Nasal Obstructions

Treatments

Treatment for a nasal obstruction depends on its cause and your child’s specific situation. Your child’s Riley at IU Health specialist may recommend one of the following treatments for nasal polyps:

• Nasal corticosteroid spray. The first course of treatment for nasal polyps is usually a spray that can sometimes help reduce or even eliminate the polyps.
• Oral corticosteroids. Your child’s doctor may recommend oral corticosteroid medicines to help shrink the polyps.
• Surgery. When nasal polyps are large, endoscopic surgery may be necessary to remove them. Usually, this surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, and your child should be able to return home the same day.

Treatments for other types of nasal obstructions include:

• Septoplasty. If your child has a deviated septum that obstructs his or her nasal passages, the doctor may recommend this surgical procedure to correct the obstruction. Septoplasty is usually performed on an outpatient basis, and your child should be able to go home that same day.
• Turbinate reduction. If your child has tissue covering the turbinate bone that is swollen, the doctor may operate to reduce the tissue or to prevent it from swelling. If the bone is enlarged, the doctor may recommend this minimally invasive surgical procedure to shave down the bone. Turbinate reduction is usually performed on an outpatient basis, and your child should be able to go home that same day.
• Adenoidectomy. The doctor may recommend that your child’s adenoids be removed. Adenoidectomy is usually performed on an outpatient basis, and your child should be able to go home that same day.