Why can't my child's nose breathe? Nasal congestion in a child without snot - causes and treatment

Every mother has probably encountered this problem.This symptom may occur after a cold, viral or infectious origin. Also It may appear completely suddenly. This is very unpleasant phenomenon for children of any age. Therefore, we need to do it quickly b with this illness. 1. Causes of nasal congestion in a child
1.1.I infections, untreated colds
1.2. P teething
1.3. A allergic reaction
1.4. IN inflammation of the adenoids
1.5. A abnormalities of nasopharynx development, injuries
1.6. WITH bad air, heat in the room
1.7. Foreign body

2.
3. Why is nasal congestion dangerous?
4. How to alleviate the child’s condition before the doctor arrives.
5. Video on the topic of Dr. Komarovsky

The first thing to do is find outcause of nasal congestion. There can be a lot of them, from simple to the most serious. Let's look at some of them, the most common.

Reasons nasal congestion in a child

Have you identified any of the reasons that are most suitable for your situation?Let's look at each one separately.

Infections or untreated colds

For infections and viruses, nasal congestion almost always accompanied runny nose In the first days, the child often sneezes, malaise may appear and headache, lethargy and drowsiness. Increasing body temperature, cough appears.In these cases, drinking plenty of warm water, moisturizing and ventilating, taking medications and following the regimen prescribed by the pediatrician will help.

What if you nok had a cold, you got rid of snot, but Is your nose still not breathing? It is possible that you could have delayed the appointment too much. vasoconstrictor drops, this can also affect the drying of mucous membranes.Check the moisture levelness in the living area.

Moisturize Ventilate them more often. The easiest way to humidify a room is to place a bowl of water near the radiator, or hang a wet woolen blanket over the radiator. Report persistent nasal congestionTo your attending physician, maybe she will appoint additional treatment, askreferral to a pediatric physiotherapist. Physiotherapeutic procedures will not harm anyone.

Teething

When teething, the nasal mucosa swells and appears congestion . Sometimes it may be accompanied by a runny nose and fever. Usually these symptoms go away on their own without medical intervention.But it is important to remember that the baby’s immunity these days is very weak and susceptible to viruses and infections. During this time, you should limit your child's contact. If your body temperature rises or your runny nose persists, call a doctor immediately.

Allergic reaction

To understand whether this is an allergic reaction -nasal congestion without runny nose, Only a doctor can help, do not use under any circumstances antihistamines without a doctor's prescription!If the above reasons are not confirmed, and you suspect your child has an allergy, before going to the clinic,think about what could helpcause of allergiesat the child. This could be dust, carpets and rugs, animals in the house, washing powder or air conditioner. An allergist will help you find out.

Inflammation of the adenoids, adenoiditis

With frequent colds, especially if the baby started visiting kindergarten, or already goes to schoolit is possible that a disease such as adenoiditis (Adenoid growths). It can be acute or chronic. One of the reasons for its appearance may also be an allergic reaction. If you suspect this disease, you should contact b Go to an ENT doctor, he will conduct a digital examination and, if necessary, prescribe an x-ray.


Anomalies of the nasopharynx

For abnormal development of the nose, this symptom does not appear suddenly; they can be congenital or acquired. In these cases it will also helpOnly a doctor can figure it out.Often parents learn about pathology of the nasal septum by accident when the child comes to ENT and there is a need for an examination - direct rhinoscopy and examination of the nasal cavities using an endoscope.

Dry air, hot indoors

This is very common problem in our apartments during the heating season. It is difficult to maintain humidity and a comfortable temperature in a room without special devices; nowadays there are quite a lot of them, but not everyone can afford them. You just need to do wet cleaning and airing more often premises.

Moisten the nose with saline solutions.If a child has a stuffy nose and no nasal discharge, without visible reasons, in most cases, the parents themselves are to blame, due to excessive care. Too wrapped up, lack of walks fresh air, the windows are closed,no air circulation in the room, dusty. A large number of soft toys, rugs and carpets can also cause dry air and dust collection.

Foreign body

If the child did not have any congenital pathologies with a spout, and the child suddenly finds it difficult to breathe and no means help, try to remember if the child fell into lately, have you played with small parts? The cause may be injury to the facial area or exposure to foreign body into the nasopharynx.The child may inhale food crumbs or small detail, due to age and ignorance, when left unattended, children can place beads, seeds, pieces of paper, and so on in their nasal passages.

Such problems are common in children aged 1 to 5-6 years.Be careful and careful!In these cases it is possible sharp deterioration breathing, dry congestion in only one nostril.
Attention! Never try to remove a foreign body stuck in a child’s nostril yourself, do not use improvised means, this can aggravate the problem and push the object deeper, creating complications. In case of injury, immediately call an ambulance or go to an emergency room.
These are just a few of many reasons. Many factors can influencenasal congestionwho do not depend on their parents. And it is not possible to find them out on your own. NeitherIn no case do not delay visiting the doctor, do not put off treatment until tomorrow.Due to the lack of normal breathing, there may be irreversible consequences.

Physiotherapeutic procedures for rhinitis, swelling of the mucous membrane.

Ultraviolet irradiation

Carried out during development chronic form runny nose, withlong-term nasal congestion. The procedure uses special devices - emitters. Treatment is carried out for 2-3 days, preferably in the morning. The duration of the procedure is 1-2 minutes.


UHF therapy

Therapy is carried out using special devices that affect the body with high-frequency electromagnetic field with different frequencies, depending on the age of the patient. In simple terms, we can call it heat treatment.

Laser therapy

This procedure can be performed in a hospital setting or even at home. Laser treatment - this is a kind of treatment with light radiation, a narrow range. Rays can destroy education, helpaccelerate processes in organs and tissues, I have t healing effect. 4-6 procedures are carried out in the morning. Several procedures per day are possible.

Blue lamp

Used to warm the sinuses. 5-7 procedures are carried out.

Perhaps after severe runny nose swelling of the mucous membrane has not subsided, in this case additional consultation is necessary ENT doctor, prescribing the necessary medications.

Why is nasal congestion dangerous?

The most important danger is that due to the lack of nasal discharge, atrophy of the mucous membrane of the nasal passages may develop due to congestion. These consequences arise if parents for a long time treatment was ignored, or the doctor made an incorrect diagnosis and the wrong treatment was prescribed. These are also disturbances in the child’s sleep, normal nutrition, infancy, absolute malnutrition and, as a result, weight loss. Neuroses and anxiety. Decreased sense of smell and hearing loss. Up to cerebrovascular accidents.Disturbances of cerebral vessels.

How to relieve your child’s condition before the doctor arrives

And so, we have looked at the most common reasonsnasal congestion without runny nose. We have decided which specialists will help us understand each case. Unfortunately, getting to a doctor quickly is not always possible. Therefore, our main task is to alleviate the child’s condition.

Here are some simple methods:

  • Warming up the nose. Use a salt or two boiled eggs. The salt needs to be heated in a frying pan, and placed in a handkerchief, applied to the spout for a few minutes. Need eggs boil and also apply to the wings of the nose. There are modern saline they are hot water bottles small size and are suitable for all noses, small and large.
  • Nasal rinsing. For rinsing, you can use sea waterol. To do this, boil per literOuch warm water dilute a teaspoon of salt (ordinary salt is fine) and using a pear orwe wash the special device spout More detailed instructions on rinsing the nose, you can find out from additional sources.Without certain knowledge, do not wash under any circumstances, it can cause harm!

  • Nasal drops. To make breathing easier, try putting regular drops into your nose. saline solution Aloe juice is also suitable, Kalanchoe. Freshly squeezed plant juice is instilled into each nostril, 2-3 drops. The procedure is repeated 3 times a day.
  • Inhalations. If you have an inhaler at home or nebulizer the child can undergo inhalation procedures. You can use regular saline solution , you can add essential oils, a decoction of chamomile, sage.
  • Drink plenty of fluids. Offer your child to drink more often. Tea, compotes, fruit drinks, herbal decoctions. Warm drink promotes rapid elimination toxins, makes the kidneys work twice as fast.
We have sorted out severalcauses of nasal congestion without nasmo rka . Found out the necessary actions when various symptoms. We determined which doctor should be contacted if the child has a stuffy nose and no snot.In any case and in case of any ailments of children, act quickly and immediately. Don't ignore doctors' advice. The health of our children is our future!

