Effects of Different Nasal Irrigation Methods on Pain Level, Crying and Procedure Times in Nasal Congestion in Infants

Effects of Different Nasal Irrigation Methods on Pain Level, Crying and Procedure Times, and Physiologic Parameters in Nasal Congestion in Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different nasal irrigation (NI) methods for relieving nasal obstruction on pain, crying and procedure times, and physiologic parameters in infants with acute upper respiratory tract infection.

Acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are the leading cause of acute disease incidence worldwide. Nasal saline irrigation (NSI) is a recommended approach to relieve nasal symptoms and maintain upper airway patency in children, offering a safe, inexpensive, and well-tolerated symptomatic treatment for children with URTIs. Nasal irrigation (NI) relieves URTI symptoms by clearing mucus, reducing congestion, and improving breathing. NI techniques and irrigation solutions used to relieve nasal obstruction in infants are effective in providing procedural comfort. Considering the effectiveness of NI in relieving nasal congestion, which negatively influences the quality of life of children, filling the gap in the literature on NSI is crucial. This study was conducted to determine the effects of various NI methods (NI/NI + nontraumatic nasopharyngeal aspiration) using different irrigation solutions on pain, crying and procedure times, and physiologic parameters in infants with URTIs aged 6 months to 2 years.

Inclusion Criteria:

• infants aged between 6 months and 24 months, born at term, and recommended NSI for nasal cleansing by the physician due to a diagnosis of URTI.

Exclusion Criteria:

• infants with chronic diseases, nasal congestion due to reasons other than URTI, congenital anomalies related to the respiratory system, allergic rhinitis, unconsciousness, use of analgesics, antibiotics, and corticosteroids before admission to the hospital, and developmental retardation.