Topic Overview
Young children are more likely than older
children or adults to put small objects—such as beads, dried beans, popcorn,
plastic toy pieces, foam rubber, or small batteries—up their noses. If the
child doesn't tell you about it, your first clue may be a bad-smelling green or
yellow discharge or blood (epistaxis) from one of the child's nostrils. The
child's nose may also be tender and swollen.
Some objects in the
nose cause more problems than others.
Disc batteries (also called button cell batteries) are
more dangerous than other objects and should be removed immediately. The moist
tissue in the nose can cause the battery to release strong chemicals (alkali)
quickly, often in less than 1 hour. This can cause
serious damage to the sensitive mucous membranes lining the nose. Seeds, such
as beans or popcorn, can swell from the moistness of the nasal tissue, making
removal harder.
An object in the nose may cause some
irritation and swelling of the mucous membranes inside the nose. This swelling
can cause a stuffy nose, making it hard to breathe through the
nose.
Infection can develop in the nose or in the sinuses following
the insertion of an object. The longer the object is in the nose, the more
likely it is that an infection will develop. The first sign of infection is
usually increased drainage from the nose. It is usually from only one nostril.
The drainage may be clear at first but turns yellow, green, or brown. The
drainage may have an unpleasant odor. As the infection progresses, symptoms of
sinusitis or another
infection will develop.
An object
inserted in the nose may cause a
nosebleed if the object irritates the tissues in the
nose. The nasal tissue can be damaged from pressure against the object. This is
called pressure necrosis.
Older children and adults can also inhale
objects while working closely with small objects. Nose rings and metal studs
from nose piercings can also cause nose problems. A piece of glass may enter
the nose during an automobile accident. You may be unaware of this because of
other injuries that occur during the accident.
Check your symptoms to decide if and when you should see a doctor.
Check Your Symptoms
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Home Treatment
Removing an object from the nose
Follow these steps
to remove an object from the nose:
- Breathe through your mouth since the nose is
blocked.
- Pinch closed the side of the nose that doesn't have the
object in it, and try to blow the object out of the blocked side. You may need
to help a child pinch his or her nose.
- Blow your nose forcefully
several times. This may blow the object out of the nose.
- If the
object is partially out of the nose, you may be able to remove it. Stay still,
and remove the object with your fingers or blunt-nosed tweezers. Be careful not
to push the object farther into the nose. If a child resists or is not able to
stay still, do not attempt to remove the object.
- Some minor
bleeding from your nose may occur after the object is removed. This usually is
not serious and should stop after firmly pinching your nose shut for 10
minutes. See
how to stop a nosebleed.
You may be able to remove an object from a child's nose
using the "kiss technique." Do not try this if you are uncomfortable with it,
if your child says it hurts, or if your child becomes upset by your
attempts:
- Apply pressure to close the child's unaffected
nostril. You can do this, or the child can help by holding his or her finger on
the unaffected side of the nose.
- Blow a puff of air into the
child's mouth. The positive pressure of this puff will help push the object out
of the child's nose. You may need to repeat this activity several times.
Home treatment after removing an object from the nose
Some tenderness and nasal stuffiness are common after removing an object
from the nose. Home treatment will often relieve a tender, stuffy nose and make
breathing easier.
- Drink extra fluids for 2 to 3 days to keep
mucus thin.
- Breathe moist air from a humidifier, hot shower, or
sink filled with hot water.
- Increase the humidity in your home,
especially in the bedroom.
- Take an oral decongestant or use a
decongestant nasal spray. But be careful with these medicines. They may not be safe for young children or for people who have certain health problems, so check the label first. If you do use these medicines, always follow the directions about how much to use based on age and weight. Oral decongestants are not as helpful as nasal sprays
in children. Do not use a decongestant nasal spray for longer than 3 days.
Overuse of decongestant sprays may cause the mucous membranes to swell up more
than before (rebound effect). Avoid products containing antihistamines, which
dry the nasal tissue.
- Check the back of your throat for postnasal
drip. If streaks of mucus appear, gargle with warm water to prevent a sore
throat.
- Elevate your head at night by sleeping on an extra pillow.
This will decrease nasal stuffiness.
Medicine you can buy without a prescription
| Try a nonprescription
medicine to help treat your fever or pain: |
|
Talk to your child’s doctor before switching back and
forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. When you switch between two
medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine.
|
Safety tips
| Be sure to follow these
safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine: |
- Carefully read and follow all directions
on the medicine bottle and box.
- Do not take more than the
recommended dose.
- Do not take a medicine if you have had an
allergic reaction to it in the past.
- If
you have been told to avoid a medicine, call your doctor before you take
it.
- If you are or could be pregnant, do not take any medicine other
than acetaminophen unless your doctor has told you to.
-
Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than age 20
unless your doctor tells you to.
|
Symptoms to watch for during home treatment
Call your doctor if one or more of the following symptoms occur during
home treatment:
- A nosebleed cannot be stopped with home
treatment. See the topic
Nosebleeds.
- An
infection develops.
- Symptoms become more
severe or more frequent.
Prevention
Small children love to explore their
surroundings. They are also curious about their bodies. To prevent children
from inserting objects into their noses:
- Caution children not to put any object into a
body opening.
- Supervise young children, especially children younger
than age 4, to reduce the risk that they will put objects in their noses or
other body openings.
- Keep all objects small enough to be swallowed
or inserted into body openings away from small children.
- Store all
disc batteries in a safe place out of the reach of children. Properly dispose
of used disc batteries out of the reach of children.
Older children or adults should be cautious when working with
small objects or if they have nose piercings.
Preparing For Your Appointment
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your
health professional diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to
answer the following questions:
- What object is in the nose?
- How long
has the object been in the nose?
- Has the object been removed from
the nose? If the object has been removed:
- Was it all in one piece?
- Is there
a chance that part of the object is still in the nose?
- How long was the
object in the nose?
- What method did you use to remove the
object?
- Take the object with you to your appointment.
- What measures have been tried to remove the
object?
- Since the object was inserted, what symptoms have developed
or cleared up?
- Do you have any
health risks?
Credits
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
|
Last Revised
|
March 23, 2011 |