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The debate over whether or not to clean a child's nose with a nasal aspirator is currently sparking mixed reactions, causing significant concern among families. Recently, instructional videos on nasal cleaning using a nasal aspirator have been gaining considerable attention. So, should you clean your child's nose with a nasal aspirator?
There has been a considerable amount of debate surrounding the issue of cleaning a child's nose with a nasal aspirator, leaving mothers worried about the safety of this method. However, there are also many opinions suggesting that this is a safe and effective way to clean the nose, without causing harm to the child's nasal mucosa. As a result, many mothers are rushing to purchase nasal aspirator devices with silicone tips to improvise nasal cleaning for their children.
According to Dr. Truong Huu Khanh from Children's Hospital 1, using a nasal aspirator to clean a child's nose is very dangerous because this type exerts very high pressure during cleaning, which can easily cause choking and psychological shock in young children. Even sucking mucus or cleaning a child's nose with inaccurate pressure can damage the child's nasal mucosa. Moreover, using a nasal aspirator with a sharp tip can cause injuries such as nosebleeds and scratched mucosa. Additionally, a child's swallowing reflex is very weak, so using an old nasal aspirator can sometimes cause the child to inhale liquid into their lungs.
MSc. Dr. Dao Dinh Thi from the National ENT Hospital also emphasizes the need for caution when cleaning a child's nose with a nasal aspirator. Only use a nasal aspirator for cleaning when there is no inflammation present. This is because if the nose is inflamed (blocked nose) and water is directly pumped into one ear, the other ear will not be able to drain properly. When water cannot drain properly, it will overflow into both ears, leading to many children suffering from persistent nasal inflammation and sinusitis, compounded by middle ear inflammation due to pus buildup in the ear.
How to manage a child's runny or stuffy nose
According to Dr. Khanh, when a child experiences nasal congestion or a runny nose, parents should gently clear the child's nose and keep their feet warm to ensure a suitable sleeping environment. If the child has persistent nasal congestion, mothers can administer 2-3 drops of 0.9% saline solution into the child's nose, then use a nasal aspirator to suction out mucus and saline solution, repeating the process once more. When using a nasal aspirator, mothers should use clean, soft, absorbent tissues and remember to wash their hands thoroughly.
When cleansing a child's nose, it's recommended to use specialized nasal cleansing devices designed with standard pressure to avoid causing harm to the child's nasal mucosa. Mothers can choose the Nasopure nasal cleansing device, a specialized product from the United States, to cleanse their child's nose.
Additionally, mothers can use specialized nasal suction devices to maintain nasal hygiene for their child. Administering saline solution into the child's nose helps liquefy nasal secretions, then using a nasal suction device to gently remove the nasal secretions.
