Dealing with nasal congestion
NASAL congestion or stuffy nose is common among children of every age, but even moreso among newborns. Dr Anona Griffith, paediatrician at Gateway Plaza, Old Harbour, said parents often confuse nasal congestion with a ‘head cold’. But this is not the case.
“The unpleasant, noisy rattling in the nose during breathing or feeding that parents often complain about is not an actual cold, but a stuffy nose or nasal congestion, which is caused by swelling of the tissues inside the nose,” Dr Griffith explained.
“The tissues of the nose act as a filter and warming device for the air that we breathe. One such mechanism is by the production of mucus, which usually drains towards the back of the throat – as such there is usually no obvious runny mucus or ‘cold’ coming from the nose. But there may be small amounts of dried ‘cold’ in the nostril itself. As air passes over this dried mucus, it produces noisy breathing. If excessive, the infant may have difficulty feeding, simply on the basis that babies breathe through the nose in the first few months of life. So, if the nostril is blocked the process of feeding becomes difficult.”
She said that there are a number of things that could exacerbate nasal congestion in children.
“Some of the things that make it worse include common colds, where more mucus is produced and further blocks the nostrils; cold, dry air; irritants such as powders, smoke (tobacco, marijuana, garbage); and strong scents or odour. Infants with structural problems of the nose, such as swollen adenoids and tonsils which are located behind the nose and in the back of the throat, can have persistent congestion. Those with narrower than normal or unopened nasal passages, for example choanal atresia, also have persistent nasal congestion,” Dr Griffith explained.
You can ensure your child’s full recovery with a few simple steps.
1. Avoid irritants. Maintain moisture in the air that the baby breathes by the use of a humidifier.
2. Maintain hydration by feeding frequently to decrease the dryness of the mucus.
3. Maintain baby in an upright or angled position to improve drainage of secretions.
4. Ensure proper burping (hold your child upright 15-20 minutes after each feed, regardless of obvious burps) to prevent pukes, which can sometimes come through the nostrils, blocking it further.
5. Use normal, saline nasal drops or spray. This softens already dried mucus, making it easier to be cleared.
6. Use a suction bulb or bulb syringe similar to the one used by the midwife or paediatrician to clear the nostrils at birth. It is most effective if there are a lot of secretions present.
7. Use soft cloths or wipes to gently remove hardened cold. The skin of the upper lip can be protected from bruising caused by excessive wiping by applying a small coat of petroleum jelly.
8. The use of natural oils such as eucalyptus oil in the air surrounding the infant may be used guardedly, but these substances must not be applied directly to baby’s skin without a physician’s guidance.
Dr Griffith warned that caring for your baby at home is not always an option. There may be times when offering care necessary for the full recovery of your child will be out of your immediate scope. She said you should seek immediate medical attention for your child when:
1. He/she is constantly coughing and choking on secretions.
2. He/she is turning grey or blue (lips, hands and feet)
3. He/she is breathing faster than the typical periodic breathing of the baby.
4. He/she is having difficulty breathing, as shown by pulling in of the chest and the skin between and under the ribs, or noisy breathing on the chest similar to a whistling sound.
5. He/she is showing signs of dehydration as seen with dry mouth, decreased tears, sunken mole, and sunken eyes.
Dr Griffith said congestion could recur very often and, while parents should attempt to keep their children well, nasal congestion is a universal problem that is not easily controlled. She said it will occur less frequently as the infant grows and the nasal passages become larger.
— Penda Honeyghan
