A relative of mine has severe problems. Over the past few years, a sore inside one nostril has grown until it destroyed their septum and ate through their upper lip (Though externally the nose is intact, if a bit…shapeless). Rumor has it that the soft palate has a hole as well. They cover the visible portions of the wound with bandages.
This person has claimed to be getting treatment, but the problem just keeps getting worse. They have a job, but are chronically short of cash. Gifts and loans have disappeared. Nerves are getting frayed. Drugs are suspected, but no one knows for sure.
What could cause such a condition?
Crack or meth.
Cocaine. Snorted.
If you care about the person, be prepared for a lot of hurt. Somone who’s let it get that bad is in DEEP trouble. They need help now.
Good luck to you both.
While it’s not impossoble, an actual disease would not normally be so… contained. It would tend to spread throughout the body, or at least throughout an area or organ. I have to agree it sounds like heavy drug use; it’s simply eating away at their body.
That’s not necessarily true. Diseases are contained in particular parts of the body all the time.
I mean, it does sound like drugs, but it’s possible that it’s not.
The more likely evidence that it is drugs is that the person is too broke to fix it. Anyone with a medical problem that severe should be able to find assistance with it if they have nothing to hide.
Skin cancer can cause such symptoms, if it’s not dealt with. If, indeed it is skin cancer, it’s not being treated, since treatment would be to cut away the diseased areas, and rebuild with grafts. Skin cancer can begin in mucus membranes, even though it’s usually external. It can arise from factors other than sun exposure.
The damage done by cocaine and meth usually doesn’t spread beyond the area the drug touches. Of course, the areas damaged by the drug could get infected and spread.
I wonder if it could be necrotizing fasciitis?
I believe that sort of thing usually develops at a much faster rate than what the OP describes.
My first thought as well. I have a seriously deviated septum as a result of it- the coke ate a frigging hole in my nose (thank God you can’t see anything odd from the outside). My doctor was stunned when he finally saw it. Subsequent docs have been a bit shocked as well, although the most recent one took it better than most (but he’s a fairly young guy).
It didn’t spread at all once I quit snorting coke, and only affected the areas directly touched by the blow- in my case, the septum was apparently where the end of the straw was pointing.
I am having trouble visualizing the spread beyond the nostrils, though. Odd.
I seem to remember reading somewhere that advanced syphilis can cause facial (and other) extremities to disintegrate. I’ve been to wikipedia and it doesn’t refer to this particular symptom/manifestation. Anyway, I’m sure one of our resident medical experts can correct me on this.
Necrotizing fasciitis spreads very quickly, requiring hospitalization and surgery to stop its progress.
It can be less than 48 hours from pimple to full limb fasciotomy.
My impression was the person’s problem is a much slower process.
Cancer gets my vote. I can’t understand why a person with a job wouldn’t tap into their insurance to get that taken care of. Unless, of course, he’s one of the millions of working poor who doesn’t have insurance.
Tough break. I’d freekin’ go to county hospital. In addition to the unfortunate appearance, it’s GOT to be painful, wouldn’t you think?
Jeez, yeah- I had forgotten about that. Who the hell has untreated syphilis anymore?!?