Connie K. Ho for redOrbit.com — Your Universe Online
Researchers recently discovered that “mother´s kiss,” a technique to take out foreign objects stuck in kid´s nasal passages, is an effective method that limits the need for more invasive procedures like hooks or forceps.
There are a number of objects that can become lodged in a child´s nasal passageway. Some of objects may include items like beads, crayons, cotton, erasers, food, dried beans, seeds, small toys, and paper wads. Symptoms can include problems breathing, nasal discharge, as well as irritation or pain in the nose. The findings on the effectiveness of the “mother´s kiss” were recently published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).
“The mother’s kiss appears to be a safe and effective technique for first-line treatment in the removal of a foreign body from the nasal cavity,” commented Dr. Stephanie Cook of the Buxted Medical Centre in the United Kingdom in a prepared statement. “In addition, it may prevent the need for general anesthesia in some cases.”
With this method, the mother of the child or a relative utilizes his or her mouth to cover the mouth of the child. The person also blocks the nostril with a finger and blows into the mouth, which creates a cover. The breath from the mouth then acts as a suction to remove the foreign object. Based on the study, the researchers recommend that the parent or relative first explain to the child the technique so that he or she is not afraid. It can also be done with the help of a medical expert and repeated however many times until the object is removed.
“[Mother´s kiss] can work,” Dr. Nina Shapiro of Mattel Children´s Hospital of the University of California, Los Angeles told WebMD. “It is more important that there were no adverse events such as bleeding or pushing the object further up the nostril.” According to the findings of this study, “the worst thing that can happen is that it doesn’t work.”
According to U.S. News, the team of investigators looked at eight case studies and concluded that the technique was useful for youths between the ages of one and eight years of age.
“Children feel comfortable and are not threatened with this removal technique that we commonly utilize in the emergency department,” remarked Dr. Robert Glatter in the WebMD article.
The scientists recommend that parents and guardians first discuss with their pediatricians on the “mother´s kiss” for any special instructions.
“The mom has to be brave,” continued Glatter in the WebMD article. “Some parents want to try it and others are scared of it.”
They team of investigators believe that further studies need to be done to analyze the different positive-pressure techniques and to identify the effectiveness in various situations, depending on the object or the duration that the object is caught in the nasal passages.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine under the National Institutes of Health also offers helpful information for parents who may find that their children have foreign objects in the nasal passage. Medical experts recommend that items should not be removed with tweezers or other tools. To prevent items from becoming stuck in a child´s nasal passages, it is best to keep small objects away from infants and toddlers as well as to prevent children from placing objects in various body openings.
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