| Nasal congestion |
| Classification and external resources |
| ICD-9 |
478.19 |
| MedlinePlus |
003049 |
Nasal congestion is the blockage of the nasal passages usually due to membranes lining the nose becoming swollen from inflamed blood vessels.[1] It is also known as nasal blockage, nasal obstruction, blocked nose, stuffy nose, or plugged nose.
Nasal congestion has many causes and can range from a mild annoyance to a life-threatening condition. The newborn infant prefers to breathe through the nose (historically referred to as "obligate nasal breathers").[2] Nasal congestion in an infant in the first few months of life can interfere with breastfeeding and cause life-threatening respiratory distress. Nasal congestion in older children and adolescents is often just an annoyance but can cause other difficulties.
Nasal congestion can interfere with the ears, hearing, and speech development. Significant congestion may interfere with sleep, cause snoring, and can be associated with sleep apnea. In children, nasal congestion from enlarged adenoids has caused chronic sleep apnea with insufficient oxygen levels and hypoxia, as well as right-sided heart failure. The problem usually resolves after surgery to remove the adenoids and tonsils.
Nasal congestion can also cause mild facial and head pain, and a degree of discomfort.
Contents
- 1 Causes
- 2 Assessment of nasal obstruction
- 3 Treatment
- 4 References
Causes[edit]
- Allergic reaction[3]
- Common cold[3] or influenza
- Deviated septum
- Hay fever,[3] allergic reaction to pollen or grass
- Reaction to medication (e.g. Flomax)
- Rhinitis medicamentosa[3] a condition of rebound nasal congestion brought on by extended use of topical decongestants (e.g., oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, xylometazoline, and naphazoline nasal sprays).
- Sinusitis or sinus infection[3]
- If the body is in a position where a lot of blood enters the head (e.g. upside down), the blood vessels in the nasal passage may inflame.
- Many women suffer from nasal congestion during pregnancy[3] due to the increased amount of blood flowing through the body.
- Nasal polyps[3]
- Concha bullosa
- Empty nose syndrome
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (theorized to cause chronic rhinosinusitis- the "airway reflux paradigm")[4]
Assessment of nasal obstruction[edit]
Nasal obstruction characterized by insufficient airflow through the nose can be a subjective sensation or the result of objective pathology.[5] It is difficult to quantify by subjective complaints or clinical examinations alone, hence both clinicians and researchers depend both on concurrent subjective assessment and on objective measurement of the nasal airway.[6] Often a doctor's assessment of a perfectly patent nasal airway might differ with a patient's complaint of an obstructed nose.
Treatment[edit]
The treatment of nasal congestion frequently depends on the underlying cause.
Alpha-adrenergic agonists are the first treatment of choice. They relieve congestion by constricting the blood vessels in the nasal cavity, thus resulting in relieved symptoms. Examples include oxymetazoline and phenylephrine.
Both influenza and the common cold are self-limiting conditions that improve with time; however, drugs such as acetaminophen (paracetamol), aspirin, and ibuprofen may help with the discomfort.
A cause of nasal congestion may also be due to an allergic reaction caused by hay fever, so avoiding allergens is a common remedy if this becomes a confirmed diagnosis. Antihistamines and decongestants can provide significant symptom relief although they do not cure hay fever. Antihistamines may be given continuously during pollen season for optimum control of symptoms. Topical decongestants should only be used by patients for a maximum of 3 days in a row, because rebound congestion may occur in the form of rhinitis medicamentosa.
Nasal decongestants target the discomfort directly. These come as nasal sprays like naphazoline (Privine), oxymetazoline (Afrin, Dristan, Duramist), or phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine, Sinex, Rhinall) or as oral pills (Bronkaid, Sudafed, Neo-Synephrine, Sinex, Rhinall). Oral decongestants may be used for up to a week without consulting a doctor, with the exception of Bronkaid and Sudafed, which can be taken as long as needed, but nasal sprays could worsen the congestion if taken for many days; therefore, you should only take nasal sprays when discomfort cannot be remedied by other methods, and never for more than three days.[7]
If an infant is unable to breathe because of a plugged nose, a nasal aspirator may be useful to remove the mucus. The mucus might be thick and sticky, making it difficult to expel from the nostril.
References[edit]
- ^ "Nasal congestion". MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. A.D.A.M., Inc.
- ^ Bergeson, PS; Shaw, JC (October 2001). "Are infants really obligatory nasal breathers?". Clinical pediatrics 40 (10): 567–9. doi:10.1177/000992280104001006. PMID 11681824.
- ^ a b c d e f g Nasal congestion at MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. Update Date: 8/2/2011. Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro. Also reviewed by David Zieve.
