What is it about ?
A foreign body is an object that ends up in the nose and has nothing to do there. A common situation in children. To play or to do an experiment, children can put an object in their nose. These can be beads, marbles, plastic toy pieces, coins, peas, nuts, pieces of rubber, styrofoam, or even paper. Objects that absorb water can swell. This can irritate the mucous membranes and cause swelling, further trapping the object in the nose.
How to recognize it?
Usually, the diagnosis is not a shadow of a doubt and the object is easily noticed in the nose. Sometimes it is not discovered until late due to the fact that one nostril is blocked all the time. A purulent and smelly liquid may also be observed flowing from the nose.
How is the diagnosis made?
If the doctor does not immediately see the foreign body, he or she will examine the nose with a lamp and a nasal speculum. A nasal speculum is an instrument that allows the doctor to spread the nostrils apart and see better if there is anything inside.
What can you do ?
Try applying the “mother’s kiss” technique: place your mouth on the child’s mouth, press the open nostril and blow a quick, sharp blow into the child’s mouth. The air stream releases the stuck object. The technique works about 8 times out of 10.
If you have trouble getting rid of the foreign body, see a doctor. Be careful not to push the object deeper into the nose: you could damage the mucous membrane while the foreign body could end up in the throat and block the windpipe, which could be fatal for the child.
What can your doctor do?
If you cannot remove the object, the doctor may use drops to deflate the nasal mucous membranes, anesthetize the nasal cavity a little, and try to remove the foreign body with forceps, a probe or a suction device. If these techniques still do not work, it is sometimes necessary to anesthetize the child for a short time. In this case, you will be referred to an otolaryngologist (ENT).
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