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Our nose is one of the most important organs of the human body, especially for newborns who cannot breathe through their mouths immediately after birth.
Therefore, it needs care and proper care regardless of the person’s age. This is achieved by washing the nose correctly (the so-called nasal irrigations), which is not a therapeutic intervention but is the hygiene of the nose itself. It is exactly the same process that we follow when brushing our teeth. We do not brush our teeth when they have a problem (e.g. tooth decay). On the contrary, meticulous and daily cleaning prevents and contributes to the reduction of dental diseases.

There are various preparations on the market with which nasal irrigation can be done.

• Syringe (5, 10 and 20ml) which we fill with saline (packages
  of 250, 500 and 1000ml)
• Ampoules ready for use with sometimes a different amount of saline (5 and 10 ml)
•  Various sprays which are applied to the nasal cavity (with saline, seawater, etc.)
• Various devices which use special sachets for the preparation isotonic
  fluid.

Of course, nasal irrigations should be done in the right way. The method of choosing nasal irrigations depends on the age of the person.

So until the age of 6 months, the baby is initially placed on one side and we put the saline solution (5 to 10 ml at a time) in the upper nostril and then we reverse the process.

The goal is always to have it enter through one nostril and come out through the other. This prevents swallowing the solution, which is sometimes annoying for children, resulting in poor future cooperation. After this age, we can sit the child with his head upright and apply the solution (10 to 20ml). Again, the goal is to have it enter through one nostril and come out through the other.

In this case, we do not need to clean both nostrils since our nose is connected at the back, resulting in the entire nasal cavity being cleaned. In older children, the procedure is done in front of the sink with the head upright and slightly bent forward. The amount of serum is up to the age of 4 years 20ml to 30ml at a time, after four 40ml and over eight years 60 to 80 ml. This is done systematically morning and evening and in cases where the child has a lot of mucus (due to a simple infection) we can repeat it several times a day.

The syringe should be applied perpendicularly (90 degrees) to the face so that the normal serum enters the child’s nose easily and painlessly. During the nasal irrigation process, the child should never report pain in his ears. In this case, we stop the nasal irrigation and ask our doctor.

Nasal irrigation ensures good nasal breathing since our nose is cleansed of secretions. It provides the nose with the necessary moisture, helps in the liquefaction of mucus as well as in the absorption of topical medications.