Video of Dr. Komarovsky


A symptom such as nasal congestion in infants, especially in newborns, becomes real problem for new parents. It prevents the baby from not only breathing fully, but also from eating. There are many reasons for the condition. And it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a cold. Often the nose does not breathe, and there is no mucus or snot. Let's consider the main causes of congestion and treatment methods.

Runny nose with snot - colds and viruses

The situation when, after giving birth, a mother notices with alarm that the child’s nose is not breathing is not uncommon. To properly treat a runny nose, it is important to determine its cause:

  • Physiological rhinitis. In most cases, this condition is not a pathology and is explained by the structural features of the nose of babies under one year old and the narrowness of the nasal passages. The mucous membrane is not fully formed. Therefore, a newborn and even one month old baby breathes poorly. At this stage, there may be slight mucous discharge and swelling of the nasopharynx. This is the norm. Physiological rhinitis can be distinguished from a cold by the discharge. With a cold, it is liquid, constantly flowing snot, turning into thicker ones. A baby with a cold completely loses the ability to breathe through the nose, while with physiological rhinitis, even when swelling of the mucous membrane develops, the ability to breathe through the nose is partially preserved.
  • Insufficiently humid air in the room, which leads to drying of the secretion on the mucous membrane. The resulting crusts cause the child to suffocate, begin to sniffle, and breathe heavily through his nose.
  • Clothes that are too warm or the temperature is too high can cause the baby to sweat and overheat. As a result, immunity decreases and a viral infection develops, accompanied by a runny nose. The newborn is suffocating and cannot breathe through his nose.
  • Teething. This process involves not only the oral mucosa, but also the nasal mucosa. It becomes inflamed and swollen. The situation when a baby wakes up from nasal congestion while teeth are growing and becomes capricious is familiar first-hand to every mother.
  • The sensitivity of a newborn to the action of allergens, including dust, pet hair, feathers, fluff of pillows and blankets, mites, detergents, washing powders, and pollen. Therefore, parents should be very responsible about the cleanliness of the children's room and try to protect the baby from contact with irritants.
  • Congenital anomalies of the nasopharynx, leading to partial or complete obstruction. Such pathologies are extremely rare.
  • Adenoiditis. Inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsil in infancy- an isolated phenomenon. This may be due to infections or allergens.
  • Complications after viral and bacterial infections. Most often, infants experience inflammation of the ethmoid bone (ethmoiditis) and maxillary sinuses(sinusitis).

Adenoids - the cause of congestion

Nasal congestion in a newborn cannot be ignored. It prevents the baby from breathing, sleeping, and eating normally, disrupting the regularity of life and the peace of mind of the whole family.

We need to figure out what caused this condition. Then seek help from a pediatrician.

What to do if a newborn has a stuffy nose, but no snot

If nasal congestion persists for some time and causes noticeable discomfort to the baby, it needs to be treated. But a mother who is not a doctor should not try to do this on her own. The right decision in this case, seek advice from a pediatrician who will diagnose the cause and tell you how to treat the baby. If this is not done in a timely manner, complications may develop. When a baby cannot breathe through his nose, you can alleviate his condition with the help of:

  1. Cleaning the nose with a cotton pad dipped in slightly salty boiled water. When the mucus dries, it turns into dense crusts that interfere with free breathing.
  2. An aspirator or small rubber bulb with a soft tip. These devices can be used to suck out mucus if necessary.
  3. Drops like “Aqua Maris” or saline solution for rinsing the nasal passages. These products moisturize the mucous membrane, soften the crusts, and help remove them easily. If a newborn has a stuffy nose without snot, Komarovsky recommends instilling saline drops as often as possible, every half hour, if the baby is not sleeping.
  4. Recipes traditional medicine. Clogged nose You can instill beet, carrot, or aloe vera juice diluted with water (2 parts boiled water to 1 part juice). No other drops should be used without the advice of a pediatrician. This may harm the child's health.
  5. In the fight against this problem, do not forget about humidifying the air in the room where the baby is. You can use special humidifiers, water containers near the battery, hang wet towels in the room, carry out wet cleaning daily. It is advisable to use the air conditioner less, it dries out the air. Regular walks in the fresh air are beneficial for nasal health.

How to make turundas for the nose

Baby 6 months old

What to do when it's 6 one month old baby stuffy nose? The treatment algorithm at this age, as in newborns, depends on the cause that led to difficulty breathing. Rinsing the nose with saline solutions, humidifying the air and walking outside do not lose their relevance if the child’s nose is not breathing. At this age, the pediatrician, if necessary, can expand the list of medications for the treatment of congestion. Vasoconstrictor, antiviral and antibacterial drops may be prescribed.

A runny nose in such babies quickly leads to complications. Therefore, you should not self-medicate.

Adequate therapy can only be carried out by a doctor after examining the baby and diagnosing the cause of difficulty breathing.

How to care for a child with a runny nose?

If a child has a stuffy nose, he becomes irritable and restless, and his appetite is impaired. Mom needs to try to alleviate the baby’s condition. But the baby is very vulnerable. Careless actions when treating the nose can lead to serious complications, for example, to otitis media. Therefore, it is not permissible to choose methods of therapy and medications at your own discretion. It doesn’t matter if the baby was just born or one year old child. The problem of congestion can be dealt with by dropping a saline solution into the nose, carefully suctioning out the mucus, and creating a comfortable temperature and humidity. When caring for a baby, you should not rinse your nose with a rubber bulb or use sprays.


Aspirators for infants

Increased pressure will lead to mucus particles being thrown into the Eustachian tube and the development of inflammation in the middle ear. If you need to free your nose from viscous mucus, it is recommended to drip saline, wait a little and suck out the mucus with an aspirator. After this, you can use the drops prescribed by your doctor. Vasoconstrictor drugs are used only if prescribed by a doctor. It is important to observe not only the dosage, but also the duration of administration. You cannot use them for more than 5 days, as well as drip undiluted juices from vegetables, plants, and essential oils into your baby.

A fatty, sweet organic environment is an excellent environment for the rapid proliferation of bacteria and the development of disease.

When you need specialist help

Usually, mild nasal congestion in a baby does not require contacting a pediatrician. But medical care necessary if the following symptoms appear:

  • whistling sounds when the baby breathes;
  • red throat in addition to a runny nose;
  • loss of appetite;
  • weight loss;
  • blood from the nose;
  • deviations in body temperature in a child from 3 months to six months in one direction or another;
  • observed for more than 7 days.

In this case, you should consult your doctor.


Children's nasal sprays

Drug treatment

The list of drugs to relieve congestion in infants varies and depends on the cause that caused it. In any case, you cannot experiment and self-medicate! Any incorrect actions during treatment, medications not prescribed by the doctor, can complicate the course of the disease. When dealing with allergic rhinitis, vasoconstrictors and antihistamines may be prescribed. If the nature of the disease is viral, use antiviral drops or interferon solution. If a runny nose is caused by bacteria, it is treated with antibacterial medications. For physiological abnormalities, surgical intervention is used.

Only a doctor can correctly determine how to cure the disease, select the dosage of the drug and establish a course of therapy.

Traditional medicine

Traditional medicine suggests treating congestion with the juices of vegetables (beets, carrots, onions), plants (aloe, Kalanchoe), saline solution, and breast milk. When a child’s nose is clogged, what can and cannot be done? Until the child reaches one year of age, of all of the above, only instillations with a salt solution are suitable. It's not difficult to prepare it at home. To do this you need to dissolve sea ​​salt in boiled water. The liquid should taste pleasantly salty. A solution that is too concentrated will dry out the delicate mucous membrane. Beetroot and carrot juices can be dripped only in highly diluted water. Moreover, it is advisable to do this after the first six months of life.


Juices for children - only with a doctor’s permission

Onion juice, like breast milk, will not suit the baby.

Nasal congestion in a newborn is explained by the peculiarity of the structure of the nasal passages. Typically, no treatment is required during this period. But if a runny nose persists for a long time, it is accompanied alarming symptoms, the baby needs to be treated. You need to entrust this to your pediatrician. Self-medication can aggravate the problem and harm the baby.

Nasal congestion – common occurrence for colds. However this unpleasant symptom may indicate various disorders V human body. Children feel particular discomfort when their nose cannot breathe. This is often accompanied by mucus secretion, but in some cases, no snot is observed with a stuffy nose. Why can’t my child breathe through his nose, and how can I help him?

Stuffy sleep without snot causes no less discomfort than a runny nose, so this symptomatology must be dealt with

Why does a child have a stuffy nose?

