Woman Discovers 'This' Lodged in Her Nose Since Infancy... “Breathing Through Her Mouth for 35 Years” [Health Talk]

[Financial News] A woman in Argentina who had suffered from unexplained nasal congestion for 35 years discovered and removed a hardened mass of adhesive tape from her nose. She had gone to the hospital for symptoms of sinusitis, where she identified a foreign object believed to have been left behind during a previous medical procedure, ultimately regaining her health.
According to the British daily The Sun, Candela Reybauld, who lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina, had experienced unexplained nasal congestion since childhood. With almost no airflow through her right nostril, she had to breathe through her mouth during exercise or sleep, but she had always assumed it was simply her natural constitution.

However, about a year ago, after suffering from severe sinusitis, her pain and nasal congestion worsened again, prompting her to seek medical attention. During the examination, doctors discovered an unusual structure inside her nasal cavity. Computed Tomography (CT) scans revealed a partially calcified foreign object measuring 8×6mm, which had hardened over time as mucus and salts accumulated around it.
Using an endoscope and forceps, the medical team successfully removed the object after about an hour of attempts. The extracted material turned out to be several layers of adhesive tape. Candela explained that she had received nasal tube treatment as a newborn due to breathing difficulties and speculated that the tape residue had remained since that time.
Candela shared her story on SNS, expressing relief that the issue was resolved without surgical intervention. She added that, for the first time in her life, she was able to breathe freely through both nostrils immediately after the removal.

If a foreign object remains in the nose for an extended period, it can harden and transform into a stone-like mass.
As seen in this case, foreign bodies in the nasal cavity are not only uncomfortable but also pose medical risks if left untreated. Tiny objects that enter the nose can gradually harden as mucus, proteins, and minerals accumulate over time. This can lead to nasal obstruction, foul odor, and increase the risk of chronic rhinitis and sinusitis.
Patients with embedded foreign objects often present with recurring inflammation and unilateral nasal obstruction. Once calcification occurs, the object may continuously press against the surrounding mucosa, increasing the risk of bleeding, mucosal damage, and secondary bacterial infection.
In children, toys or food items frequently enter the nose and cause acute inflammation. In adults, residual materials from medical procedures or unnoticed small objects can remain for years, sometimes resulting in irreversible chronic damage.

Symptoms such as rhinitis with a foul odor, persistent unilateral sinusitis, or unexplained headaches should prompt suspicion of a foreign object in the nasal cavity.
For an accurate diagnosis, the location and shape of the object should be identified using an endoscope and CT scan, followed by removal with appropriate instruments. If left untreated for a long time, rare structural complications such as septal deviation or bone damage may occur, making early detection especially important.
hsg@fnnews.com Han Seung-gon Reporter