Foreign object in nose

At three years plus or even four plus, children are getting more and more inquisitive and curious. So do not be surprise when you spot something alien fly out from your child's nose when he sneezes! Kids at age of 3 and 4 are capable of putting foreign objects in their noses simply out of curiosity. So do check if there are broken or loose parts in their collection of toys.

Potential objects placed in the nose may include food, seeds, dried beans, small toys (such as marbles), crayon pieces, erasers, paper wads, cotton, and beads. A foreign body in a child's nose can be there for awhile without arousing the parents' attention. The object may only be discovered when visiting a doctor to find the cause of irritation, bleeding, infection, or difficulty breathing.

Below are some information on the symptoms and first aid advise from MedlinePlus, if something gets into the nose.

Symptoms

• Difficulty breathing through the affected nostril

• Feeling of something in the nose

• Foul-smelling or bloody nasal discharge

• Irritability, particularly in infants

• Irritation or pain in the nose

First Aid

• DO NOT search the nose with cotton swabs or other tools. This may push the object further into the nose.

• DO NOT use tweezers or other tools to remove an object that is stuck deep inside the nose.

• DO NOT try to remove an object that you cannot see or one that is not easy to grasp. This can push the object farther in or cause damage.

• Have the person breathe through the mouth. The person should not breathe in sharply. This may force the object in further.

• Gently press and close the nostril that does NOT have the object in it. Ask the person to blow gently. This may help push the object out.  Avoid blowing the nose too hard or repeatedly.

• If this method fails, get medical help.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

• The person cannot breathe well

• Bleeding occurs and continues for more than 2 or 3 minutes after you remove the foreign object, despite placing gentle pressure on the nose

• An object is stuck in both nostrils

• You cannot easily remove a foreign object from the person's nose

• You think an infection has developed in the nostril where the object is stuck

Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000037.htm