The nose is designed so that air freely enters the body, is cleaned and moistened. If there is poor patency in the nasal sinuses, the process of oxygen supply is disrupted, and the person feels discomfort. So, why does a child have a stuffy nose? There are several reasons for this phenomenon:

  1. First of all, sinus congestion causes swelling of the mucous membrane, which occurs due to inflammatory processes or allergies. In case of colds, swelling is caused by a rush of blood to the sites of inflammation, and in case of allergies, the mucous membrane is irritated by allergens.
  2. Violation of the structure and functionality of the nasal passages.
  3. The appearance of growths or growth lymphoid tissue.
  4. The nose is clogged with an accumulation of mucus. This happens with colds, allergic manifestations, during the period of teething in infants (we recommend reading:).
  5. The body's reaction to the presence of vasodilator substances in the blood.
  6. Dry air in the children's room. The nasal mucosa cannot cope with the function of moisturizing, and crusts form in the nasal passages, which prevent normal breathing. This happens especially often at night.

What does it mean if your nose is stuffy, but there is no snot?

This article talks about typical ways to solve your issues, but each case is unique! If you want to find out from me how to solve your particular problem, ask your question. It's fast and free!

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A runny nose in a child is a common occurrence with the flu and acute respiratory infections. It goes away after recovery. However, if nasal congestion is not accompanied by snot, many parents become confused. This problem especially bothers children at night while sleeping. Why is the nose stuffy, but there is no snot (we recommend reading:)? Let's consider the main reasons for this condition:

  • Chronic vasomotor rhinitis. This pathology can develop due to Not proper treatment various diseases, for example, with prolonged uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictors. The muscular walls of blood vessels stop responding to external stimulants, and the nasal mucosa becomes sensitive to any irritants.
  • Allergic reaction. Most often, allergies are accompanied by watery eyes, sneezing and copious discharge mucus. However, sometimes the body reacts to an allergen only with nasal congestion. This reaction can be caused by pet hair or bird feathers, dust, mold, and insects.
  • Sinusitis. Swelling of the mucous membrane occurs due to inflammation in paranasal sinuses Oh. The disease develops against the background of a cold and is accompanied by headaches and increased body temperature.
  • Congenital anomalies of the nasal septum. The pathology may not manifest itself for several years. Over time, narrowing of one or two nasal passages occurs, which prevents the normal flow of air.
  • Violation of the structure of the nasal passages due to trauma.
  • Polyps. New growths appear in children who often suffer from infectious or colds. The body tries to protect itself from pathogenic elements by increasing the volume of the mucous membrane. The growths take a long time to form.

  • Adenoids. Inflamed tonsils capable of completely blocking the nasal passages.
  • Foreign body. Kids often try to stuff small beads, construction kit parts, berries and leaves into their noses. Parents need to closely monitor their child when he is playing. Long stay of a foreign object leads to inflammatory processes. Pulling them out on your own is dangerous, as you can push the object deeper, which will damage the nasal septum or cause an attack of suffocation.
  • When the air in the children's room is dry, babies get stuffy noses, but there is no mucus.
  • Tumor process of ENT organs.
  • Long-term use medicines or hormonal drugs which have a vasodilating effect.
  • Pathologies of the kidneys, cardiovascular or endocrine system can cause poor circulation in the mucous membrane and cause swelling.
  • Some children react with nasal congestion to sudden changes. environment.

How to help a child?

Difficulty breathing brings a lot of discomfort to the baby. The problem is especially aggravated at night when the child is in a lying position. He sleeps poorly, snores in his sleep, has no appetite, and brain activity is deteriorating. In a newborn who is forced to breathe through his mouth, the feeding process is disrupted. This problem must be treated together with a pediatrician.


Nasal congestion should be treated under the supervision of a pediatrician.

Pharmacy drugs

For effective elimination pathology in a child, it is necessary to find out its cause. For allergic rhinitis, it will be enough to remove the allergen and take antihistamine. If a foreign object prevents the baby from breathing, it must be removed. The table presents medications that will help alleviate the child’s condition and eliminate swelling with a “dry” runny nose.

Direction of actionNameRelease formDirections for use and dosesAge restrictions
Cleansing, moisturizingSalinDrops, sprayNasal irrigation 3-4 times a dayFor babies up to one year old, use the product in the form of drops; the newborn’s nose is irrigated while lying on its side.
Aqualor
Aquamaris
Relieving swellingVibrocilChildren under 6 years old - 1-2 drops 3 times a day, from 6 years old - 3 drops in each nostril 3-4 times a dayFor children over one year old
BrizolinDrops2 drops up to 4 times a dayNot recommended for children under 6 years of age
TsetrinPillsFrom 12 years old – 1 tablet per day, up to 12 years old – 0.5 tablets
VasoconstrictionNazivin (we recommend reading:)DropsAt the discretion of the doctor, no longer than 5 daysNot for use in children under 7 months
SanorinChildren over 2 years old
Nazol-baby3-5 days, at intervals of more than 6 hoursFrom 2 months to 6 years
Nazol-kidsFrom 2 years
Eliminating allergiesSuprastinPillsAccording to age groupFrom the second month of life
LoratadineSyrupTake one hour before meals, dosage depending on ageFrom 1 year
Relieving inflammation, treating polyps, allergies, sinusitisNasonex (we recommend reading:)SprayUp to 12 years - 1 time per dayChildren over 2 years old
Treatment of acute sinusitis, rhinitisBioparoxAerosolIndividuallyFrom 30 months of life

The use of vasoconstrictor drops for children should be strictly as prescribed by a doctor. Do not use medications for longer than 5 days. If a baby's nasal passage is clogged, it is necessary to moisturize the mucous membrane and remove dry crusts. Relieving congestion usually requires a comprehensive approach to treatment.

Folk remedies

Traditional methods of combating “dry” runny nose are popular in the treatment of young children. Home remedies do not require a lot of money to prepare and are considered relatively safe:

  • For a child, you can make drops from carrot or beet juice. It is necessary to finely grate the vegetable and squeeze out the juice through cheesecloth. Mix liquid with water 1:1. Place drops in each nostril 4 times a day.
  • Aloe juice has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. To prepare nasal drops, take 10 parts of juice and add 1 part of water to it. However, you should carefully monitor the reaction child's body, since this plant can cause allergies in a child. You can relieve inflammation of the mucous membranes with herbal infusions.
  • An infusion for nasal use is prepared using calendula, sage and plantain. tablespoon herbal collection you need to pour 1 cup of boiling water and cool. Treat the nose 3-4 times during the day. You can replace pharmaceutical drops to moisturize your nose with chamomile infusion or saline solution(7 g salt per glass of water).

For sinusitis, it is recommended to bury your nose with Kalanchoe juice or a solution of sea salt with iodine (1 drop of iodine, a pinch of salt, a glass of water).

Warming the nose can be used to relieve congestion only if it is excluded acute sinusitis. The procedure is carried out before bed for 10-15 minutes using warm eggs or heated bags of salt. The duration of therapy is 7-10 days.

Surgical intervention

Relieving nasal congestion surgically is carried out if medicinal methods treatments do not bring the desired result. Surgeries are usually performed on children over 4 years of age. The decision to carry out the procedure is made by a specialist. Before surgery is carried out full examination patient. Below are the types of operations and indications for their performance:

  • A polyectomy can eliminate nasal polyps.
  • An adenoidectomy aims to remove the adenoids. Children are recommended to have their adenoids removed with a laser.
  • Congenital or acquired curvature of the nasal septum is corrected using a septoplasty.
  • Conchotomy is necessary when tumor processes in the nasal concha.
  • Vasotomy is used for chronic vasomotor rhinitis.

Other measures

Many experts advise using massage to treat a runny nose. Rubbing the area between the eyebrows or the parotid area helps improve blood flow and relieve nasal swelling. Massage of the wings of the nose and the area slightly higher is also considered effective. The child will feel a little relief if the mother rubs his pads thumb in your arms.


Mild nasal congestion will go away if you steam your feet for a couple of days in a row and put on wool socks before bed.

Allows you to eliminate congestion hot bath for legs. To enhance the effect, you can add mustard, herbal infusion of chamomile or mint to the water. It is better to do the procedure before bedtime. However, warming the feet is contraindicated for children under 3 years of age. IN complex therapy For complex forms of rhinitis, the following physiotherapeutic methods are used.

When a child has a stuffy nose, parents immediately begin to look for the causes of the runny nose. And they are frankly at a loss when it turns out that the child’s illness does not fit into the general idea of ​​rhinitis - there is congestion, but no mucus.


