What are the dangers of long-term nasal congestion?

Many people are prone to nasal congestion for a long time, especially many children after catching a cold. Because of their immune function deficiency, they are prone to nasal congestion and runny nose symptoms, so many children will constantly pick their noses. When this happens, the harm is very great, which may cause suffocation and dizziness, and must be treated.

Children are prone to nasal congestion and runny nose. On the one hand, this is because their immune function is not sound, their body resistance is poor, and they are susceptible to diseases such as colds. On the other hand, it is related to the anatomical structure and physiological function characteristics of the nasal cavity in children, such as the incomplete development of the maxillary bone and skull, the relatively short nose and nasal cavity; the nasal hairs in the nasal cavity are sparse; the nasal mucosa is tender, and the blood vessels and lymphatic tissues are relatively abundant compared to adults. Improper treatment of baby's nasal congestion can lead to some serious consequences. Parents should be careful about the following four major hazards.

1. Children with nasal obstruction who breathe through their mouths for a long time may develop a series of pathophysiological changes. The children often show chronic illness, anemia, developmental disorders, lack of energy, mental retardation, poor memory, headaches, and often grind their teeth at night. Some children may even have enuresis.

2. Due to nasal breathing disorders, the nasal mucosa becomes congested, the posterior end of the inferior turbinate swells, there is often nasal congestion and excessive secretions, the nasal vestibule and upper lip skin are irritated by nasal mucus for a long time, and dermatitis or eczema often occurs.

3. Due to nasal obstruction, people breathe through their mouths for a long time, snore when falling asleep, have restless sleep at night, and feel listless. Over time, these changes may occur in the cheeks and oral cavity, such as developmental disorders of the facial bones, upturned upper lip, drooping mandible, disappearance of the nasolabial groove, high arched hard palate, uneven teeth, malocclusion, and deviated nasal septum, forming a special proliferative face. Normally, the lungs are not fully expanded, which will eventually lead to pectus excavatum. Hypertrophy of the eustachian tube cartilage can hinder the movement of the eustachian tube cartilage, making it easy for middle ear effusion to occur and cause conductive hearing loss.

4. Dysfunction of the respiratory and digestive systems. Due to the stimulation and infection of inflammatory secretions in the nasopharynx, children often suffer from cough, asthma, laryngeal spasm, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia and pneumonia. If nasopharyngeal secretions are swallowed for a long time, it may cause gastrointestinal dysfunction and constipation or diarrhea. A small number of children develop cor pulmonale or acute heart failure due to chronic nasal congestion and long-term hypoxia. Long-term nasal congestion will affect the physical and intellectual development of children.