Question
My son is 4 years old and has been suffering from a runny nose since August this year. Initially, I thought it was just a cold and gave him some cold medicine. However, he started bleeding from the nose, so I took him to the county hospital’s department of otorhinolaryngology in October. They said it was rhinitis but didn’t specify what kind. I received two injections of symptomatic anti-inflammatory medication, and there was a slight improvement for a few days. But then the runny nose turned purulent again, and it came and went. Now he also has symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and itchy eyes. Sometimes there are blood threads in his snot. At night, his nose is quite stuffy. I’ve been giving him traditional Chinese medicine for the past two days, but there has been no significant improvement. What methods can be used to cure this disease? What kind of rhinitis does my son have, and how should it be treated?
Answer
Treating children’s rhinitis requires parents to be observant, identify the symptoms, and promptly seek consultation with an otolaryngology department in a regular hospital. Children under 6 years of age should not undergo needle aspiration irrigation, and it is crucial not to use adult rhinitis medication randomly. Infants should discontinue vasoconstrictor agents such as nasal drops or ephedrine. Parents should learn the correct method of blowing their child’s nose. Many people are accustomed to pinching both nostrils with a handkerchief or tissue to blow their child’s nose, which can cause snot to flow back into the sinus cavity, leading to bacterial infection and sinusitis. The correct method is to block one nostril at a time and blow each one clean. Drinking plenty of plain water and juice helps soften nasal secretions and reduce respiratory tract obstruction. If there is an excessive amount of secretion, you can use hot water or steam inhalation to vaporize the snot. In summary, improving and controlling environmental factors, and doing preventive work is the first choice. It is important to seek consultation with an otolaryngology department in a regular hospital as soon as possible. Prevention should also be emphasized in treating allergic rhinitis.