Evgeniy Komarovsky, a famous pediatrician, TV presenter and author of books on children's health, talks about what this can mean and how to deal with it.

About the problem

Dry nasal congestion is medically called “posterior rhinitis.” This condition is more dangerous than any runny nose accompanied by discharge, since it may indicate serious “problems” in the ENT organs.


Congestion is associated with swelling of the mucous membranes, and the absence of mucus indicates the non-infectious nature of the disease. If a runny nose is caused by viruses, the nose will definitely run, this is how the body removes foreign “guests”. Dry congestion, according to doctors, is most often caused by an allergic reaction, a foreign body that gets stuck in the nasal passages. This condition is also typical for children with congenital or acquired curvature of the nasal septum, in which nasal breathing as a whole is significantly impaired.

Sometimes a runny nose without discharge is a sign that the child’s mucus has dried out in the posterior sections, which is what caused the swelling. In rare cases, a dry runny nose is a symptom of heart and circulation problems.


A dry runny nose can also be caused by medication; it usually affects children whose parents, contrary to all doctor’s orders and common sense, treated them for ordinary rhinitis with vasoconstrictor nasal medications for too long.

If a child accidentally inhales a particle of food, a crumb, or a small part from a toy, then it is most likely that he will only have one nasal passage blocked; the second nostril will breathe without problems.


Danger

The main danger of nasal congestion without mucus secretion is possible atrophy mucous membrane of the nasal passages. This can happen if the problem is ignored or the condition is treated incorrectly. It is possible that secondary diseases of the nasopharynx will develop, which will cause irreversible changes in the tissues of the respiratory organs.


Children with a dry runny nose usually have disturbed sleep, develop neurosis due to lack of sleep, and become restless and nervous. If the cause is pathological (and only a doctor can determine this), untreated posterior rhinitis can cause a deterioration in the sense of smell and hearing loss.

Dry congestion disrupts cerebral circulation. At long absence nasal breathing may cause severe disturbances in the functioning of cerebral vessels.


Doctor Komarovsky about the problem

Evgeny Komarovsky looks at the problem of dry nasal congestion a little more optimistically than most of his colleagues. According to an authoritative doctor, 80% of cases of runny nose without snot are a consequence of excessive parental care. In other words, moms and dads create greenhouse conditions for their children: it’s hot at home, you can’t open the windows, “after all, at home small child!”, you should not walk in cool and windy weather, because “the baby may get sick.”

Violation of the temperature regime, coupled with excessively dry air in the apartment, leads to drying out of the mucous membrane of the nasal passages. The mucus outflow system is disrupted, swelling forms, and as a result, the nose does not breathe.


Komarovsky urges parents to monitor their child more closely; if there are no other symptoms of ill health other than congestion, there is no need to worry too much.

It is enough to create the “right” conditions for the child to normal life: according to the doctor, the air temperature in the apartment should not be higher than 19 degrees, air humidity - 50-70%.

The house needs to be wet cleaned more often and the room ventilated. The child should walk often, walks should be as long as possible, as long as the toddler’s age allows.

Often, the well-known flu and ARVI begin with dry nasal congestion, says Komarovsky. In this case, such a reaction of the nasal passages is a protective mechanism. Usually, after a day or two, a dry runny nose due to a viral infection necessarily becomes wet.


Infants with a dry runny nose are a fairly common phenomenon. There is no need to sound the alarm, says Evgeny Komarovsky. The child adapts, adapts to the environment, and therefore congestion of the nasal passages (which in infants are already very narrow) is a variant of the norm. The mucous membrane of newborns also dries out because the posterior part of their nasal passages is narrowed, which is why babies often sleep with open mouth. Usually the symptom goes away on its own and without the use of any medications within 2-3 weeks of the baby’s independent life outside the mother’s tummy.

Dr. Komarovsky will tell you how to treat a runny nose in the next video.

Allergic dry rhinitis does not occur in children as often as manufacturers of expensive allergy medications present the problem, says Komarovsky, just as congenital deformation of the nasal septum does not often occur. This pathology is generally visible from the first days of life, and the mother will definitely be informed about it, if not in the maternity hospital, then during the first examination by a pediatrician.

Dr. Komarovsky will tell you in the video below how to find the cause of an allergic runny nose, how it differs from an infectious runny nose.

Komarovsky advises thinking about a foreign body in the nose first if the child is already walking and actively exploring the world. At least for this you need to visit an ENT doctor in person.

Children as young as one year old inhale quite often various little things, but they cannot tell their parents about what happened. In this situation, you cannot do without qualified help from a specialist.


Treatment

If congestion without mucus is caused by drying out of the latter in the posterior sections of the nasal passages, no specific treatment not required, says Komarovsky. Optimal environmental conditions mentioned above, and sometimes nasal rinsing sea ​​water or weak saline solution. This treatment is safe and non-toxic.

The main condition is that instillations should not be three or four times a day. Komarovsky says that effective procedures with salt water will only happen when the parents are not lazy and start dripping into the child’s nose every 20-30 minutes, with the exception of bedtime, of course.


And here's a drop for the child vasoconstrictor drops into the nose unless absolutely necessary (without a prescription), Evgeniy Olegovich does not recommend it.

Firstly, they cause persistent drug addiction, and secondly, the benefits from them are temporary, nasal congestion is sure to return when the effect of the drug wears off. If the doctor prescribed such drops (“Nazivin”, “Nazol”, etc.), then you should not drip them for more than three days in a row. This is not a recommendation, but an urgent requirement.

Komarovsky advises starting treatment with cleaning respiratory tract from dried mucus crusts. To do this, parents can use an aspirator or do a rinse.


If there is an inhaler at home, the child can be inhaled with essential oils and decoctions medicinal herbs, such as chamomile, sage.

A prerequisite for recovery is abundant drinking regime. To prevent the mucous membrane from drying out, the child needs to drink a lot. Dr. Komarovsky recommends giving your baby more still water, tea, compotes, herbal infusions, and decoctions.

It is important to remember that a child needs an abundance of fluid not only during illness, but also in health. Then these diseases themselves, such as dry and wet runny nose, the cough will be much less, and the illnesses will be much easier.


If dry congestion in a child is due to an allergy, and this is confirmed by a doctor and laboratory tests, then the main treatment, according to Komarovsky, will be to completely isolate the little one from the antigen that caused the problem. inadequate reaction body. In addition, it will be better if mom and dad put the child on hypoallergenic diet and will ensure that there is no animal hair, dust deposits, or chlorine-based household chemicals in the house.


    It is best to humidify the air in the apartment where the child lives using a humidifier. But this device is quite expensive, and therefore, if there is no money in the family budget to purchase it, you can place small containers with water in the corners, which will evaporate, you can buy an aquarium with fish, hang wet towels or pillowcases over the radiators and wet them regularly. The latter is especially relevant in winter time when the batteries heat up and further dry out the air.

    You should not give your child inhalations over a bowl of boiling water. Komarovsky calls on parents to be prudent and reminds them that such procedures can cause burns to the mucous membranes. It is best to do inhalations using a special inhaler or a device with fine spray - a nebulizer.

    For a dry runny nose that does not respond to the above home treatment methods, Komarovsky advises to be examined by a pediatrician, ENT specialist, allergist, and take a blood test for antibodies and allergy tests. It is possible to cure congestion, he reminds, only when the cause of its occurrence can be found and treated.

Many parents have experienced that their children have nasal congestion, but there is no snot. Not everyone knows what to do to quickly get rid of nasal congestion without a runny nose.

To cure nasal congestion in a baby without snot, you need to become more familiar with this problem and the main methods of its treatment.

Reasons

First, you need to determine why the child does not have snot and his nose is stuffy. There are several reasons why babies get a stuffy nose.

Viral infections or colds

Quite often, nasal congestion in a child without snot is the most common symptom of respiratory diseases. Severe congestion is a response of the immune system to viral infections that entered the nasopharynx. Quite often it is accompanied by the accumulation of viscous or liquid mucus, which makes nasal breathing difficult. During ARVI, nasal congestion without a runny nose completely disappears within a week.

However, sometimes you have to undergo treatment to clear your nasal passages.

Bacterial infections

There are other reasons for nasal congestion in babies. These include bacterial infections, which most often appear due to ARVI. They lead to the fact that the child’s nose cannot breathe and there is no snot. If nasal congestion is not treated correctly, the sinuses can become inflamed, leading to sinusitis. IN in this case Purulent fluid will begin to flow from the nasopharynx.

