Polyps in the nose of a child: what to do, removal, folk remedies

One of the decorations of the human face is the nose. Alas, most often we treat this extraordinary organ precisely as an ornament, without thinking about the importance of the functions performed by the nose and paying little attention to the diseases associated with it. For example, many people prefer not to pay attention to a runny nose (rhinitis), which manifests itself in the release of mucous inflammatory exudate from the nasal cavity, expecting that it should pass by itself. And then they suffer from chronic rhinitis or sinusitis, significantly worsening the quality of life. Or polyps in the nose of a child. At first glance, the pathology seems trivial, but in fact, growing with enviable persistence, they are capable of disrupting the breathing process so much that it begins to affect the work of other organs, and primarily the brain. So do nasal diseases really not deserve our attention?

The nose and polyps in it

Let's dwell a little on the question of what the nose is and why it is considered an important organ, on the health of which the functioning of the entire body depends. We will not focus on the fact that without the nose our face would not have such an attractive appearance. Let's just mention that this organ gives each person their own individual features that distinguish them from other people.

But the nose is given to man not only for beauty. It is an important organ of the respiratory system. It is clear that you can breathe through your mouth, but in this case, colder air will enter the bronchi and lungs, plus it will be noticeably saturated with dust particles, bacteria, and viruses. Passing naturally through the nose, the air warms up to a comfortable temperature and undergoes a kind of filtration, so with nasal breathing, the risk of spreading a respiratory infection into the body is much lower.

And yet nasal congestion and mucous discharge from it rarely bother anyone. Well, there is, of course, a certain discomfort, which forces one to resort to the help of various vasodilators or vasoconstrictors of the nasal. But for the time being there is no time to think about the cause of this pathological condition.

Thanks to the nose, which retains all harmful substances, the respiratory organs receive clean air saturated with oxygen, which is necessary for the vital activity of all organs. Any, even a small obstacle in the path of air movement through the nasal passages reduces its flow, and therefore the amount of oxygen entering the body.

Polyps in the nose of a child or an adult are precisely that insurmountable obstacle that cannot be removed with conventional nasal decongestants.

Polyps themselves are benign neoplasms, far from oncology (although in some advanced cases they can degenerate). These are small growths that can appear both on the mucous membrane of the nasal passages and in other places (these are multiple cavities in the area of the face and nose, called sinuses: maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, genital areas, fallopian tubes and cervix in women, eardrums, alveoli of the lungs, etc.).

Polyps do not have a specific stable shape. They can be either round or elongated. Some elements (at the initial stage) are almost flat and only slightly protrude above the surface of the tissues inside the nose. Others are convex elements, sometimes on a stalk.

An important and dangerous feature of polyps is their ability to grow. As they grow in size, they block the nasal passages and increasingly impede the passage of air into the respiratory organs, which saturate the blood with oxygen.

Epidemiology

According to statistics, the appearance of polyps in the nose is most often noted in children under 10 years of age. However, uninitiated parents take the symptoms of polyps for the consequences of respiratory pathologies and do not consult a specialist doctor (in this case, an otolaryngologist, also known as an ENT). The pediatrician, without special equipment, may not notice the development of the pathological process at first, prescribing treatment for individual symptoms (nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose) with drugs for the treatment of acute respiratory infections or allergies (due to the similarity of manifestations).

Statistics also state that nasal polyps appear more often in males. In most patients of different ages, the formation and growth of polyps is observed against the background of bronchial asthma.

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Causes of polyps in the baby's nose

At this point, the interested reader may have a question in his mind: where do polyps in a child's nose come from, and why do some children have nothing like this until adulthood and later, while others suffer from problems with nasal breathing from early childhood? Let's try to understand this issue as best we can.

Let's start with the fact that doctors are not yet able to name a single specific reason for the development of polyps in a child's nose. So far, we can only talk about certain factors that can provoke the appearance and growth of neoplasms in the nose. These factors were identified based on many years of studying the anamnesis and lifestyle of patients with polyposis (which is what this pathology is called).

