Blocked nose
Helping him clear it
A nose full of mucus is nasty to all, but more so to babies below two years because they must breathe through the nose, which they have no ability to clear.
A stuffy nose is caused by the common cold or allergic reactions like asthma and sinusitis that inflame blood vessels, in turn swelling the tissue lining the inside of the nose, explains Dr. James Gituanja, a private practitioner in Nairobi.
‘The congestion tends to go away in seven to 10 days for most victims. But there is usually more trouble for those with other breathing-related problems,’ says Dr. Gituanja.
‘Babies above the age of two can blow their noses-with your assistance though Medication can also be given- but only under a doctor’s Instructions,’ he says, adding: ‘It is even trickier for babies below two years. Giving them medication is usually not advisable unless a doctor recommends it.’
On the other hand, once the doctor has ascertained that the condition does not need medication, the following home remedies can be applied:
Use a swab. Roll it gently in the baby’s nose to remove the mucus. Lay the baby on their tummy as you do this. Some of the mucus will flow out on its own, which you can easily clean off with a warm damp cloth.
You could also make a salt solution. Pour a few drops into the nose to help the mucus loosen up and flow out. Saline solution, available in markets, should give a good effect as its salt and water are usually mixed in precise proportions.
Give the baby plenty of fluids. These work best for older children. You can give them warm water, but make sure they do not consume sugar.
Steaming yourself or your child also helps in relieving the discomfort of a congested nose. Last but very important, rest. This helps the body to recuperate fast, thus speeding up recovery.
Then as they say, prevention is better than cure. This can be done by keeping the child warm when it is cold, keeping him away from anything he reacts to such as dust and pollen, separating the infected child from others to avoid infecting them, instilling proper hygiene habits like washing his hands before eating, et cetera.
Give them foods rich in vitamins. These help them to build resistance to diseases.
Can we completely avoid stuffy noses?
‘That is an incredibly tall order,’ says Dr. Tabitha Oluoch of Fatima Healthcare in Ongata Rongai. ‘Pollen, bacteria and viruses, the chief causes of a stuffy nose, are all around us. It is virtually impossible to avoid that. We can only try,’ she says
END: BL 38/28