Nasal congestion in infants
Did you know that up to the age of 6 months, infants predominantly breathe through their noses? It will still be a long time before your child learns to empty the contents of the nose on its own, and that is why it is important to be prepared for the various conditions that can cause the baby’s nose to become blocked and work to clear the airways.
The most common causes of blocked nose in infants and treatment
Just like at a later age, the cause of blocked nose in babies can be viruses and bacteria, but also insufficient air humidity and dehydration.
Although there are many popular methods of relieving a stuffy nose for children up to the age of one, the biggest help with a stuffy nose will be ordinary saline solution or seawater spray.
Since the baby cannot simply “blow” the nose, it is necessary to ensure the ejection of the contents – mucus and plugs – that create nasal congestion and obstruct breathing in other ways. The contents can be diluted by dripping saline so that it flows out of the nose more easily and quickly. You don’t need special equipment for this – a dropper or syringe is enough to slowly drip into the baby’s nose.
Small impurities from the nose can be removed with a piece of cotton wool that is rolled into a tube and soaked with physiological saline solution, and the nose is cleaned with light circular movements.
Aspirator devices are also of great help to parents, which gently suck up secretions for immediate relief and freeing of the airways. Use them in combination with physiological saline solution to first dilute the secretion and then remove it from the nasal cavity.
In children after the first year, in addition to cleaning the nose with physiological saline solution, decongestant preparations known as nasal decongestants in the form of drops or sprays can be used.
When is it necessary to contact a pediatrician?
The pediatrician, taking into account the duration of breathing problems in newborns and potential causes, will assess the need for consultation with a pediatric otorhinolaryngologist who can perform an examination of the inside of the nose and determine the specific causes of nasal congestion in infants.
For any doubts about the cause of your baby’s blocked nose, contact the medical team of the Salve Polyclinic and arrange an examination and consultation.