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Risk factors

So, the risk factors for the development of polyposis are identified:

• Anatomical prerequisites (curvature of the internal nasal septum, narrowness of the nasal passages, etc., associated with developmental disorders of the organ).
• Inflammatory respiratory pathologies that have a chronic course: rhinitis, sinusitis, maxillary sinusitis, frontal sinusitis.
• Infectious diseases that weaken the immune system (control over abnormal cell growth is weakened).
• Disruptions in the immune system leading to the development of allergic diseases: allergic rhinitis and dermatitis, bronchial asthma (diagnosed in many cases of nasal polyposis), hay fever.
• Arachidonic acid metabolism disorder.
• Disturbances of the microflora in the nose.
• Traumatic lesions of the nose that disrupt microcirculation in the organ.
• The heredity factor also comes into play, as doctors have found that children whose parents were diagnosed with this pathology are more prone to developing nasal polyps than those who did not have such cases in the family.

Among other things, doctors also include hormonal imbalances, intolerance to aspirin or alcohol, biliary dyskinesia, fungal infections and some systemic pathologies among risk factors. One of these pathologies is cystic fibrosis. This is a fairly rare genetic disorder that disrupts the functions of many body systems, including the endocrine and respiratory systems.

Nasal polyposis can also be caused by such a rare health disorder as Churg-Strauss syndrome, in which small capillaries are affected and the blood supply to the olfactory organ is disrupted.

All of the above factors contribute to the weakening of the nasal mucosa and the formation of eosinophils – cellular structures that make up the polyp. These cells are capable of rapidly multiplying when the immune system is weakened, because the gene responsible for their death is inactive. Thus, polyps can actively develop, increasing in size as much as free space allows.

Polyps feed on the body's cells, attaching to the mucous membrane by means of a thin stalk or a large base, which serves as a reservoir for obtaining useful substances from the host's body. If for some reason the feeding stalk is damaged, the polyp disappears.

This is the kind of "freeloader" that can appear in a person's nose if there are provoking factors. The growth forms without pain or other symptoms. At the initial stage, it may not even be noticeable in the depths of the nasal passages. For this reason, slight nasal congestion is rarely associated with an obstruction in the form of a polyp, leaning toward the version with swelling of the nasal tissues.

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Symptoms of polyps in the baby's nose

Speaking about the symptoms of polyposis, it is impossible not to mention that at different stages of its development and with different localization, the disease can manifest itself differently. The initial stage of the disease is practically asymptomatic and does not pose any danger to the child. The growths block a smaller part of the nasal cavity, so they have little effect on breathing.

The first stage of development of polyposis in the nose is characterized by the formation of a small number of growths that block a small part of the nasal passage and are located mainly on the upper part of the nasal septum. The first signs of polyps in the nose in a child are manifestations similar to cold pathologies:

• Mild nasal congestion
• Deterioration of nasal breathing
• Frequent sneezing attacks.

In infants, parents may notice the following symptoms:

• The child begins to sniffle, although there are no signs of a cold
• He eats worse because the baby often lacks air during feeding.
• For the same reason, children become more capricious, often cry for no reason, and sleep poorly.

At the initial stage of the disease, the symptoms of polyps are often confused with the development of respiratory pathology, so effective treatment is not carried out. It is clear that this state of affairs does not help to reduce the manifestations of the disease, and the growths in the nose continue to grow, and at the second stage they are already located along the entire nasal septum, noticeably blocking the path of air movement in the nasal passages.

At the third stage, the nasal passage is blocked by a fully grown polyp, which in the case of the ethmoid type of pathology, when polyps grow simultaneously in both nasal passages, completely excludes the possibility of nasal breathing. For the antiroanal type of pathology, which is most often diagnosed in children, at stage 3, obstruction of one of the nasal passages, where polyposis has developed, is characteristic.

