Nasal congestion in infants is a common problem for new parents. Seeing their baby struggling to breathe and have difficulty feeding often causes parents considerable anxiety. The duration of nasal congestion varies significantly depending on the cause, ranging from a few hours to several weeks or even months.
Physiological Nasal Congestion
Newborns have narrow nasal cavities and delicate mucous membranes, making them susceptible to environmental irritants that can trigger nasal congestion. For example, dry air in winter or air-conditioned rooms can cause nasal congestion due to nasal congestion. This can usually be improved by adjusting the ambient humidity (50%-60%). Clinical observations show that approximately 80% of physiological nasal congestion is significantly relieved within 1-2 days after environmental adjustments, without the need for medication.
Specific Case: A 3-week-old infant developed nasal congestion due to dryness in an air-conditioned room. After the parents used a humidifier and cleaned the nasal cavity daily, the symptoms disappeared the next day. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of environmental adjustments for physiological nasal congestion.
Infectious Nasal Congestion
Common Cold: Nasal congestion caused by viruses usually lasts 5-7 days, initially accompanied by runny nose and low-grade fever. Studies show that nasal congestion caused by rhinovirus colds lasts an average of 5.3 days, while that caused by coronaviruses can last up to 7 days. Treatment focuses on symptomatic care, such as saline nasal drops and steam inhalation.
Influenza virus: Nasal congestion symptoms are more severe than those of the common cold and can last 7-10 days. In one case of a child with influenza, nasal congestion accompanied by high fever lasted for 9 days, and was completely relieved on the 10th day after treatment with oseltamivir. This suggests that more aggressive antiviral treatment is needed for influenza nasal congestion.
Bacterial infection: If nasal congestion lasts for more than 10 days and yellow-green purulent nasal discharge appears, secondary bacterial infection may occur. A 6-month-old infant had nasal congestion for 12 days after a cold, and was found to have sinusitis. The symptoms subsided after 3 days of antibiotic treatment. Such cases require timely medical attention to avoid delaying treatment.
Allergic and Structural Nasal Congestion
Allergic nasal congestion: It has seasonal characteristics, and the duration depends on the duration of allergen exposure. Children with dust mite allergies may experience nasal congestion for 2-3 weeks in the spring, while those with pollen allergies may experience symptoms throughout the pollen season. In one case of a child with allergic rhinitis, nasal congestion was relieved within 3 days by avoiding allergens and using antihistamines.
Structural abnormalities: Congenital malformations such as deviated nasal septum and adenoid hypertrophy can lead to chronic nasal congestion. A 1-year-old child with adenoid hypertrophy experienced nasal congestion for 6 months; symptoms completely disappeared after surgical intervention. Such cases require diagnosis via nasal endoscopy or imaging examinations; surgery is the only curative treatment.
Special Cases
Drug-induced nasal congestion: Certain antihypertensive medications used by pregnant women may cause nasal congestion in newborns, which usually subsides 1-2 weeks after discontinuation. A newborn experienced nasal congestion due to the mother's use of reserpine during pregnancy; symptoms disappeared 10 days after discontinuation.
Foreign body obstruction: Children may experience unilateral nasal congestion due to inhaling small toy parts. A 2-year-old child experienced nasal congestion for 3 days due to foreign body obstruction; ventilation was immediately restored after the foreign body was removed by an ENT specialist. Such cases require emergency treatment to avoid the risk of suffocation.
Scientific Nursing Care and Medical Consultation Indications
Parents can relieve nasal congestion through the following measures:
Saline nasal drops: 4 times daily, soften secretions and then clean with a nasal aspirator.
Steam inhalation: Apply bathroom steam or a warm towel to the nose 2-3 times daily.
Positioning: Elevate the head 15-30 degrees during sleep to promote secretion drainage.
Seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:
Respiratory rate > 60 breaths/minute
Retraction of the supraclavicular fossa during inhalation
Persistent high fever > 3 days
Purulent discharge accompanied by facial swelling
The duration of nasal congestion in infants is closely related to its cause. Parents need to observe accompanying symptoms to determine the cause. Physiological nasal congestion can be quickly relieved by environmental adjustments. Infectious nasal congestion requires treatment based on the type of pathogen, while structural abnormalities require professional medical intervention. Scientific nursing care and timely medical attention are key to ensuring the respiratory health of infants.
