasal mucosa itself has numerous protective mechanisms that prevent organisms from entering the brain. There is a rigid skull base bone that separates the brain and nasal cavity, so there is no need to worry. The Q-tip was only 2.05 inches, so there is no way it could reach the olfactory mucosa region. So, rest assured, I give you a 100 percent guarantee that you need not worry about Naegleria. Please do not hesitate to ask any doubts, and I will definitely help you out.
Thank you.
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Otolaryngology (E.N.T)
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