Nasal obstruction of the newborn: a differential diagnosis

Abstract

Introduction: The nasal obstruction is potentially severe when affecting newborns, preferential nasal breathers. The newborns with nasal obstruction may present from an asymptomatic affection up to a severe situation of airway obstruction, with cyclical cyanosis. The cyanosis worsens with feeding and improves with crying. Despite the most common cause of obstruction in the newborn is mucosa edema secondary to viral rhinitis or idiopathic rhinitis of the child, it is important to be attentive to the diagnosis of the nasal anatomic alterations. Although not much frequent, they represent affections in which the early diagnosis and management are basic to prevent airway obstruction and feeding difficulties with recurrent aspiration. Objective: The objective of this case report is to describe the three most common causes of anatomic nasal obstruction in newborns: the choanal atresia, dacryocystocele and anterior piriform opening stenosis. Final Comments: The clinical characteristics, diagnostic investigation and treatment of these three pathologies are presented. Therefore, we seek to alert as to the importance that the nasal probe passage be part of the physical exam of every newborn, specially when it has breathing disorder upon birth and/or cyanosis when breastfeeding.

Keywords

• Nasal obstruction
• Newborn
• Choanal atresia
• Nasolacrimal duct