HomeAnswersOtolaryngology (E.N.T)runny noseWhat causes a child's ears and nose to have a very foul smell?

My 4-year-old son's ears and nose have a very foul smell. Why?

Share

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Sneha Kannan

Published At July 4, 2020
Reviewed AtJanuary 17, 2024

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My 4-year-old son's ears and nose have a very foul smell, and he also has a running nose. I have noticed it for a week now.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

There could be two things that are causing the foul-smelling discharge from the nose and ear.

1. A foreign body - Make sure that the child has not inserted any foreign object in the nose or the ear as this is the most common cause of foul smell discharge in this age group. You can definitely see through a torch if you find any object stuck in the nose or ear and has to be removed as soon as possible.

2. Adenoid hypertrophy - This is another common reason why children present with a discharge from the nose and ear. Usually, the adenoids increase in size at this age and can obstruct the eustachian tubes blocking the ventilation between the nose and ear, thus leading to frequent nasal and ear discharge. Besides, in this case, if the child has enlarged adenoids, there will be some mouth breathing and snoring as well.

You can consider the following treatment.

  1. Syrup Augmentin 228.5 mg (Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid) half teaspoon three times a day after food for one week.
  2. Metatop nasal spray (Mometasone) two puff in each nostril for next four weeks.
  3. Syrup Sinarest (Chlorpheniramine Maleate+ Paracetamol+ Phenylephrine) half teaspoon three times a day for the next one week.
  4. Otrivin P nasal drops (Xylometazoline Hydrochloride) three drops in each nostril three times a day for one week.

Make sure a gap of one hour is kept between medications mentioned in points number 2 and 4. I hope this answers your query. If there is anything more you want to know or enquire about, please do let us know, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Warm regards.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Bhadragiri Vageesh Padiyar
Dr. Bhadragiri Vageesh Padiyar

Otolaryngology (E.N.T)

Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Otolaryngology (E.N.T)

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy