A common problem during the neonatal period is a runny nose and nasal congestion. Against the background of difficult nasal breathing, the baby does not sleep well, cannot eat normally and is constantly naughty. The difficulty in treatment lies in the inability of the newborn to blow his nose on his own, which requires active removal of mucus from the nasal passages. Electric nozzle suction is a good help for young parents in caring for their babies. With the help of the device, it is possible to gently cleanse the nasal passages from mucous secretions, dry crusts.
What is an aspirator? If you do not go into details, then this is a device for sucking out snot, which is used for medical and hygienic purposes.
Types of devices
There are several types of devices for aspiration of mucus from the nasal passages:
- syringe. It is considered the easiest to use. For the procedure, it is enough to purchase a small “pear” with a soft tip, which prevents tissue injury. This type of suction is recommended for use in the presence of watery snot located near the nostrils. After the procedure, it is important to clean the syringe well and disinfect it;
- electronic type. This device belongs to the most common devices. Its tip should be inserted into the nasal passage, turn on the nozzle suction, after which the mucus will be gently removed from the nose. Some models have an additional function - moisturizing the mucous membrane. Rycom belongs to this type. The set includes two tips, a transparent container, due to which it is possible to control the volume of aspirated mucus. The operation of the device is accompanied by music, which somewhat calms the baby;
- vacuum aspirator is modern and expensive. It gently removes mucus accumulations. Its work is accompanied by noise, vibrational vibrations, because of which the child may be afraid of the device. The device aspirates a viscous liquid under a certain pressure. The pressure can be adjusted, which is also important to prevent tissue damage. One of the types of nozzle suction is Baby vac;
- mechanical type. This snot suction device for children has the form of a tube, one end of which is carefully inserted into the nostril, the other is clasped by the lips of one of the parents. When the latter begins to inhale through the mouth, mucus begins to move through the tube, and the nasal passages are gradually cleared of mucous accumulations. Inspiratory force should be monitored to avoid injury to the nasal mucosa. During the procedure, there is a small chance of the mother swallowing mucus as there is no filter. The secretions accumulate in a special reservoir. This type of device is typical for Otrivin baby, as well as Marimer. Thanks to disposable tips, the spread of infection in the nasal cavities is prevented. The disadvantage of the mechanical type is the high risk of infection for the mother, because when inhaling, microbes can enter the respiratory tract.
How to choose a nozzle suction?
All nasal aspirators differ in cost, application and additional features. Before purchasing the device, you should familiarize yourself with the work of each, find out the user's feedback and take into account the advice of the pediatrician.
Depending on the structural features of the nasal passages of congenital or traumatic origin (narrow passages, deformed septum), the doctor may recommend one or another type of aspirator.
In addition, it is worth considering the presence of the function of washing and moisturizing the nasopharyngeal mucosa, as well as musical accompaniment of the hygienic procedure.
Popular aspirators
For babies, many devices have been developed for aspiration of mucous secretions from the nasal passages. For this purpose, the following can be used:
- Bebe Confort. The set includes a tube, a flask, a soft device, cleaning brushes. Of the shortcomings, it is worth highlighting the need for a strong breath to advance the snot, which is not always possible for mom to do. Given the small length of the tube, you need to bend low over the baby, which is not very convenient. The nose of the device is soft (which prevents tissue injury), but dull, so it does not enter the newborn's nostril. Due to the lack of a filter, mucus enters not only the collection flask, but through the tube into the respiratory tract of the parent;
- NoseFrida. The set includes a solid mouthpiece that does not deform from the onslaught of teeth, a long tube, a thick flask. The flask is easy to clean and fits well in the hand. The filters are reusable (they can be cleaned under hot water), which does not require additional material costs. All accessories for the device can be stored in a special container, which is very convenient for transportation;
- "Clean nose". According to the instructions, mucus can be aspirated using a vacuum cleaner or by sucking it out with mom's mouth. The latter method is not very convenient, since the tube is long, so a lot of effort must be made to move the mucus. With a vacuum cleaner, the procedure is simpler and much more effective, since all mucous secretions are removed. Among the shortcomings, it is worth highlighting the noise of a vacuum cleaner, which scares newborns. In addition, the baby's attachment is sharp, which is dangerous for the baby. Due to the lack of a filter, mucus partially accumulates in the flask, and partially enters the vacuum cleaner through the pipe. Storage is carried out in cardboard packaging, which is short-lived;
- Otrivin baby. The cardboard box contains a nasal nozzle, disposable nozzles (3 pieces), which are located in the cells. Also, the kit may include vials of saline solution for rinsing the nasal passages. Cleansing occurs by sucking mucus from the nasal passages by the mother through a mouthpiece tube. The tips should be changed after each procedure to prevent re-infection of the nasal cavities. Among the disadvantages of the aspirator, it is worth highlighting the risk of tissue injury when the nozzle is inserted into the nose. After cleansing, it is recommended to moisten the mucous membrane with saline (drop by drop into each nostril).
