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The problem of getting a foreign body into the nose is most often faced by pediatric otolaryngologists. The process of learning the world overly captivates the baby and he is ready to shove absolutely everything that comes to hand into his nasal cavity. In some cases, a child’s persistence can lead to injury or the need for hospitalization. As for adults, the list of possible causes of foreign body entry is reduced. How to provide first aid to the victim and in what cases should you see a doctor?
What you need to know about the nasal cavity?
The nasal cavity is the cavity of the human body in which the organs of smell are located. It is divided by a septum into two halves and, at the expense of the choanae, passes into the nasopharynx. Choan – internal nasal opening that connects the nose and throat. The nasal cavity helps to purify the air from dust particles and microorganisms. In the same place, the air is humidified and undergoes some thermal control. The cavity is responsible for the respiratory, protective, olfactory and resonator functions, which can be impaired by the ingress of a foreign body. This area of the body is directly related to the sensory organs, human perception, the strength and intensity of the voice, the paranasal sinuses, pharynx, oral cavity and ears. Any violations that occur in the nose will certainly affect the state of the whole organism. Do not forget about this and be attentive to your own health.
Foreign body in the nasal cavity
By a foreign body, doctors mean any foreign object that randomly appears in the cavity of our body. It can be a sheet of paper, a detail from a mechanism, seeds, an insect, plastic, food, and so on. If this object enters the nose, it may be asymptomatic or cause pain, discomfort, congestion, and respiratory failure. Depending on the size and structure of the object, the doctor decides on its diagnosis (visual examination, computed tomography, X-ray) and removal (blowing, endoscopic or surgical operation).
The otolaryngologist is engaged in the extraction of a foreign body. Do not self-medicate, so as not to aggravate the situation.
How can a foreign element enter the nasal cavity?
In most cases, it enters through the nostrils or throat. Moreover, a person can himself contribute to the passage of a foreign body inside. Most often this applies to young children who, for the sake of interest, put toys, parts of the designer and other small objects up their noses. Adult patients become victims of elusive insects or living organisms in the inhaled air, open sources, water bodies. It is impossible to exclude the iatrogenic nature of foreign bodies. During surgery, the doctor may simply forget about the tampon or part of the instrument left in the nasal cavity.
Varieties of foreign bodies
There are two main groups of foreign bodies – organic and inorganic. Organic include plant seeds, pieces of food, living representatives of the fauna (mainly insects). Inorganic elements include metal/plastic/rubber parts, firearms, glass, and anything man-made. Based on the nature of the foreign body, its features, the doctor selects the optimal therapeutic course. Most often, the victim extracts organic elements on his own, without contacting a specialized specialist. Inorganic objects located deep in the nasal cavity cannot be removed on their own. To do this, an x-ray is performed, after which the foreign body is removed by endoscopic or surgical methods.
How to recognize a foreign body?
Often the patient may be unaware of the presence of a foreign body in the nasal cavity, and write off the runny nose and discomfort as manifestations of acute respiratory viral infections or fatigue. In other cases, a foreign element immediately makes itself felt. It irritates or damages the mucous membrane, causes pain of varying intensity, interferes with free inhalation and exhalation of air, and leads to the development of bleeding. Headache, nausea/vomiting, sleep disturbance, dizziness, nasal congestion, and discharge from only one nostril are also possible.
It is very important to notice a foreign body in time, try to get it on your own or consult a doctor. Why? First, a long stay inside the body is fraught with inflammation and serious tissue damage. Secondly, some organic bodies (for example, bean or pea seeds) begin to grow under the influence of a humid environment, which aggravates the situation. Organic elements can break apart, decompose, or become the basis for the development of a nasal calculus.
Providing first aid to an adult victim
If the foreign body does not stick out of the nostril, it is forbidden to pull it out on your own. Using tweezers, cotton swabs, your own fingers, and various clips will only make things worse. So you will move the object deep into the nasal cavity and complicate the work of a specialist. Moreover, a stressed person makes sudden, inaccurate movements that lead to injury to the mucous membranes. General discomfort and discomfort will be exacerbated by blood loss, which is unlikely to encourage the victim.
How to remove a foreign body? The only possible option is blowing. If it does not work, you should consult a doctor, undergo a diagnosis and agree to endoscopic or surgical removal of the object. Blowing is the simplest and safest method that will definitely not worsen the condition of the victim. A person should close a healthy nostril with his finger, draw more air into the lungs and push it sharply through the nostril “with an obstacle”. The foreign body will simply fly out of the nasal passage, and the patient will find the desired comfort.
If blowing does not solve the problem, seek help from an otolaryngologist. Do this as soon as possible to exclude trauma, irritation, swelling of tissues, ingrowth of a foreign body, and the development of an inflammatory process.
Emergency Reception for Toddlers
Removal of foreign bodies is most often done by pediatric otolaryngologists. According to statistics, in most cases, the doctor fixes the lesion of the lower nasal passage in the right half of the nose. Injury to the upper nasal passage is extremely rare. Contacting a specialist is necessary only if the parent could not remove the foreign object on his own, its size is too large or the structure is dangerous for the baby (it can damage the walls and mucous membranes). The otolaryngologist anesthetizes the intervention area, uses a probe with a curved ring, nasal forceps, or performs an operation to remove a foreign body.
How can a parent extract an object on its own if it does not pose a serious danger? Mother or father must take control not only of the situation, but also of self-control. Do not scream and be nervous, showing the wrong model of behavior to the baby. If the foreign body is small, ask the child to blow his nose several times. Perhaps active movements will help push the object out without extra effort. If this does not help, use the “mother’s kiss” technique. The method was proposed by an English general practitioner back in 1965, but is still popular today. Pediatricians even advise young parents to practice the “mother’s kiss” technique during preventive examinations in order to be fully prepared and not get confused in a critical situation.
The parent should place their lips firmly on the child’s mouth. With one finger, an adult moderately presses on a nostril free of a foreign object, and strongly exhales air into the baby’s mouth. The air pressure will push the foreign body out. The effectiveness of the method is 60%, but the risk of side effects is reduced to zero. The worst thing that can happen during manipulations is that the foreign body will remain in its original place and will not succumb to the force of air. In this case, the parent should consult a doctor.
Never try to reach the item with a cotton swab, tweezers or fingers. This will lead to deeper penetration of the foreign body.
What happens when you refuse medical care?
A foreign body obstructs nasal breathing and disrupts the natural ventilation of the body. What is the risk? An inflammatory process may develop in the paranasal sinuses, which requires additional therapy and examination. A foreign element can damage the mucosa, causing the development of small ulcers and polypous growths. If the victim does not rush to the doctor or simply does not notice the object, it can grow into the tissue / perforate its wall, cause necrosis of the nasal concha and suppuration of the mucous sac. The longer the foreign body is inside the body, the more rapidly the risk of developing a secondary infection increases. In general, the reaction of the body is impossible to predict. It depends on the protective function of the immune system, the structure and size of the foreign object, and the duration of its stay inside.
The presence of foreign bodies can be the result of an accident, non-compliance with safety regulations at work, your own inattention, and even an overly fast meal. Regardless of the pathogenesis of the condition, the victim must be calm and prudent. The only available method of independent struggle with a foreign body is blowing. Other methods are dangerous and can only aggravate the situation. Do not delay visiting a doctor even if you were able to get rid of a foreign object on your own. Check the condition of the mucous membranes to rule out injury and inflammation. Enjoy the benefits of modern medicine and be healthy.