Additional symptoms appear indicating the progression of the disease:

• The child has severe difficulty breathing through his nose, but attempts to blow his nose are unsuccessful.
• Growing polyps exert significant pressure on the blood vessels running in the nasal area. This slows down blood flow and worsens breathing and nutrition of the tissues of the olfactory organ, which in turn weakens them, making them more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. The entry of pathogenic microorganisms into the nasal cavity leads to inflammation of the mucous membrane and the appearance of the following symptoms: swelling of the mucous membrane, redness, the appearance of mucus-like discharge from the nasal passages, weakening of the tone of the nasal muscles, and sometimes a local increase in temperature.
• As the pathology develops, the child begins to complain of changes in taste sensations. Swelling of the mucous membrane and impaired sense of smell negatively affect the work of taste buds. Taste may disappear either partially or completely. The child does not sense smells, taste is weakened, and appetite deteriorates accordingly.
• Nasal congestion causes oxygen starvation of the brain, which manifests itself in frequent headaches and deterioration of mental abilities (decreased attention, memory, and overall academic performance).
• The baby starts snoring at night.
• Children complain of a sensation of a foreign body in the nose, and sometimes of pain in the paranasal sinuses.
• Difficulty breathing prevents the child from resting normally at night; he often wakes up and has trouble falling asleep.
• As the polyps, which doctors often call bunches of grapes, grow, the child's voice changes and becomes nasal.
• Further growth of pathological growths in the nose can affect the baby's hearing. If the child constantly asks to repeat a question or instruction, the cause of hearing loss may be the blockage of the auditory tube by polyps (let's not forget that the ear, throat and nose organs are interconnected).
• Growing polyps inside the nose eventually begin to give external manifestations, such as swelling of the olfactory organ, a slightly open mouth, smoothing of the vertical fold between the nose and lips in the nasolabial triangle, and a constantly drooping jaw.
• Some children experience gastrointestinal disorders with symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and episodes of vomiting.

Due to impaired nasal breathing, infants begin to suffer more often from colds of an inflammatory nature (pneumonia, bronchitis), eat poorly and lose weight, and lag somewhat behind in development (for example, hearing loss leads to impaired development of the speech apparatus).

Complications and consequences

A careless attitude towards your olfactory organ, neglecting suspicious symptoms that appear can have quite sad consequences that many of us do not even suspect. It would seem that there is nothing to worry about, the nose is not the heart, kidneys or lungs, pathologies of which can be dangerous to health and life. How can a runny nose or nasal polyps seriously harm an adult or a child?

The attentive reader has probably already managed to catch some of the danger that polyps in a child's nose represent. Let us now consider the possible prognosis for those children whose polyps were not treated for various reasons.

Let's say that polyps, if they have not degenerated into malignant neoplasms, do not pose a particular danger to humans. The problem is the consequences of their enlargement. As they grow, they take up more and more space in the nasal passage, and the lumen for air passage gradually decreases, and nasal breathing is impaired.

In addition, growing polyps impede the blood flow through the capillaries located in the nose, squeezing them. And any disruption of breathing and blood circulation leads to the fact that the organs and tissues of the body are exposed to hypoxia. First of all, as usual, the brain suffers. It becomes difficult for it to work under load, so it reacts to stress with headaches, sleep disorders, decreased memory, attention, intelligence, and overall learning ability.

Pressure on the tissues of the nasal mucosa leads to a weakening of local and general immunity. Children with nasal polyps are much more likely to suffer from infectious diseases, because the protective properties of the mucosa are weakened. Breathing through the mouth also contributes to the penetration of infection into the body. Due to nasal congestion, children try to compensate for the lack of oxygen by breathing through the mouth. Through an open mouth and deep breathing, bacteria and viruses very easily penetrate the throat and respiratory tract. This is the cause of frequent acute respiratory viral infections, tonsillitis, flu, as well as bronchitis and pneumonia, which easily become chronic.

