Nose Obstruction
There are several possible causes for blockage of air in one or both nostrils. Except for the common cold, perhaps the most frequent cause for nasal obstruction in children is an enlargement of the adenoid tissue which may press against the openings from the nasal cavities into the pharynx. This causes mouth breathing, especially at night, and predisposes to a change in the shape of the face.
Hay fever commonly causes a swelling of the membranes within the nose and interferes with the passage of air. Enlargement of the conchae (turbinates) may also obstruct the air passages. Tumors, usually benign, occasionally develop within the nose. Among these, the common tumor is a polyp, an overgrowth of the tissue of the lining membranes.
The septum separating the right and left nasal cavities is sometimes displaced to one side or the other with consequent stoppage of air. This may be the result of a previous fracture, or it may have been congenital. The lodgment of a foreign body in the nose, such as a bean or an insect, may cause both irritation and obstruction.
