Runny nose dismissed as sinus infection turns out to be rare nasal cancer

Certain conditions may seem to be common health issues but at times ignoring them can lead to grave complications. Several cases of medical negligence allowing serious conditions to go undetected have been reported in the past few years.

After doctors dismissed a runny nose as a sinus infection turned out to be a rare cancer in a three-year-old girl’s nasal cavity. The child complained of pain and swelling in her right check and green, blood streaked mucus from her right nostril.

Doctors just prescribed antibiotics and nasal drops for what they thought to be eye and sinus infection. But an MRI scan conducted later found a tumour in her nasal cavity which had invaded the bone in her nose along with her skull and muscles used for chewing.

Parts of her brainstem that controlled breathing and sleeping also became cancerous as chemo and radiotherapy had to be started. It is still not known if the child is doing better after her diagnosis started.