Adenoids

Another reason why a child breathes through his mouth is adenoiditis, during which the adenoids become inflamed. This disease often occurs in children aged 2 or 3 years. If a baby’s nose is stuffy only during sleep, this indicates the presence of first-degree adenoiditis. Without proper treatment, the disease gradually develops and the child will constantly have blocked nostrils.

Allergy

Sometimes a child has a stuffy nose, but there is no snot due to contact with strong allergens. In this case, the allergy is accompanied by such symptoms as frequent sneezing, the appearance of severe swelling and itching in the sinuses. Most often, children do not have snot, but some still complain about their presence.

For many, the allergic form of congestion is seasonal and appears only during flowering of plants. Much less often, the problem appears due to household allergens, which include dyes on clothes, pet hair, and hygiene products. Some patients complain that problems with nasal breathing appear after eating. It's about food allergies, which can occur after eating citrus fruits, chocolate and other highly allergenic foods.

Cigarette smoke

The cause of nasal congestion without snot in a child may be cigarette smoke. Everyone has passive smokers There is serious inflammation in the nasopharynx area. This leads to bronchial asthma and the appearance of serious swelling of the mucous membrane. That is why smoking is strictly prohibited in the presence of a child.

Damage or pathology of the nose

Quite often, congestion without a runny nose in a child appears due to a serious deformation of the septum, which can lead to obstruction in the nasal passages. This pathology can appear after damage to the nose or at birth.

Therefore, if the baby’s nose is not breathing and there is no snot, then you should immediately consult a doctor to examine the nostrils.

How to treat congestion

If a child has a stuffy nose, it should be treated immediately. However, before treating your baby, you need to familiarize yourself with the most effective methods treatment of nasal congestion in a newborn without snot.

Means for constricting blood vessels

Often a baby's nose is stuffy due to severe swelling. To quickly get rid of it, it is recommended to bury children’s noses with special vasoconstrictor drops.

Nazivin

When one nostril is unable to breathe, you can use Nazivin during treatment. This product is quite popular and is available in the form of drops and spray. The main feature of Nazivin is its strong vasoconstrictor effect, which sets it apart from all other drugs. The medicine is based on oxymetazoline, which can stimulate mucosal adrenergic receptors. It is because of this that the size of the swelling decreases and it becomes easier for the child to breathe through the nose.

Treating nasal congestion in children with Nazivin must be done very carefully, as it has contraindications. Drops should not be given to children who are too sensitive to oxymetazoline. They are also contraindicated for people with glaucoma. Children under six years of age can only be treated with Nazivin 0.025% drops. A more concentrated drug may cause side effects.

Treatment of a child with Nazivin should be carried out in compliance with correct dosage. The nose is instilled twice a day, two drops at a time.

Panadol Baby

If the child does not breathe well through his nose, but there is no snot, then you can use Panadol Baby. It is recommended to use this remedy if congestion was caused by ARVI. The fact is that the main active substance of Panadol Baby is paracetamol, with which colds in infants can be cured. The medicine also has an anti-inflammatory effect, which helps to quickly improve nasal breathing.

Panadol Baby, like many other medications, has some contraindications. The drug should not be used to treat rhinitis in children under two months. Panadol Baby is also contraindicated for people with serious kidney or liver problems.

The drug is taken every day before meals. At one time, the child should drink at least 2 ml of suspension. In this case, Panadol is not instilled into the nostrils, but into the mouth.

For the nose

When a child does not breathe through his nose, but the snot does not flow, you can use Dlya Nos drops. They help not only with dry congestion, but also with snot in the baby.

When creating a medicine, xylometazoline hydrochloride is added to it, which promotes rapid vasoconstriction and treatment of swelling. The main advantage of Dlynos drops is that they do not begin to cause irritation in the nasal cavity even after prolonged use.

Before you start treating your nose, you should familiarize yourself with the common side effects that may occur after using the drug. If dosages are not observed, children may experience severe headaches, nausea, shortness of breath and sleep disturbances. Some patients develop small red spots on the skin.

So that the baby does not have to face the above problems, the correct dosage must be observed. Children under six years of age need to dab their nostrils twice a day. For teenagers, the dosage of the drug increases and therefore they should use Dlynos 3-4 times a day.

Adrianol

Adrianol is often used when a child's nose is blocked and this makes it difficult for him to breathe. The medicine contains phenylephrine, which helps restore breathing through the nose. This ingredient thins mucus that may leak from the nasal cavity and helps relieve swelling. Adrianol is often used during treatment chronic rhinitis and sinusitis. It is also used when preparing patients for tests during diagnosis.

If the baby has a constantly stuffy nose, the product is instilled daily for 5-10 days. At the same time, when one nostril is blocked, Adrianol should be poured only into it.

Folk remedies

If the baby’s nose is stuffy, but there is no runny nose, then during treatment you can use folk remedies. There are many different folk methods for treating clogged nostrils.

Aloe

When a child has a clogged nose, you can use products made from aloe during treatment. To prepare the medicine, you need to squeeze 80-100 ml of juice from the young leaves of the plant and mix it with 500 ml of boiled water. The prepared mixture is dripped into the nostrils three times daily. At the same time, during instillation, you need to make sure that the baby takes a good breath of the liquid.

Beet

Some doctors recommend clearing the nostrils with beetroot liquid if the child cannot breathe normally. Prepare medicinal mixture from this vegetable is quite simple. To do this, 150 ml of juice is squeezed out of beets, which is mixed with the same amount of water. Before use, the mixture is infused for 3-5 hours. The beetroot solution should be used every other day, twice a day.

If after the first instillation a burning sensation appears, this indicates that the product must be diluted more with water. You can also use less concentrated solution made from boiled beets.


Chamomile

If there is no snot, but your nose is still stuffy, you should use a medicine based on chamomile. Chamomile infusions are popular among lovers of traditional medicine. To create a high-quality infusion, a large spoonful of dried flowers is added to a liter of water. All this is infused for about 8-10 hours, after which the infusion is boiled in a saucepan. Before use, the liquid is filtered with gauze and infused again for two hours. Chamomile decoction is instilled into the nostrils for 5-7 days.

Conclusion

Quite often, a newborn has a stuffy nose, but there is no snot. When this problem occurs, many parents do not know what to do. To cure a baby, you need to figure out why a child without snot has a stuffy nose and how you can get rid of it.

Nasal congestion is a common occurrence with colds. However, this unpleasant symptom may indicate various disorders in the human body. Children feel particular discomfort when their nose cannot breathe. This is often accompanied by mucus secretion, but in some cases, no snot is observed with a stuffy nose. Why can’t my child breathe through his nose, and how can I help him?

Stuffy sleep without snot causes no less discomfort than a runny nose, so this symptomatology must be dealt with

Why does a child have a stuffy nose?

The nose is designed so that air freely enters the body, is cleaned and moistened. If there is poor patency in the nasal sinuses, the process of oxygen supply is disrupted, and the person feels discomfort. So, why does a child have a stuffy nose? There are several reasons for this phenomenon:

  1. First of all, sinus congestion causes swelling of the mucous membrane, which occurs due to inflammatory processes or allergies. In case of colds, swelling is caused by a rush of blood to the sites of inflammation, and in case of allergies, the mucous membrane is irritated by allergens.
  2. Violation of the structure and functionality of the nasal passages.
  3. The appearance of growths or proliferation of lymphoid tissue.
  4. The nose is clogged with an accumulation of mucus. This happens with colds, allergic manifestations, and during the period of teething in infants.
  5. The body's reaction to the presence of vasodilator substances in the blood.
  6. Dry air in the children's room. The nasal mucosa cannot cope with the function of moisturizing, and crusts form in the nasal passages, which prevent normal breathing. This happens especially often at night.

What does it mean if your nose is stuffy, but there is no snot?

