Question
Doctor, my child is in his first year of high school. Lately, he has told me that he occasionally smells a foul odor, and he suspects that the smell is coming from himself. This situation has progressed from initial suspicion to phantosmia, where he firmly believes that he is releasing the smell unintentionally. However, we have not noticed any unusual odors on him. What methods can help him get rid of this distress?
Answer
This may not be phantosmia but rather a result of rhinitis. The foul smell you detect is actually the odor produced by saprophytic bacteria in the purulent secretions caused by the rhinitis. You can try the following methods to clear your nose, alleviate the symptoms of rhinitis, and also help prevent colds. After all, not having a fever is the best. If you usually feel mucus in your nose, have nasal mucus, or have snot when eating hot food, you can try the following methods: