Foreign body in the nose

This article discusses first aid for a foreign object placed into the nose.

Considerations

Curious young children may insert small objects into their nose in a normal attempt to explore their own bodies. 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 a parent being aware of the problem. The object may only be discovered when visiting a health care provider to find the cause of irritation, bleeding, infection, or difficulty breathing.

Symptoms

Symptoms that your child may have a foreign body in his or her nose include:

• Difficulty breathing through the affected nostril

  Difficulty breathing

  Breathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathingUncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough air

  

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• Feeling of something in the nose
• Foul-smelling or bloody nasal discharge

  Nasal discharge

  A stuffy or congested nose occurs when the tissues lining the nose become swollen. The swelling is due to inflamed blood vessels. The problem may a...

  

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• 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

Get medical help right away if:

• 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

Prevention

Prevention measures may include:

• Cut food into appropriate sizes for small children.
• Discourage talking, laughing, or playing while food is in the mouth.
• Do not give foods such as hot dogs, whole grapes, nuts, popcorn, or hard candy to children under age 3.
• Keep small objects out of the reach of young children.
• Teach children to avoid placing foreign objects into their noses and other body openings.