Physiological treatment of nasal congestion in infants

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Nguyen Thai Ngoc Chau - Neonatologist - Pediatrics - Neonatology Department - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital

Physiological nasal congestion in infants is a common phenomenon in children under 2 months of age, because the nostrils are narrow and scaly, making parents mistaken for wheezing symptoms of respiratory disease. So are there ways to clean the baby's nose to help reduce this situation?

Newborns' stuffy nose is quite common, because the diameter of each baby's nasal tube is only about 2-3cm, which is very small and narrow. So, when the inner lining of the nose produces a lot of mucus but is not expelled, it will fill up the baby's nasal passages, causing the baby to stuffy nose and wheeze. In addition, the causes that can lead to this phenomenon are:
Cold: is the most common cause of a stuffy nose in children accompanied by low-grade fever, cough, watery eyes and sneezing. Children with the flu: symptoms caused by the flu, in addition to a stuffy nose, can include fatigue, low-grade fever, cough, watery eyes, and sneezing. Allergies: Newborns are often very sensitive to the surrounding environment, children may be allergic to weather, pollen, dust, ... causing symptoms of sneezing, itchy nose, stuffy nose. Newborn stuffy nose: An infant less than 3 months old may have a stuffy nose without any other symptoms, possibly because fetal mucus is still in the baby's airways. Foreign body: when children play or unintentionally put a toy in their nose, making them unable to breathe, this is a very dangerous condition that needs to be detected by parents early and treated promptly.

Physiological stuffy nose in babies can make babies feel uncomfortable, fussy and stop feeding, at this time, parents should apply the following methods to help children feel comfortable and recover quickly:
2.1 Use saline physiologic

0.9% physiological saline can dilute the child's nasal secretions, making it easier for the mucus to be expelled and decongesting the nose very effectively. In addition, physiological saline also has an antiseptic effect to help prevent bacteria from attacking the child's nasal cavity.
Drop the baby's nose with physiological saline, so about 3-5 times / day, especially before breastfeeding and going to bed. However, it should be noted not to abuse this method because if you drop the nose for 4 days in a row, it can make the baby's nose dry.
2.2 Suctioning the nose Aspirating a child's nose will help remove mucus from the child's nasal cavity, making it easier for the child to breathe and no longer stuffy nose. It is recommended to perform nasal aspiration after instilling physiological saline, because at this time the mucus has become thinner and easier to aspirate.
Specialized nasal aspirators should be cleaned before and after use to avoid making the baby's rhinitis worse. Do not suck the child's nose too many times in a day, causing the nasal mucosa of the child to be irritated.

2.3 Sauna Steam helps reduce mucus in the baby's nasal cavity and makes the baby's nose warmer and moister. You can use a dedicated steam generator or pour hot water into the basin and hold the child so that the child can smell the steam rising, but be extremely careful, avoiding the risk of burns to the child.
2.4 Add humidity to ventilate the room In the winter when the air is too dry or using the air conditioner in the summer, it can make a child's stuffy nose worse. Humidifiers can limit this situation, make the baby's nose comfortable, less painful
2.5 Elevating the child's head when sleeping The head position will help the child breathe easier, but should not Place a pillow under the baby's head, as it increases the risk of sudden infant death. Putting a towel underneath to lift the baby's head is the right solution.

When infants have a stuffy nose, parents need to avoid the following actions to protect their health:
Do not arbitrarily use your mouth to suck on your child's nose, because it increases the possibility of bacteria entering the child's nose. young. Do not use antibiotics without consulting your doctor. Do not use unproven folk tricks. Do not abstain from bathing your baby because it increases the risk of bacteria multiplying. Parents should also note that, in the event that the above common methods have been applied, but there is no change in the nasal congestion in the child, then the mother needs to take the child to a medical facility to be checked to eliminate the problem. except for medical reasons.
Pediatrics - Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, bronchitis, Pneumonia in children, .... With modern equipment, along with a team of doctors with many years of experience, will directly examine and treat children to bring the best results as well as limit the impact on children. health.
Developed with international hospital standards, all services, medical quality and medical examination and treatment environment at Vinmec are always guaranteed to the maximum, limiting cross-contamination between pediatric patients thanks to the sterile space. Therefore, parents can rest assured when choosing a hospital as a place to check their health and take care of their children in the early stages of life.