General Medical Information

Foreign Bodies

Richard L. Mabry

The presence of an intranasal foreign body is suggested by the history or by the presenting symptom of unilateral purulent rhinorrhea, especially among infants or patients with mental disability. Less common causes of obstruction by foreign bodies can be iatrogenic or of unknown origin, such as rhinolith. Treatment usually is administered with local anesthesia; rarely is general anesthesia or an open surgical approach used.