Abstract
Nasal obstruction is the most common symptom in the field of rhinology. Its aetiology is based on similar reasons in adulthood and childhood. The nose may become blocked when the blood vessels supplying the mucosa become dilated in response to histamine release triggered by exposure to a pathogen or allergen. Sinusitis causes inflammation which may also involve the nose, as may secretions draining from the lesion, and these may worsen blockage. A deviated septum frequently blocks the nose. Hypertrophied turbinates may play a major role in nasal obstruction, given that half of the air passing through the nose goes through the middle passage. If the septum becomes perforated, the nasal airflow becomes turbulent, and this may cause reactive hypertrophy of the turbinates, causing even greater constriction to airflow. The nasal valve may also collapse if its framework of cartilage is inadequate, and this, too, can obstruct the nose. Rhinoplasty potentially plays a key role amongst iatrogenic causes of a blocked nose.
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Kütük, S.G., Başak, S., Soo, G. (2022). Nasal Obstruction in Childhood. In: Cingi, C., Arısoy, E.S., Bayar Muluk, N. (eds) Pediatric ENT Infections. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80691-0_17
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80691-0_17
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