Difficulty breathing through the nose often causes a child to tire quickly. In addition, the baby is constantly tormented by stomach problems even with a normal balanced diet.

If a child has difficulty breathing, he begins to perform forced movements of the facial muscles and jaws to ease the condition. Regularly repeated movements can provoke a change in the shape of the face and jaws, the bite can form incorrectly, and due to incorrect breathing in infancy, the chest can form incorrectly.

The growth of polyps in the area of the auditory tube worsens the child’s perception of sounds and prevents the correct formation of speech.

Narrowing of the nasal passages leads to disruption of the natural cleansing of the nose. Now the mucous secretions formed as a result of the body's vital activity cannot freely exit and accumulate inside the nose. The addition of infection and congestion in the nose lead to the fact that the discharge from the nasal passages becomes purulent. The purulent process inside the nose can spread to the area of the inner ear, causing an inflammatory pathology of the organ of hearing called otitis. And since both the nose and ears are located on the head, the pathological process can gradually move to the cerebral cortex, and this is, of course, a risk not only to health, but also to life.

As for the loss of smell. It is not that simple. If the disease is neglected, it develops into a severe advanced form, and even surgical removal of polyps does not always help a person to regain the ability to smell and taste. Restoration of nasal breathing with nasal polyposis does not guarantee complete normalization of the sense of smell.

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Diagnostics of polyps in the baby's nose

So, we have already understood that polyps in a child's nose are a rather dangerous pathology, which should never be treated carelessly, because the health of our children depends on the reasonable actions of parents. In order not to miss the onset of the disease, you need to pay attention to the slightest suspicious signs. Do not forget that even such a common symptom as a runny nose can be a consequence of the development of a serious pathology.

The child began to sniffle and open his mouth when breathing, he is tormented by frequent sneezing attacks - this is already a reason to contact the local pediatrician or directly to the otolaryngologist for a consultation. Attributing everything to a common cold and self-medicating by rinsing the nose and instilling medications into its passages is unlikely to solve such a problem as polyposis. But it is quite possible to delay time and allow the pathology to develop further, filling up more and more space in the nose. But is it necessary?

Some self-confident parents may say that a disease such as polyposis, in which there are growths in the nose that stand out against the background of healthy tissues, from bluish or red to body color, can be diagnosed without a doctor. It is enough to just look into the baby's nose.

This opinion is fundamentally wrong, because even doctors can make mistakes in such a situation if the disease is only in its initial stage. Small polyps at the first stage can be hidden deep in the nose, and without special equipment it is almost impossible to see them. At later stages, an experienced doctor can see growths inside the child's nose even without special equipment.

A child with symptoms of polyposis should be examined by a local pediatrician or otolaryngologist. If the child and his parents talk about the symptoms of the disease that have appeared, but an external examination of the nose does not yield results, further diagnostic testing using special equipment (rhinoscopy) will be required.

Of the popular instrumental diagnostic methods for polyposis, there are 3 main ones:

• X-ray of the nose, which will show the presence of pathological growths and their location.
• Computer tomography will not only help diagnose the stage of the disease, but will also provide information about whether the process has affected the maxillary sinuses and whether it has caused inflammation in them.
• Endoscopy. It may not be the most pleasant procedure, but it allows you to see the problem from the inside.

Instrumental examination of the nose allows not only to diagnose polyposis, but also to clarify the issue of the cause of the development of pathology. On the pictures or image displayed on the monitor, you can see anatomical defects that contribute to the formation of polyps. The hereditary cause of the disease can be identified from a conversation with the baby's parents. Some more information regarding the diseases suffered by the little patient is given by studying the anamnesis.

But diagnostics of nasal polyps in children is not limited to instrumental examinations. Prescribed laboratory tests and samples provide additional information about the condition of the nasal mucosa and the causes of the disease. Thus, a general and biochemical blood test will tell a lot about the degree of the inflammatory process caused by polyposis. And prescribed allergy tests in children prone to allergies that complicate the course of polyposis will help prescribe effective anti-allergic treatment.

