Why is it important to eliminate nasal congestion?
The role of an isotonic saline nasal spray in the fight against health risk nasal discharge
As parents, we all know the anxiety of a young child having difficulty breathing and feeling unwell because of a blocked nose, which affects their mood and of course their quality of sleep. We need an effective but gentle way to remove nasal mucus from the nasal passage to allow air to flow freely.
It is estimated that young children can have up to 12 cases of colds a year, especially those who go out in the community. As parents, it is therefore important to have up-to-date knowledge on the subject, as we are likely to find ourselves frequently confronted with runny noses and nasal congestion.
Possible causes of nasal congestion
Nasal congestion and runny nose in young children are most often caused by a viral infection or allergy. So the problem can occur not only during the colder colds and flu seasons, but at virtually any time of the year. In addition to respiratory infections and allergies, persistent nasal congestion is usually caused by an enlarged tonsil.
Health aspects of nasal congestion
In addition to the discomfort of a blocked nose, nasal discharge from a blocked nasal passage also poses a risk to your child: ear, nose and throat complications can develop, which can be a serious health risk. In newborns and infants, for example, viral infections of the upper respiratory tract are common after episodes of nasal congestion. Research has shown that viral infections of the upper respiratory tract in children predispose to acute otitis media in 37% of cases.1
This is why it is of paramount importance to clear nasal secretions from the nasal passages. Fortunately, there are reliable, gentle but effective ways to do this, even for the youngest children.
1 Wald ER. Acute otitis media and acute bacterial sinus- itis. Clin Infect Dis 2011;52(Suppl 4): S277-83.