A nasal parasite resides within the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses of a host. While the human respiratory tract is generally an inhospitable environment, a few different types of parasites can successfully invade this space. Understanding how they gain access to the body is important.
How Nasal Parasites Enter the Body
The routes of entry for nasal parasites vary depending on the organism’s life cycle. One common mechanism involves myiasis, where certain species of flies deposit their eggs or larvae, sometimes called maggots, near or just inside the nose. These flies are often attracted to pre-existing conditions, such as open wounds or foul-smelling nasal discharge.
Contaminated water sources are a frequent vector for aquatic invaders like leeches. Leeches enter the nasal cavity when a person drinks from or washes their face with stagnant water from streams, ponds, or springs. Since young leeches can be quite small, their entry is often unnoticed by the host.
Microscopic parasites, such as the eggs or larvae of certain mites, gain access through inhalation. These tiny organisms become airborne and are breathed into the nasal passages, where they may subsequently develop. This relies on the host simply inhaling the parasitic stage from the environment.
Visual Characteristics of Specific Nasal Invaders
The most commonly visible invaders are the larvae of flies. Myiasis-causing larvae, or maggots, are typically creamy white or yellowish and have a segmented, cylindrical body shape. They measure between half a centimeter and one centimeter in length, often tapering slightly at one end.
These larvae possess specialized structures for anchoring and feeding. The anterior end features dark, chitinous mouth hooks used for tissue destruction, while the body segments are lined with backward-directed spines. These spines allow the organism to secure itself firmly within the nasal tissue, making manual removal difficult.
Leeches present a different visual profile, often appearing dark brown, gray-brown, or nearly black. They are soft, slimy, and highly contractile, allowing them to fit into surprisingly small spaces. When engorged from feeding on blood, they can swell and may reach lengths of several centimeters, sometimes up to 12 cm or more. Leeches attach themselves firmly to the nasal mucosa using a powerful sucker at both their anterior and posterior ends. Unlike the fly larvae, which are rigid and spiny, leeches are highly flexible and slippery, which can make them difficult to grasp and remove.
Nasal mites are too small to be seen without magnification. These arachnids are translucent, light yellow, or white and are typically less than two millimeters long. An adult mite possesses eight legs, which distinguishes it from insects and their six-legged larvae.
Signs That Suggest a Parasitic Presence
One of the most common signs is a persistent, unexplained nasal irritation or the distinct sensation of something moving or crawling within the nose. This feeling of movement is often a direct result of the parasite attempting to maneuver or feed.
Recurring or sudden, unexplained nosebleeds, known as epistaxis, are also a frequent indicator, particularly with leeches or aggressive fly larvae. Leech saliva contains anticoagulants that prevent blood clotting, leading to prolonged bleeding from the attachment site. Larvae can also cause localized pain and swelling as they actively destroy tissue to feed.
Other accompanying signs include a foul-smelling nasal discharge that may contain blood, mucus, or pus, reflecting the presence of necrotic tissue and secondary infection. A person may also experience nasal obstruction, difficulty breathing through the affected nostril, or a foreign body sensation that cannot be cleared through sneezing.
If any unusual object is seen emerging from the nostril, or if these symptoms persist, seek immediate medical attention. A specialist, such as an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor or an infectious disease physician, is required for proper diagnosis and removal. Self-removal attempts can be incomplete or cause further complications.