A runny nose in a child is a common occurrence with the flu and acute respiratory infections. It goes away after recovery. However, if nasal congestion is not accompanied by snot, many parents become confused. This problem especially bothers children at night while sleeping. Why is your nose stuffy, but no snot? Let's consider the main reasons for this condition:

  • Chronic vasomotor rhinitis. This pathology can develop as a result of improper treatment of various diseases, for example, with prolonged uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictors. The muscular walls of blood vessels stop responding to external stimulants, and the nasal mucosa becomes sensitive to any irritants.
  • Allergic reaction. Most often, allergies are accompanied by lacrimation, sneezing and copious mucus production. However, sometimes the body reacts to an allergen only with nasal congestion. This reaction can be caused by pet hair or bird feathers, dust, mold, and insects.
  • Sinusitis. Swelling of the mucous membrane occurs due to inflammation in the paranasal sinuses. The disease develops against the background of a cold and is accompanied by headaches and increased body temperature.
  • Congenital anomalies of the nasal septum. The pathology may not manifest itself for several years. Over time, narrowing of one or two nasal passages occurs, which prevents the normal flow of air.
  • Violation of the structure of the nasal passages due to trauma.
  • Polyps. New growths appear in children who often suffer from infectious or colds. The body tries to protect itself from pathogenic elements by increasing the volume of the mucous membrane. The growths take a long time to form.

  • Adenoids. Inflamed tonsils can completely block the nasal passages.
  • Foreign body. Kids often try to stuff small beads, construction kit parts, berries and leaves into their noses. Parents need to closely monitor their child when he is playing. Long stay of a foreign object leads to inflammatory processes. Pulling them out on your own is dangerous, as you can push the object deeper, which will damage the nasal septum or cause an attack of suffocation.
  • When the air in the children's room is dry, babies get stuffy noses, but there is no mucus.
  • Tumor process of ENT organs.
  • Long-term use of medications or hormonal drugs that have a vasodilating effect.
  • Pathologies of the kidneys, cardiovascular or endocrine systems can cause circulatory problems in the mucous membrane and cause swelling.
  • Some children react with nasal congestion to a sudden change in environment.

How to help a child?

Difficulty breathing brings a lot of discomfort to the baby. The problem is especially aggravated at night when the child is in a lying position. He sleeps poorly, snores in his sleep, has no appetite, and brain activity is deteriorating. In a newborn who is forced to breathe through his mouth, the feeding process is disrupted. This problem must be treated together with a pediatrician.

Nasal congestion should be treated under the supervision of a pediatrician.

Pharmacy drugs

To effectively eliminate pathology in a child, it is necessary to find out its cause. For allergic rhinitis, it will be enough to remove the allergen and take an antihistamine. If a foreign object prevents the baby from breathing, it must be removed. The table presents medications that will help alleviate the child’s condition and eliminate swelling with a “dry” runny nose.

Direction of action Name Release form Directions for use and doses Age restrictions
Cleansing, moisturizing Salin Drops, spray Nasal irrigation 3-4 times a day For babies up to one year old, use the product in the form of drops; the newborn’s nose is irrigated while lying on its side.
Aqualor
Aquamaris
Relieving swelling Vibrocil Children under 6 years old - 1-2 drops 3 times a day, from 6 years old - 3 drops in each nostril 3-4 times a day For children over one year old
Brizolin Drops 2 drops up to 4 times a day Not recommended for children under 6 years of age
Tsetrin Pills From 12 years old – 1 tablet per day, up to 12 years old – 0.5 tablets
Vasoconstriction Nazivin Drops At the discretion of the doctor, no longer than 5 days Not for use in children under 7 months
Sanorin Children over 2 years old
Nazol-baby 3-5 days, at intervals of more than 6 hours From 2 months to 6 years
Nazol-kids From 2 years
Eliminating allergies Suprastin Pills According to age group From the second month of life
Loratadine Syrup Take one hour before meals, dosage depending on age From 1 year
Relieving inflammation, treating polyps, allergies, sinusitis Nasonex Spray Up to 12 years - 1 time per day Children over 2 years old
Treatment of acute sinusitis, rhinitis Bioparox Aerosol Individually From 30 months of life

The use of vasoconstrictor drops for children should be strictly as prescribed by a doctor. Do not use medications for longer than 5 days. If a baby's nasal passage is clogged, it is necessary to moisturize the mucous membrane and remove dry crusts. Relieving congestion usually requires a comprehensive approach to treatment.

Folk remedies

Traditional methods of combating “dry” runny nose are popular in the treatment of young children. Home remedies do not require a lot of money to prepare and are considered relatively safe:

  • For a child, you can make drops from carrot or beet juice. It is necessary to finely grate the vegetable and squeeze out the juice through cheesecloth. Mix liquid with water 1:1. Place drops in each nostril 4 times a day.
  • Aloe juice has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. To prepare nasal drops, take 10 parts of juice and add 1 part of water to it. However, you should carefully monitor the reaction of the child’s body, since this plant can cause allergies in the child. You can relieve inflammation of the mucous membranes with herbal infusions.
  • An infusion for nasal use is prepared using calendula, sage and plantain. Pour a tablespoon of herbal mixture into 1 cup of boiling water and cool. Treat the nose 3-4 times during the day. You can replace pharmaceutical drops to moisturize your nose with chamomile infusion or saline solution (7 g of salt per glass of water).

For sinusitis, it is recommended to bury your nose with Kalanchoe juice or a solution of sea salt with iodine (1 drop of iodine, a pinch of salt, a glass of water).

Warming the nose can be used to relieve congestion only if acute sinusitis has been ruled out. The procedure is carried out before bed for 10-15 minutes using warm eggs or heated bags of salt. The duration of therapy is 7-10 days.

Surgical intervention

Surgical removal of nasal congestion is carried out if drug treatment methods do not bring the desired result. Surgeries are usually performed on children over 4 years of age. The decision to carry out the procedure is made by a specialist. Before surgery, a complete examination of the patient is carried out. Below are the types of operations and indications for their performance:

  • A polyectomy can eliminate nasal polyps.
  • An adenoidectomy aims to remove the adenoids. Children are recommended to have their adenoids removed with a laser.
  • Congenital or acquired curvature of the nasal septum is corrected using a septoplasty.
  • Conchotomy is necessary for tumor processes in the nasal concha.
  • Vasotomy is used for chronic vasomotor rhinitis.

Other measures

Many experts advise using massage to treat a runny nose. Rubbing the area between the eyebrows or the parotid area helps improve blood flow and relieve nasal swelling. Massage of the wings of the nose and the area slightly higher is also considered effective. The child will feel a little relief if the mother rubs the pads of his thumb on his hands.

Mild nasal congestion will go away if you steam your feet for a couple of days in a row and put on wool socks before bed.

A hot foot bath will help relieve congestion. To enhance the effect, you can add mustard, herbal infusion of chamomile or mint to the water. It is better to do the procedure before bedtime. However, warming the feet is contraindicated for children under 3 years of age. In complex therapy of complex forms of rhinitis, the following physiotherapeutic methods are used:

  • laser treatment;
  • ultrasonic influence;
  • inhalation;
  • manual therapy and acupuncture;
  • electrophoresis;
  • ultraviolet treatment;
  • breathing exercises.

Preventing nasal congestion in children

Children with good immunity, get sick less often, so strengthening the child’s body will avoid many unpleasant pathologies. The child should regularly walk in the fresh air, take contrast shower, eat right. Reception vitamin complexes and flu shots during seasonal diseases reduce the risk of colds.

To prevent nasal congestion, it is necessary to constantly ventilate the children's room and do wet cleaning of the room. During the heating season, you can humidify the air using special devices, and if they are not available, place a damp towel near the heaters. Timely treatment of colds will reduce the risk of complicated forms of rhinitis and sinusitis.

Nasal congestion in children and adolescents during acute respiratory viral infections and colds caused by bacteria is the most common complaint for health at any time of the year. The less common occurrence of nasal congestion without snot in a child deservedly causes parents to pay increased attention to the problem, since “usual” explanations are not suitable for understanding the causes and quick recovery breathing.

Dry hot air - common reason nasal congestion without snot

In addition, when a child has a stuffy nose, there is no snot, and inflammatory process If the characteristic fever and sneezing are not detected, then the causes of the violations may be much deeper and require an immediate trip to a specialist. The situation is complicated by the fact that independently, without the use of special instruments for a detailed inspection or diagnostic methods It is almost impossible to find out the reasons for deviations from the norm.

When a child has a stuffy nose, but there is no snot, this is not only a problem of the direct supply of oxygen. Nasal breathing helps to heat the incoming air to the optimal temperature, humidify it, clean it of dust and other solid particles, identify potentially dangerous odors and reduce the number of bacteria entering the lungs and bronchi.

Therefore, if breathing is impaired in children, the risk of infection increases sharply infectious diseases, aggravate the condition of chronic diseases. Additionally, children get tired faster, become more lethargic and find it more difficult to concentrate, which can significantly affect the success of learning and the development of physical abilities.