A cystic fibrosis test and cytological analysis or biopsy (if there is a suspicion of malignancy) may be prescribed separately. These tests are performed if the doctor has reason to suspect the corresponding pathologies, for example, if there have already been cases of cystic fibrosis or oncological pathologies in the baby's family.

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Differential diagnosis

Since polyps in the nose of a child are not always so easy to detect, and the symptoms of the disease are similar to the symptoms of colds and infectious and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system, much attention is paid to the differential diagnosis of the disease. It is important not only to correctly diagnose the pathology, differentiating it from the usual rhinitis, frontal sinusitis, sinusitis or simple acute respiratory infections. It is also necessary to determine the extent of the spread of the process and the presence of complications caused by the disease, because this determines what the complex of prescribed therapeutic measures will be, whether conservative treatment will do or the help of a surgeon will be needed.

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Treatment of polyps in the baby's nose

Polyps in the nose of a child or an adult is a fairly common disease, which doctors have been actively studying for a long time, however, many of its aspects are still in question. The treatment of the pathology is a particular problem.

When the final diagnosis is established and the degree of development of the pathology is determined, the doctor prescribes an effective treatment regimen for each specific case. It is very important to identify the factors that caused the appearance of polyps in the child's nose and try to exclude their further influence on the baby. This can be done in various ways, but it is still customary to distinguish 2 main ways of treating polyposis:

1. Therapeutic method (conservative treatment).
2. Surgical treatment.

In the first case, we are talking about both taking appropriate medications and physiotherapy treatment.

As for drug treatment, the following groups of drugs are prescribed for nasal polyposis, which help fight not only the disease itself, but also its causes and complications:

• Since the formation of polyps in the nose is often closely associated with the inflammatory process in the sinuses, drugs are needed to help relieve inflammation and facilitate nasal breathing. Hormonal drugs from the category of nasal corticosteroids are prescribed as anti-inflammatory drugs. Such drugs include Fluticasone, Budesonide, etc.

Hormonal medications are recommended to be prescribed only if the disease has a sharply negative effect on the well-being and development of the little patient. Otherwise, mild therapeutic measures are sufficient.

• If polyposis develops against the background of allergic pathologies, then after identifying the allergen, effective antihistamines are prescribed (Aleron, Citrine, Diazolin, etc.). In parallel, it will be necessary to take all measures to prevent the baby's future contact with the allergen, whatever its origin (dust, pollen, substances contained in food, animal hair, etc.).
• If a bacterial infection joins the pathology, as indicated by changed nasal discharge, antibiotics active against the identified pathogens may be prescribed. These may be broad-spectrum drugs, and after receiving the results of the analysis for the pathogen, the prescription may be revised in favor of narrow-target antibiotics.
• Since polyposis develops against the background of reduced immunity, it is necessary to take immunostimulating drugs and specific immunotherapy to reduce the tendency to allergies. This approach to treatment will also be effective if a viral infection joins polyposis.

Medicines for treating nasal polyps in children are prescribed both in the form of sprays, tablets and suspensions, and in the form of injections. And, of course, treatment of the nasal passages involves washing them with antimicrobial solutions. Preference is given to medical sterile preparations based on a 9% saline solution. Such preparations include the solution "Saline" and spray "Aquamaris". They carefully cleanse the nasal passages from dust, allergens, bacteria, and relieve inflammatory tissue swelling.

If congestion is observed deep in the nasal passages or a purulent process with tissue damage has begun, turundas with ointments that have a pulling and wound-healing effect may be prescribed.

As for physiotherapy, which is relevant for polyposis, ultraviolet irradiation (drying and stopping inflammation) and laser therapy (restoring tissue nutrition by normalizing blood circulation) are applicable here.

Conservative therapy also includes a non-surgical method of removing polyps. It has been found that under the influence of temperatures above 60 degrees, the process of nutrition and development of polyps is disrupted. Polyps inside the nose are warmed up at a temperature of 60-70 degrees and wait for several days until they fall off and come out of the nose naturally when blowing your nose.

