Nasal congestion in infants and children of different ages

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15574/SP.2025.3(147).6772

Keywords:

children, nasal breathing disorders, xylitol

Abstract

Nasal congestion in childhood is a common complaint and clinical symptom, and the diagnosis and treatment of the conditions that cause this symptom vary significantly depending on age. Newborns are necessarily nasal breathers, so difficulty in nasal breathing is a very important symptom that must be evaluated for timely correction.

Аim - to analyze scientific literature sources regarding the causes, consequences, and modern views on the correction and prevention of nasal breathing disorders.

The authors present and systematize information on the main causes of nasal congestion in infants and children of different ages. The focus is on the causes and consequences of nasal breathing disorders in children. From the standpoint of modern international recommendations, the effectiveness of correction of nasal breathing disorders is assessed and views on the possibilities of preventing upper respiratory tract diseases are expanded.

Conclusions. The nasal mucosa in young children requires regular care. Nasal obstruction in childhood is a common problem, which often leads to negative consequences. The use of the new medical product SNOTTY (CHOTTI) allows for high-quality and effective cleansing of the nasal mucosa from nasal secretions, removal of nasal congestion with difficulty in nasal breathing, and provision of daily hygiene of the nasal cavity.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

Alvo A, Villarroel G, Sedano C. (2021). Neonatal nasal obstruction. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 278(10): 3605-3611. Epub 2021 Jan 3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06546-y; PMid:33388986

Azarpazhooh A, Lawrence HP, Shah PS. (2016). Xylitol for preventing acute otitis media in children up to 12 years of age. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 8: CD007095. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007095.pub3; PMid:27486835 PMCid:PMC8485974

Cannon ML, Westover JB, Bleher R, Sanchez-Gonzalez MA, Ferrer G. (2020). In Vitro Analysis of the Anti-viral Potential of nasal spray constituents against SARS-CoV-2. BioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.02.408575

Ferrer G, Betancourt A, Go CC, Vazquez H et al. (2020). A Nasal Spray Solution of Grapefruit Seed Extract plus Xylitol Displays Virucidal Activity Against SARS-Cov-2 In Vitro. BioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.23.394114

Fokkens WJ, Lund VJ, Hopkins C, Hellings PW, Kern R, Reitsma S et al. (2020). European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020. Rhinology. 58; Suppl 29: 1-464; 35. https://doi.org/10.4193/Rhin20.601; PMid:32226949

Frank S, Schoem SR. (2022, Apr). Nasal Obstruction in the Infant. Pediatr Clin North Am. 69(2): 287-300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2021.12.002; PMid:35337540

Hardcastle T, Jain R, Radcliff F, Waldvogel-Thurlow S, Zoing M et al. (2017, Sep). The in vitro mucolytic effect of xylitol and dornase alfa on chronic rhinosinusitis mucus. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 7(9): 889-896. https://doi.org/10.1002/alr.21970; PMid:28658521

Instruktsiia do medychnoho vyrobu (Snotti). Deklaratsiia pro vidpovidnist 276-2022.

Kosakivska IA, Kosakovskyi AL, Laiko AA. (2010). Deformation of the nasal septum in children. Kyiv: Shupyk NMAPO: 160.

Leraillez J. (2001, Feb). Neonatal nasal obstruction. Arch Pediatr. 8(2): 214-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0929-693X(00)00189-5; PMid:11232465

Lin CY, Cheng PH, Fang SY. (2004, Feb). Mucosal changes in rhinitis medicamentosa. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 113(2): 147-151. https://doi.org/10.1177/000348940411300213; PMid:14994772

Naclerio RM, Bachert C, Baraniuk JN. (2010, Apr 8). Pathophysiology of nasal congestion. Int J Gen Med. 3: 47-57. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S8088; PMid:20463823 PMCid:PMC2866558

Nicollas R, Gallucci A, Bellot-Samson V, Dégardin N, Bardot J. (2014, Dec). The growing nose. Ann Chir Plast Esthet. 59(6): 387-391. Epub 2014 Sep 5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anplas.2014.08.001; PMid:25194510

Ministry of Health of Ukraine. (2023). On approval of the Unified Clinical Protocol of Primary and Specialized Medical Care "Acute Rhinosinusitis", the Unified Clinical Protocol of Primary and Specialized Medical Care "Chronic Rhinosinusitis". Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine dated 10/13/2023 No. 1793.

Shivnani D, Kobal S, Kobal M, Sasikumar G, Raman EV. (2024, Jun). Neonatal Nasal Obstruction: A Comprehensive Analysis of Our 20 Years' Experience. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 76(3): 2490-2501. Epub 2024 Feb 18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-024-04537-7; PMid:38883526 PMCid:PMC11169106

Da Silva CFFS, da Silva FER, Pauna HF, Hurtado JGGM, Dos Santos MCJ. (2022, Mar-Apr). Symptom assessment after nasal irrigation with xylitol in the postoperative period of endonasal endoscopic surgery. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 88(2): 243-250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjorl.2020.05.023; PMid:32694076 PMCid:PMC9422543

Smallwood J, Wei JL. (2016, Nov 1). Badly Behaving Noses in Children: Rhinitis, Sinusitis, or Neither? Pediatr Ann. 45(11): e384-e387. https://doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20161011-01

Smith MM, Ishman SL. (2018, Oct). Pediatric Nasal Obstruction. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 51(5): 971-985. Epub 2018 Jul 19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otc.2018.05.005; PMid:30031550

Soler E, de Mendoza A, Cuello VI et al. (2023). Intranasal Xylitol for the Treatment of COVID-19 in the Outpatient Setting: A Pilot Study. Cureus. 14(7): e27182. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.27182; PMid:36039203 PMCid:PMC9395150

Taylor A, Fuzi J, Sideris A, Banks C, Havas TE. (2021, Mar). Non-steroid, non-antibiotic anti-biofilm therapy for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis: a systematic review. J Laryngol Otol. 135(3): 196-205. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215121000542; PMid:33666152

Tolley PD, Massenburg BB, Manning S, Lu GN, Bly RA. (2023, Nov). Pediatric Nasal and Septal Fractures. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 35(4): 577-584. Epub 2023 Jun 9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coms.2023.04.005; PMid:37302947

Wang DY, Raza MT, Gordon BR. (2004, Jun). Control of nasal obstruction in perennial allergic rhinitis. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 4(3): 165-170. https://doi.org/10.1097/00130832-200406000-00005; PMid:15126936

Wang YN, Luan ZL, Wang HT. (2017, Nov 7). Research progress on rhinitis medicamentosa. Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi. 52(11): 872-875. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1673-0860.2017.11.019. PMID: 29141305.

Published

2025-04-28