What conditions may underlie congestion without copious mucous discharge?

The most harmless and easily eliminated at home cause of nasal congestion without snot is the dry hot air in the room, combined with overprotection on the part of parents.

Secretion of mucus to wet the airways and normal operation sensitive olfactory receptor cells when mild form ARVI or the presence of irritating dust particles or chemical compounds (for example, detergents or air fresheners) when the humidity drops to 40% or less, the snot will dry out.

You cannot remove foreign objects from your nose on your own.

Thus, turning on the batteries during the heating season, along with the long-awaited warmth, reduces the humidity level to 15-20%, which is especially noticeable by the change in condition indoor plants. At the same time, more frequent wet cleaning in the room helps to achieve 30% humidity, but no more.

Another cause that a minority of parents are aware of is vasomotor rhinitis. When it manifests itself, the child does not breathe through the nose, there is no snot, and the onset of symptoms coincides with the transition from a warm house to a cold room or outdoor environment. In other cases, the reflex reaction is a response to strong odors from perfumes, detergents, and even spices or flavorings.

In rare cases, spasm occurs during a thunderstorm due to the formation of ozone from atmospheric oxygen. Despite all the similarities with allergies this type rhinitis cannot be attributed to it and, accordingly, treatment with antiallergic drugs without supervision by a specialist can lead to negative side effects instead of the expected relief.

Difficulty breathing due to drying snot, reflex vascular spasm and even disorders immune system promotes living in an area with an unfavorable environmental background. These include being in a 20-kilometer zone within the range of volatile waste from chemical, metallurgical and food enterprises. Symptoms become even more noticeable with congenital and acquired curvature of the nasal septum.

When it becomes difficult to breathe, and there is no snot, but there is pain in the area of ​​the wings of the nose or forehead that intensifies when bending over, this is a serious reason to come to the doctor. These symptoms indicate the presence of sinusitis, and the fact that the discharge does not flow indicates blockage of the ducts.

If the discharge does not flow in time, the risk of complications and increased pain increases sharply due to increased pressure on surrounding tissues and lack of access to oxygen. The latter can contribute to the proliferation of microorganisms in bacterial sinusitis or frontal sinusitis.

A child may have a stuffy nose without a runny nose due to swelling of the mucous membrane with severe allergic reactions. They usually coincide with plant flowering seasons, contact with animals or changes in clothing, bedding, detergents (especially those with enzymes) and other new factors.

After recovery from colds, the nose may remain stuffy for several more days if errors were made in use. vasoconstrictor drugs(for example: Tizin, Otrivin Baby, Nazivin and others). They can be used only after consulting a doctor in order to exclude hypersensitivity reactions and negative effects due to combination with other pharmaceuticals.

It is advisable to limit the period of their active use to three days.

For rinsing infants, it is best to use a special compact suction

In young children, a common cause of difficulty breathing can be foreign objects getting into the nose. Even the closest attention will not protect you from it. In this case, even if it is possible to observe a soldier or another toy in the aisle, it is not advisable to remove it yourself in order to avoid pushing the object deeper. It is better to immediately contact the nearest medical center.

Less predictable causes of nasal congestion are various growths and changes in soft tissue. They may be associated with the formation of "spikes" and "ridges" after injury, which require correction after reaching school age.

If the blockage of breathing is caused by an overgrowth nerve tissue vomeronasal organ or cystic growth, then you need to contact diagnosticians to determine the reasons for their development, followed by determining effective tactics for surgical intervention.

With an increase in the volume of the adenoids, the final decision remains with the parents, and it should be based on the frequency of occurrence of inflammatory processes and the severity of breathing complications.

Help at home

The simplest and cheapest “folk” method of increasing the concentration of steam in the air if a child has a stuffy nose is wetting a towel and then placing it on the radiator or placing a container of water (for example, a bucket or basin) near the heater.

In the latter case, you will not have to soak the towel several times a day. The optimal solution to the problem of lack of humidity is to purchase an air humidifier: from a simple mechanical or steam model to a modern ultrasonic one.

In addition to humidifying the air, it is advisable to increase the volume of daily drinking, for which regular water or tea is suitable. If the temperature in the room is elevated (ranges from 20 to 22°C are considered normal), then walking outside is recommended, provided the air is clean.

Rinsing can quickly but briefly help thin and remove dried mucus in children. saline solution table or sea salt. You can buy it in ready-made spray or drop form (Salin, Aqua Maris, Dolphin, Humer, Rizosin and others) or prepare it yourself in the kitchen. The salt to water concentration for saline solution is 0.9%, which is approximately equal to half a teaspoon in a standard 250 ml glass of clean water.

Normal room temperature is considered to be from 20 to 22°C

Due to the short-term effect this method The washing and wetting procedures must be repeated at least once every 2 hours. In addition, the method does not prevent the child’s snot from drying out during prolonged sleep, but has a positive strengthening effect on the small vessels of the nasopharynx. This allows you to reduce the frequency of nosebleeds in children predisposed to them. However, if there are erosions in the mucous membranes, the number of washes will have to be limited to three per day.

To carry out the procedure after self-cooking salt solution, you can use a rubber bulb, a syringe without a needle, or a special teapot with a thin hole known as a neti.

If a water-salt solution is needed to remove nasal congestion in a baby, then it is important not to exceed the proportions. Doctors recommend using a measuring cup, spoon or other precise instruments to measure 2 g of salt per 250 ml of water. For rinsing, it is best to use a special compact suction device, sold in pharmacies. If you do not have measuring instruments or want to take pharmacological drug with strictly observed proportions, buy Aqualor Baby, Physiomer or other products for children in pharmacies.

However, in no case should sprays be used to block the airways in the nose of newborns, so as not to harm the hearing organs due to the connection of the nasopharynx with the middle ear through the Eustachian tube.

Moreover, due to high blood pressure you can drive away dried snot that does not appear, which will increase the risk of developing sinusitis and other inflammatory diseases adjacent sinuses (sinusitis). For the same reason, you should not force a child to blow through his nose while simultaneously pressing a handkerchief against it, thereby blocking the outlet of air under increased pressure.

You can cope with allergies and vasomotor rhinitis by avoiding irritating factors and periodically using antiallergic drugs. Reflex spasms can also be relieved through the use of folk remedies:

  • Inhalation over a container of water or a decoction of medicinal herbs.
  • Warming up by applying boiled eggs.
  • Visit a massage therapist or perform massage movements in the nose area on your own.

Why is it important to see a specialist?

Only an otolaryngologist will be able to examine the mucous membrane in detail and assess the condition of the nasal septum using rhinoscopy, establish the exact cause of deterioration in breathing or prescribe X-ray and laboratory tests. Since when the nose is stuffy without a runny nose, the symptoms are very similar, the parents themselves will not be able to determine the causes of the complications and decide on treatment tactics. In ambiguous cases, you will need to consult not only an ENT specialist, but also an allergist and an endocrinologist.

Among the symptomatic methods, the use of vasoconstrictor drops may be justified in cases of noticeable difficulty breathing, expressed in increased frequency and change in skin color, as well as in sleep disturbances.

However, one should not underestimate the possibility of worsening the patient’s condition, since nasal congestion is only a symptom, and even a seemingly low-risk vasomotor rhinitis can turn into asthma, which will significantly worsen the child’s quality of life in the future.

For adenoiditis, polyposis and tumors, only surgical intervention is effective. Modern methods allow the patient to recover within a week, and the study of removed tissues predicts the likelihood of relapses.

It happens that, in particular special features colds, ARVI: cough, high temperature. Only a specialist can identify the cause, since difficulty breathing sharply worsens the quality of life and general well-being of the baby.

The nasal passages have special anatomical structure, and congestion without snot discharge is tolerated much worse by children than by adults. Increased sensitivity of the nasal mucosa. Congestion is often accompanied by headache, weakness, fatigue, and loss of appetite. This ultimately leads to depletion of the nasal mucosa. The baby begins to sleep with his mouth open and, of course, worries his parents.

Often observed without a runny nose in a child in 1-2 years due to their physiological characteristics buildings. It is not necessary that liquid oozes from the nose, but the condition is dangerous, because air enters through the clogged passages with difficulty and into limited quantities. Mucous in childhood is still imperfect, and the child is just adapting to the air environment, so slight swelling is often observed. Congestion can be caused by the structure of the nasal septum, but if measures are not taken, the following may occur:

  • development of polyps and adenoids in the nasal cavity;
  • curvature of the nasal septum in the event of a foreign body entering, when surgical intervention is no longer possible;
  • an outbreak of inflammation due to an infection or an allergic reaction.