- ^ Pacheco-Galván, A; Hart, SP; Morice, AH (2011 Apr). "Relationship between gastro-oesophageal reflux and airway diseases: the airway reflux paradigm.". Archivos de bronconeumologia 47 (4): 195–203. PMID 21459504.
- ^ Wang DY, Raza MT, Gordon BR. Control of nasal obstruction in perennial allergic rhinitis. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 Jun;4(3):165-170.
- ^ Wang DY, Raza MT, Goh YT, Lee BW, Chan YH. Acoustic rhinometry in nasal allergen challenge study: which dimensional measures are meaningful? Clin Exp Allergy 2004;34:1093-1098
- ^ Help for Sinus Pain and Pressure WebMd
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Common cold
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| Viruses |
- Rhinovirus
- Coronavirus
- Orthomyxoviruses
- Influenza A virus
- Influenza B virus
- Influenza C virus
- Human parainfluenza viruses
- Human respiratory syncytial virus
- Adenovirus
- Enterovirus
- Metapneumovirus
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| Symptoms |
- Sore throat
- Rhinorrhea
- Nasal congestion
- Sneezing
- Cough
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
- Malaise
- Headache
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
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| Complications |
- Acute bronchitis
- Bronchiolitis
- Croup
- Pharyngitis
- Pneumonia
- Sinusitis
- Otitis media
- Strep throat
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| Antiviral drugs |
- Pleconaril (experimental)
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anat (n, x, l, c)/phys/devp
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noco (c, p)/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, injr
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proc, drug (R1/2/3/5/6/7)
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Pathology of respiratory system (J, 460–519), respiratory diseases
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Upper RT
(including URTIs,
Common cold) |
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Head
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- sinuses
- Sinusitis
- nose
- Rhinitis
- Vasomotor rhinitis
- Atrophic rhinitis
- Hay fever
- Nasal polyp
- Rhinorrhea
- nasal septum
- Nasal septum deviation
- Nasal septum perforation
- Nasal septal hematoma
- tonsil
- Tonsillitis
- Adenoid hypertrophy
- Peritonsillar abscess
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Neck
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- pharynx
- Pharyngitis
- Strep throat
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)
- Retropharyngeal abscess
- larynx
- Croup
- Laryngitis
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)
- Laryngospasm
- vocal folds
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)
- Vocal fold nodule
- Vocal cord paresis
- Vocal cord dysfunction
- epiglottis
- Epiglottitis
- trachea
- Tracheitis
- Tracheal stenosis
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Lower RT/lung disease
(including LRTIs) |
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Bronchial/
obstructive
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- acute
- Acute bronchitis
- chronic
- COPD
- Chronic bronchitis
- Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis
- Acute exacerbation of COPD
- Emphysema)
- Asthma (Status asthmaticus
- Aspirin-induced
- Exercise-induced
- Bronchiectasis
- unspecified
- Bronchitis
- Bronchiolitis
- Bronchiolitis obliterans
- Diffuse panbronchiolitis
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Interstitial/
restrictive
(fibrosis) |
External agents/
occupational
lung disease |
- Pneumoconiosis
- Asbestosis
- Baritosis
- Bauxite fibrosis
- Berylliosis
- Caplan's syndrome
- Chalicosis
- Coalworker's pneumoconiosis
- Siderosis
- Silicosis
- Talcosis
- Byssinosis
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- Bagassosis
- Bird fancier's lung
- Farmer's lung
- Lycoperdonosis
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Other
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- ARDS
- Pulmonary edema
- Löffler's syndrome/Eosinophilic pneumonia
- Respiratory hypersensitivity
- Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
- Hamman-Rich syndrome
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Sarcoidosis
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Obstructive or
restrictive
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Pneumonia/
pneumonitis
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By pathogen
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- Viral
- Bacterial
- Atypical bacterial
- Mycoplasma
- Legionnaires' disease
- Chlamydiae
- Fungal
- Parasitic
- noninfectious
- Chemical/Mendelson's syndrome
- Aspiration/Lipid
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By vector/route
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- Community-acquired
- Healthcare-associated
- Hospital-acquired
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By distribution
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IIP
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Other
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- Atelectasis
- circulatory
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pulmonary embolism
- Lung abscess
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Pleural cavity/
mediastinum |
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Pleural disease
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- Pneumothorax/Hemopneumothorax
- Pleural effusion
- Hemothorax
- Hydrothorax
- Chylothorax
- Empyema/pyothorax
- Malignant
- Fibrothorax
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Mediastinal disease
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- Mediastinitis
- Mediastinal emphysema
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| Other/general |
- Respiratory failure
- Influenza
- SARS
- Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis
- Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
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anat (n, x, l, c)/phys/devp
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