Nasal Obstruction in The Pediatric Patients
Nasal obstruction is a condition that can accompany different illnesses and conditions and can sometimes lead to serious health problems. Infants, especially because they are dependent on the nasal breathing, can be much more seriously affected by nasal obstruction.
Functions of the Nose:
- Smelling
- Filtering the respiratory air (nose air enters the turbulence, hitting the nose, most of the particles and microorganisms present are trapped)
- Humidification of inhaled air
- Heating of inhaled air
- Increased respiratory air pressure to reach the lungs to the tip airways.
Causes of Nasal Obstruction
- Allergic diseases
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Intranasal foreign bodies
- Growth of genitals
- Nose growth
- Curvature of nasal septum (nasal septum deviation)
- Koanal atresia
- Nasal valve problems
- Intranasal tumoral masses
- Nasal polyps
- Drug growth and mucosal thickening due to drugs used
Sometimes in children and babies
- gastroesophageal reflux
- milk allergy
- mother syphilis story
- congenital intranasal masses (esephalocele, glioma, dermoid cyst) can also cause nasal obstruction.
Diagnosis of Causes of Nasal Obstruction and Different Symptoms
Diseases and conditions that cause nasal obstruction have some specific signs and symptoms. These can be summarized as follows:
Nasal Obstruction Due to Allergic Rhinitis
In addition to nasal obstruction, symptoms such as nasal discharge, nasal discharge, sneezing and sometimes cough are also present in allergic diseases. Usually these symptoms last longer than the nasal discharge and nasal discharge seen in upper respiratory tract infections. There is no fever weakness, which is an indication of infection in the patient.
Nasal Obstruction Due to Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
Patients often have symptoms of infection (weakness, body aches, muscle aches and fever). The presence of symptoms such as fever and nasal discharge, sneezing suggests viral infection.
Nasal Obstruction Due to Choanal Atresia
The nasal opening areas of the nostrils are called "choanal". It is called "Choanal Atresia" that these areas of origin are covered with bone and mucosa (sometimes just a thin membrane). When the baby is bilaterally born, it can cause severe breathing difficulties. Together, genital, urinary and cardiac anomalies can be found. Sometimes diagnosis may be delayed when it is unilateral. The diagnosis of Choanal Atresia is supported by the inability of the newborn baby to nudge the nose; nasal endoscopic examination and computed tomography. In babies with Choanal Atresia, crying and relieving with a cut bottle are typical characteristics. In the case of Choanal Atresia Treatment, if the sonde can not be advanced, the atriasis is surgically removed. You can find more information about Choanal Atresia at link: Koanal Atrezi (Burnun Doğumsal Tıkanıklığı)
Nasal Obstruction Due to Nasal Polyp
Nasal polyps are rare in infants. In children with polyps, different diseases such as ciliary dyskinesia, Churg-Strauss Syndrome, widespread variable immunodeficiency and selective IgA deficiency can be coexistent. You can find more information about Nasal Polyps at: A Rare Cause of Unilateral Nasal Congestion: Antrochoanal Polyp
Nasal Obstruction Due to Adenoid Hypertrophy
Sometimes the adenoid tissue in a lymph node structure can grow. If adenoid tissue grows (adenoid hypertrophy), symptoms such as mouth open sleeping, nasal obstruction, middle ear fluid, recurrent sinusitis may be seen in children. Nasal endoscopic examination is usually sufficient for the diagnosis of adenoid hypertrophy. Adenoidectomy is performed in the treatment. You can find information about the subject link: Adenoidectomy in İstanbul
Nasal Obstruction Treatment
Nasal obstruction may be due to one or more of the above mentioned indications. Causes and conditions should be treated. Simple ear nose throat examination and endoscopic examination are usually sufficient to reveal each cause. Occasionally, MRI or Computerized Tomography is required. The use of some of the medicines used for nasal congestion treatment in infants in infants should be avoided. Likewise, in children under 18 years of age, cartilage curvilinear surgery (smr surgery / deviation surgery / septoplasty surgery) performed in the treatment of nasal obstruction is inconvenient.
Treatment of Nasal Obstruction in Children and Infants
Children under 2 years are advised not to use flu medicines, some allergic syrups. Similarly, intranasal cortisone sprays used in allergic rhinocerebral infections should be avoided in children under 2 years of age. The best practice for nasal obstruction in infants is to administer saline to the nose as well as to treat diseases that can cause nasal obstruction, such as existing allergic diseases, infectious diseases. Even infectious infections are beneficial in the treatment of saline drops in the nose, improvement of ocean water spray application, and nasal obstruction.
Why Nasal Obstruction Occurs in Babies More Easily?
Infants' airways have different characteristics than adults. Babies who are dependent on nasal breathing have narrower airways and lower respiratory capacities than adults. In infants, a small amount of intranasal drainage or mucosal edema can cause serious nasal obstruction. For this reason, nasal obstruction in infants is more likely to occur.
Murat Enoz, MD, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgeon - ENT Doctor in Istanbul
Private Office:
Address: İncirli Cad. No:41, Kat:4 (Dilek Patisserie Building), Postal code: 34147, Bakırköy - İstanbul
Appointment Phone: +90 212 561 00 52
Fax: +90 212 542 74 47