These provoking factors can lead to:

  • an increase in the mucous membrane in volume;
  • formation of polypous growths;
  • narrowing of the nasal passage;
  • obstruction of the free movement of air in the nasal cavity;
  • decreased sense of smell and taste sensitivity.

With adenoid growths, the nasopharyngeal tonsils are subject to inflammation, against which the development of adenoiditis is possible, which is more common in preschool children due to previous measles, scarlet fever or influenza, leading to damage to the mucous membrane of the tonsils.

Children may have a stuffy nose in the spring during flowering plants, during contact with animals, when development takes place. allergic rhinitis. Parents need to pay more attention to their children and promptly eliminate provoking factors that can lead to nasal congestion.

Perhaps the reason is a foreign body getting into the nasal passage, because children love to poke it in their nose foreign objects. Of course, this is dangerous, because the airways are blocked. Attacks of suffocation may occur, when it is no longer possible to delay calling emergency medical services. help. It is necessary to stop such phenomena in the form of small objects in children from an early age.

Other sources of nasal congestion

Due to uncontrolled use of medications, the development of medicinal rhinitis may occur. Clinical symptoms also appear:

  • the nose is stuffy and the baby begins to breathe through the mouth;
  • sleep and appetite are disturbed;
  • itching, burning and lacrimation appear, which indicates a previously untreated acute respiratory viral infection or acute respiratory infection. All signs may appear suddenly and, of course, require elimination.

Colds, acute respiratory viral infections, and hypothermia often pass without a runny nose, but secretions in the internal parts of the nasal cavity still accumulate and stagnate. This is why it is so important, especially for infants up to one year old, to monitor the air humidity in the room, ventilate the room more often and take more walks with the child.

Children's bodies are fragile and children are just learning to get used to the microclimatic conditions around them. Dry air and high temperature in the room often lead to drying out of the nasal mucosa and blocking of the passages. As a result, it turns out that there is no runny nose. Children are just beginning to explore the world; they grab various small objects that come to hand and pull them into their nose and mouth. But they may be swallowed or in the nasal cavity, thereby blocking the access of air and injuring the mucous membrane. Problems can remain with the child for life.

If breathing is difficult and there is no snot, then you should immediately contact a specialist and begin treatment. Otherwise, the inflammatory process will lead to serious pathology.

What should not be done if children have nasal congestion?

  1. In case deep defeat the nasal mucosa, the baby’s head should not be allowed to be thrown back excessively to avoid increased bleeding and blood flow.
  2. If you suddenly notice free movement of the nasal septum or bleeding without stopping for more than 5 minutes, then you need to call a doctor at home urgently.
  3. It is impossible to treat and pull out foreign object independently, incorrect manipulations can only lead to serious damage to the mucous membrane.
  4. If the nasal septum is curved or has abnormal development from birth, with decreased hearing, signs of hearing loss and mental retardation, then self-medication is excluded. It is worth contacting a surgeon to eliminate the defects through surgery. The abnormal development of the septum is not always correctable, therefore, in order to avoid complications, the doctor will first develop appropriate treatment.
  5. Parents of babies need to understand that a deviated nasal septum cannot be corrected. traditional methods or medications. Only an experienced specialist can correct the situation.
  6. If nasal congestion without a runny nose is caused by drug-induced rhinitis against the background of prolonged and excessive use of vasoconstrictors, leading only to atrophic changes mucous membrane, then you should not take the medicine for a long time and it is better to consult a doctor for a review therapeutic tactics in order to restore the mucous membrane.
  7. Some drops can lead to disruption of functionality and bursting of capillary vessels, atrophy of the nasal mucosa, and difficulty breathing, which also poses a danger to the child and requires a visit to a specialist.
  8. Some medications are addictive, increasing nasal swelling and watery eyes in children. You should stop using medications and consult your doctor first.
  9. If the cause of congestion without a runny nose is the proliferation of lymphoid tissue or adenoids in the nose, which occurs in children under 5-6 years of age, when breathing is difficult and there is no runny nose, then the adenoids require surgical removal only.
  10. In case of sinusitis or inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, heating should not be carried out.
  11. The mucous membrane in the nasal passages must not be allowed to dry out, so the cavity must be irrigated constantly, otherwise in the absence of mucus in the nose active substances in the composition will not be able to independently fight the invasion of viruses and microorganisms.

How is the treatment carried out?

First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the root causes that led to such a condition.

  1. In case of injury to the nose or a foreign object, as first aid, cold should be applied to the affected area, light massage and, of course, urgently contact a surgeon.

It is recommended to give the baby more fluids to drink and treat the cavity with special ointments. For example, “Rescuer” balm is suitable for children from 1 year of age to lubricate the nasal cavity in case of severe damage to the mucous membrane for restoration. As a result, the congestion will go away on its own.

  1. At heavy bleeding You cannot try to solve the problem yourself and you need to call ambulance. Can be used liquid nitrogen for treating the nasal cavity, replacing damaged cells with new ones.
  2. Congenital defects in the nose cannot be eliminated using traditional methods at home, although in some cases some remedies help remove pathogenic bacteria, clearing the sinuses and freeing up the breath.

Home methods

  • instill saline solution into the nose, or lubricate it with special oils for up to 5 days;
  • if the problem does not go away, then it is recommended to instill vasoconstrictor drops, but as prescribed by a doctor;
  • when primary signs ailments with nasal congestion without a runny nose can be treated with medications, but not more than 3 days in order to avoid atrophy of the mucous membrane and addiction;
  • It is recommended to take hot foot baths at home to relieve swelling and ease breathing. You can prepare a weak saline solution and rinse the nasal cavity 2 times a day;
  • It is good to use sea salt for rinsing;
  • massage the wings of the nose with your thumbs to prevent congestion from entering the chronic phase;
  • Even with minor signs of adenoid proliferation, you should contact an otolaryngologist, because Treatment with medications and vasoconstrictors will be useless.

At home and only with the permission of a doctor, you can use the following methods:

  • squeeze the juice from aloe, mix with water in a 1:1 ratio, instill 2-4 drops into each nostril 3 times a day to relieve congestion and inflammation;
  • Mix fresh beet juice with plain water(1:1) and instill up to 3 times a day or carry out inhalations to restore normal breathing. You can purchase an inhaler at a pharmacy or use the home method by adding hot water a pinch of soda to warm the sinuses and ease breathing;
  • Heat table salt in a frying pan, pour into a canvas bag and apply to the wings of the nose for 10 minutes;
  • 2-3 tbsp. l. mustard mixed with hot water in a basin, wrap yourself in a towel and inhale the vapors or steam your baby’s feet before bed;
  • if the baby is not yet 1 year old, then you can simply hold the legs under running warm water, then put on warm socks, adding salt to kill pathogenic bacteria;
  • bury 2-3 drops of freshly squeezed aloe juice into the nostrils;
  • conduct therapeutic massage in a circular motion in the area of ​​the bridge of the nose and wings of the nose, patting these places up to 2 times a day.

Prevention

  • Rizolin for children from 2 years old to 4 times a day;
  • Vibrocil spray for children up to 3 times a day;
  • instant medications are sold in tablets and powders to achieve a positive result;
  • Clarinase, but for children under 12 years old;
  • Cetrin for children from 12 years old, 1 tablet per day

Additionally, it is necessary to regulate nutrition, limit sugar intake, which is conducive to reproduction pathogenic flora in the nose. Give babies something to drink herbal infusions. If the child does not have a high temperature, then it is recommended to take him for a walk, and not keep him in a stuffy, warm room, which is what many mothers try to do.

When treating mucosal pathologies, antiseptics, hormonal, anti-inflammatory, decongestants, and immunomodulators are used. If inflammation or adenoids develop in the nose, one cannot hope for their spontaneous disappearance. If the mother does not know the cause of congestion and also how to eliminate the problem, for example, with rhinitis, damage to deeper parts of the nasal mucosa, then you need to consult a doctor, otherwise mucus may leak out not out, but into the throat. The nose is stuffy, but there is no mucus discharge; this condition is fraught with asphyxia and suffocation.

In any case, congestion requires consultation with a doctor, even when the cause is quite clear to the parents. Only a competent specialist can prescribe effective treatment(especially infants under 1 year old) and it may be possible to do without medications, especially antibiotics, which are harmful and dangerous to the child’s body.