Indications
A device for sucking mucus is used for rhinitis, which is accompanied by profuse mucus secretion, swelling of the mucous membrane and impaired nasal breathing.
A nasal aspirator is necessary for children under 2-3 years old, since they are not yet able to blow their nose well.
Thanks to regular cleansing of the nasal passages, it is possible to restore the drainage function, prevent the accumulation of mucous secretions and the development of sinusitis.
Spleen suction is especially important for a child with frequent colds, immunodeficiency, allergic predisposition, as well as adenoids. Persistent snot can become a provoking factor for infection.
How to use the aspirator?
In order for the procedure not to worsen the course of the common cold, it is necessary to adhere to some rules. We emphasize that aspirators have a different mechanism of action, the features of which should be familiarized with before starting the procedure.
If cleansing is carried out for a therapeutic purpose, for example, with a runny nose, you must first use an aspirator to remove mucus, then moisten the nasal passages with saline or herbal decoction.
When the procedure is prescribed for hygiene, you first need to drip the passages with a medicinal solution, then aspirate the liquid. For this, Aqua Maris, Marimer can be used, as well as an infusion of chamomile, sage, oak bark, calendula.
During the instillation of the solution into the nasal passages, its volume should be monitored.With an increase in the amount of injected fluid, the risk of it entering the auditory tube, ear cavity, nasopharynx increases.
When the solution flows down the posterior pharyngeal wall, laryngospasm may develop, which is extremely dangerous for children.
There are some special features for each mucus aspirator:
- when using a syringe, squeeze it, insert the tip into the nostril, and smoothly release the “pear”. As a result of this, mucus is absorbed into the syringe, and the nose is cleared;
- if there is a mechanical aspirator in the house, you need to collect all the parts, insert one end into the baby's nostril, the other - to clasp the lips of one of the parents. With a smooth inhalation of the mother, the mucus begins to move along the tube, as a result of which the nasal passage is cleared. The procedure should be repeated on the other side;
- to start an electronic, vacuum type, it is enough to insert the tip into the nostril, turn on the device.
When an admixture of blood appears in the mucous secretions, it is required to immediately stop cleansing.
It is recommended to use a nozzle pump for newborns in the morning, preferably before feeding. This will make nasal breathing and feeding easier. The second time you need to cleanse your nose in the evening before bedtime to ensure proper breathing through the nose and to improve falling asleep.
After the procedure, be sure to rinse with water and sterilize the device. If the device is used incorrectly, tissue injury may occur. The risk of mucosal damage increases if the baby is restless and turns his head.
Advantages and disadvantages
Before using the device, you must read the instructions. You should also learn about the positive aspects of the technique and possible undesirable consequences.
When used correctly, the device is a safe device with minimal risk of mucosal damage. A nasal aspirator is used to remove snot, which makes it possible to prevent their accumulation in the paranasal sinuses, as well as the drainage of mucus into the lower respiratory tract.
The advantages include the ability to adjust the aspiration speed. For hygienic purposes, washing is recommended at low humidity in the nursery and dusty air. At the same time, many dry crusts form in the nasal passages, which make breathing difficult.
Despite the many advantages, it is still worth highlighting some of the negative aspects of the procedure. These include:
- high cost of an electronic, vacuum device;
- noisy operation of the device that works with a vacuum cleaner;
- sometimes it is not possible to completely remove the snot due to their strong viscosity. Before that, you need to drip a saline solution or herbal decoction to thin the mucus;
- if a syringe is used, it is impossible to estimate the amount of mucus aspirated.
Contraindications
It is not recommended to clean the child's nasal passages with a nasal aspirator in all cases. Let's see when to abandon hardware cleaning:
- in violation of the integrity of tissues in the nasopharyngeal zone. This applies to the post-traumatic and postoperative period;
- with obstruction of the nasal passages due to severe tissue edema, large polyps;
- in the presence of an anomaly in the structure of the nasal passages, when the tip cannot be inserted;
- with a tendency to nasal bleeding, pathology of the coagulation system;
- in the presence of oncological neoplasms in the nasopharyngeal zone.
Note that frequent aspiration of mucous secretions is fraught with increased secretion due to irritation of the mucous membrane by the tip of the device.
Remember that hardware cleansing is only one of the methods for treating a common cold. If the cause of rhinitis is an allergen, care must be taken to stop contact with it. In more severe cases, it may be necessary to prescribe vasoconstrictor drugs, the action of which is aimed at narrowing local blood vessels, reducing tissue edema and temporarily restoring nasal breathing.
