Carenotes > Nasal Foreign Body In Children

Nasal Foreign Body In Children

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is a nasal foreign body? A nasal foreign body is anything that gets stuck inside your child's nose. Children often put small things in their nose and these may get trapped inside the nasal cavity. The nasal cavity runs from the nostrils (opening of the nose) down to the back of the throat. Sinuses are hollow pockets in the face bones. Tiny bones that stick out into the nasal cavity and form folds are called turbinates.

What causes a nasal foreign body?

• Children may put objects into their nose while playing or out of curiosity. These objects may include food, seeds, small toys, erasers, coins, foam, pebbles, beads, buttons, and disk batteries.
  
  
• Pieces of broken bones and cartilage of the nose may also be foreign bodies. These may have been left behind after a nose surgery or caused by trauma to the nose area.
  
  
• Insects and worms that crawl into the nose, and roundworms, that are coughed up or vomited, may be found inside the nose.

What are the signs and symptoms of a nasal foreign body?

• Your child may feel that something is in his nose and blocking the air as he breathes. He may have trouble breathing if the object is very deep in the nasal cavity. Nasal foreign bodies may also cause itching, pain, headache, sneezing, and nosebleeds. If the foreign body is alive, your child may feel movement inside his nose.
  
  
• Sometimes, your child may have no symptoms. This may be caused by the foreign body staying inside the nose for a long time. If this happens, infection may set in. A thick, yellowish fluid is usually seen draining from one of the nostrils. Your child may also have a foul (bad) odor coming from his nose and he may develop a fever.

How is a nasal foreign body diagnosed?

• Your child's caregiver will take a detailed health history of your child. This includes any nose problems or injuries your child may have had. It is important that your child's caregiver knows if there was an attempt to get the object out. This will give your child's caregiver an idea of how bad the problem may be.
  
  
• With good lighting, your child's caregiver will carefully check the nose using a nasal speculum. A nasal speculum is an instrument used to open the nostrils to better see the inside of the nose. Your child's caregiver may also look for other problems, such as bleeding, infection, or injury. Sometimes, an x-ray (test that takes pictures) may be done if the foreign body cannot be clearly seen.

How is a nasal foreign body treated? Treatment will depend on the location and the type of foreign body inside your child's nose. Your child's caregiver may also need to know how long the foreign body has been inside his nose. Your child may have any of the following:

• Medicines: Numbing medicine may be put on or in the nose before caregivers try to remove the foreign body. Your child may be given a sedative (relaxing medicine) and pain medicines to help him stay comfortable, calm, and relaxed.
  
  
• Removal procedures: If the object can be seen, different procedures may be done to remove it. To do this, your child may need to be restrained by wrapping him in a sheet. Removing nasal foreign bodies may be done using any of the following:
  
  
  • Instruments: Grasping instruments, such as forceps or clamps, may be used to hold the object and pull it out. A curved hook may also be used to scoop or hook the object out of the nose. These instruments are usually used when the foreign body is stuck near the opening of the nose.
    
    
  • Foley catheter: Caregivers insert a catheter (rubber tube) into your child's nose until it goes past the object. The balloon at the end of the catheter is then filled, and gently pulled out. This may be done if the foreign body is smooth or round and does not totally block the nose.
    
    
  • Glue: Your child's caregiver may use a stick with glue on the end to take out the foreign body. This is done by touching the foreign body with the stick and pulling it out when the glue dries. Acetone (removal substance) may be used in case the glue accidentally touches the skin.
    
    
  • Pressure: Pressure applied through the mouth or by a bag device may force the stuck object out of the nose. A quick blow of air, through your child's unaffected nostril or mouth, may blow the foreign body out.
    
    
  • Suction: A machine that sucks out the object from the nose may be used to remove small objects. This procedure uses a metal catheter with a small plastic umbrella at the tip. It may be used if round, smooth objects are stuck in the front part of the nose.
    
    
  • Other treatments: A weak chemical solution may be used if the foreign body is alive. The solution is put in the nose to kill the insect and some worms before removing them. They may be taken out by blowing the nose, using an instrument, or through suctioning. With some kinds of worms, this procedure may take weeks before they can be completely removed. A roundworm may be taken out right away using an instrument without the need to kill it first.
  
  
• Repair: Your child may have a cut in his nose because of the foreign body. A large cut may need to be closed with sutures (threads) or skin glue. This may depend on how bad the cut is. Ask your caregiver for information about treating large cuts caused by a nasal foreign body.
  
  
• Surgery: Your child may need to have surgery if the foreign body is very deep. Surgery may also be done to treat nose damage caused by the foreign body. In these cases, foreign body removal may be done under general anesthesia. General anesthesia is medicine that will put your child to sleep and keep him free from pain during surgery. Ask your caregiver for information about removal of a nasal foreign body using surgery.

With treatment, the foreign body may be removed from the nose, and more serious problems prevented.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your child's care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat your child.

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