Nasal polyps can also be removed using the drug "Prednisolone". A week-long course of injections of the drug promotes the death and removal of polyps beyond the nose.

Conservative treatment also involves following certain dietary and lifestyle requirements. The first condition for effective therapy is avoiding contact with substances that can cause allergic reactions. For example, when choosing food for a baby, preference should be given to those products that are made without the addition of synthetic dyes and food additives. If there is an allergy to bee products, they must be excluded from the child's diet.

Also, during drug treatment of polyposis, doctors recommend refraining from taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Citramon, etc.

It is worth saying that it is not always possible to limit oneself to conservative treatment. Sometimes even simply removing the allergen at the initial stage of the disease allows you to get rid of polyposis. In other cases, drug and physiotherapeutic treatment do not give sufficient results. The earlier the treatment of nasal polyps in a child is started, the more effective conservative therapy will be.

Sometimes therapeutic treatment seems to have a positive effect, but after a while the polyps reappear. With a tendency to relapse, conservative treatment alone is usually not enough. In such cases, as well as in advanced situations or when conservative therapy is ineffective for several months, surgical treatment (polypectomy) is used.

Indications for surgery to remove nasal polyps are:

• Severely enlarged polyps that severely block the nasal passages
• Development of purulent processes in the nasopharynx
• Disturbances of taste and smell
• Anatomical defect of the nasal septum
• Frequent relapses of the disease
• Increased frequency of attacks of bronchial asthma.

Removal of a polyp in the nose of a child can be done in several ways:

• Using a special instrument – Lange's loop. This is the oldest and rather painful method, the main disadvantage of which is the high probability of severe nosebleeds during and after the operation. It is performed under general or local anesthesia. It is not effective enough if the polyps are located deep inside the nasal passages.
• By means of an endoscope. An endoscope is considered a therapeutic and diagnostic tool that allows removing all polyps without exception, even in the most remote cavities. The doctor monitors the procedure through an image displayed on the monitor and can adjust his actions at any time.
• With the help of a laser. This method appeared much later than others, but has already gained universal recognition, because after its use there is no heavy bleeding and complications.

Nasal polyps are a rather insidious pathology, prone to relapse even after surgical treatment. Therefore, after surgery, doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory and additional anti-relapse therapy.

As an anti-inflammatory treatment, nasal lavage with sterile saline solutions, which can be purchased at a pharmacy, is prescribed. Solutions prepared at home without observing sterility cannot be used.

In order to prevent relapses of polyposis in the nose, a course of corticosteroids is prescribed (most often in the form of inhalations, since such treatment is carried out locally and hormones do not penetrate into the blood, and therefore cannot cause various health problems). The child undergoes an anti-relapse course for 3-6 months, after which he should see an otolaryngologist. During the entire period of treatment and after it, the child is registered with an ENT specialist. Parents should periodically show the baby to the doctor in order to catch a possible relapse of the disease in time and conduct additional treatment.

Folk remedies

As we can see, polyps in the nose of a child are quite a serious pathology that requires the same approach to treatment. This does not mean that you should ignore useful folk medicine recipes that can help get rid of growths in the nose of your beloved baby. However, you should not refuse traditional treatment in favor of folk treatment either, so as not to waste precious time, calming down for a while with false hopes.

Let's look at several good recipes that, with the permission of the attending physician, can be used as an addition to conservative therapy:

• If there is no allergy to bee products, it is recommended to use natural bee honey as a remedy. Liquid honey is collected with an ear stick and placed in the nasal passage, thoroughly lubricating all the walls inside. By doing such honey lubrication of the nose three times a day for a month, you can see how the polyps dry up and fall off.
• Another useful beekeeping product is propolis. A piece of propolis is heated over a fire in a metal mug until smoke appears. This useful smoke should be inhaled 2 times a day through each nostril separately. This method is more suitable for older children and adults, because through carelessness you can easily get a thermal burn.
• The juice of such a medicinal plant as celandine also has a drying effect. It should be instilled into the nasal passages with polyps three times a day.

