The nasal septum is the wall separating the left and right nostils from each other. A deviated nasal septum occurs when the nasal septum is not centered between the two nostrils. A well-centered septum allows equal airflow through each nostril.

A deviated septum may cause no symptoms at all. In severe cases, however, airflow through one or both nostrils may be blocked. Nostril blockage may cause chronic stuffiness (nasal congestion) and a tendency to get sinus infections.

Causes

Causes include --

lPresent at birth; arose during fetal development (5 per cent of cases)

lBirth injury to the nose

lA blow to the nose, often during an accident or while playing sports

Risk factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease, condition or

injury.

lContact sports, especially karate or football without appropriate protective headgear

Symptoms

Symptoms include --

lStuffy nose (one or both sides)

lSinus infections lNosebleeds lBreathing noisily during sleep lFacial pain or headache lPost-nasal drip

Treatment

Most people with a deviated septum don't require treatment. In severe cases, surgery may be recommended. Surgery on the septum alone is called septoplasty. Septoplasty relieves nasal blockage by centering the septum between the two nostrils. Sometimes surgery to reshape the nose (rhinoplasty) is performed at the same time. The two procedures together are called septorhinoplasty. Children who need surgery usually wait until they have stopped growing, around age 16.