But for children it is better to use another recipe. Prepare an infusion of celandine from 1 tbsp. of dry plant and a glass of boiling water. After an hour, strain and cool the infusion to a warm state and use it to rinse the nasal passages. This composition has a drying, anti-inflammatory and noticeable antibacterial effect.

• Onion warming is a kind of analogue of thermal removal of polyps. Coarsely chopped baked onion is rolled in gauze, forming a "ball". It is applied to the nasal passages from the outside. You need to act carefully so as not to burn the skin of the nose.

Chamomile and calendula infusions and decoctions are also suitable for clearing the nose of dust, allergens, bacteria and mucus secretions. A solution of sea salt (1 tablespoon of salt per glass of warm water) is also suitable for these purposes, which helps to get rid of discomfort in the nose and fights inflammation.

Nasal lavage with a pronounced antimicrobial and drying effect can also be done with a saline solution with the addition of iodine (2-3 drops per glass of solution).

The main thing is not to get carried away with folk remedies to the detriment of traditional therapy; after all, we are talking about the health of our children, and it is not worth experimenting with this.

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Prevention

Preventive measures to prevent the development of polyposis in the nose can be divided into 2 groups. One group helps prevent primary polyposis, the second will not allow the disease to recur.

Prevention of primary polyposis includes timely treatment of colds and infectious and inflammatory diseases and preventing them from becoming chronic, avoiding situations in which you can get a nose injury, correcting anatomical defects in the structure of the nose according to the doctor's instructions, maintaining the immune system at its best with the help of vitamin complexes.

Compliance with the following requirements will help prevent the development of relapses of the disease after a course of treatment:

• It is imperative that the child be protected from exposure to substances that cause allergic reactions (allergens).
• It is necessary to maintain daily nasal hygiene, which includes rinsing the nasal passages with a saline solution.
• The room where the child is located should not contain tobacco smoke, dust or irritating chemical odors (these factors should also be avoided outside the ward or children's room).
• The room where the baby spends most of his time must be ventilated and humidified using clean water and a spray bottle (you can add a little essential oils with anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic and soothing effects to the water).
• It is also necessary to pay attention to the child's diet: exclude products containing salicylates, chemical additives and dyes, give preference to fermented milk products, vegetable oil, fish, carrot juice. Berries and fruits will be useful only if there is no allergy to them. The amount of salt and sugar in dishes should be reduced.
• Strengthening a child's immunity is possible not only with the help of vitamins. Regular walks in the fresh air in a park area, exercise, active games, swimming in natural and artificial reservoirs will be useful in this regard.
• A good preventive measure against the recurrence of polyps in the nose of a child is a massage of the trigeminal nerve, which is located near the nasal sinuses. It should be gently pressed with the pads of the fingers, and then several rotational movements should be made in one direction and the other. This massage improves the functioning of the olfactory organ.

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Forecast

Any disease caught at the very beginning gives a great chance of recovery. Polyps in the nose of a child are no exception. If the disease is detected at the first stage, traditional treatment and compliance with relapse prevention measures will be enough to forget about the pathology forever.

If the pathology has already moved to the second stage, traditional treatment may not be enough. Polyps will have to be removed using heat or surgically. Here the prognosis will depend on how accurately the little patient and his parents comply with the requirements of postoperative anti-relapse treatment.

If the disease is neglected and the auditory canals are allowed to become involved in the inflammatory process, the prognosis becomes unfavorable. Both temporary hearing loss and related delays in speech development, poor academic performance, and frequent illnesses that provoke various complications are possible.

If treatment of the disease is started at a stage when the ability to sense various smells has already been lost, then even surgical removal of polyps cannot always return the child’s gift of smell.

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