According to new research, saline nasal sprays can effectively be used in the management of snoring and sleep-disordered breathing in children.
At least 1 kid out of 10 will experience snoring and breathing difficulty during sleep. These problems can lead to long-term consequences in children, including their cognitive function, behaviour and cardiovascular health.
Most doctors suggest tonsillectomy- a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils to get relief from snoring and breathing difficulties. Also, inflammation and infection in the tonsils are very common in children, which can cause breathing difficulty.
But according to new research published in JAMA Pediatrics, sleep-disordered breathing in children can be initially managed with saline nasal sprays, which are said to be very effective and are also recommended.
The study was conducted on children between 3 to 12 years with sleep-disordered breathing. A total of 276 children were involved in the study. Half of the participants were given saline nasal spray, and the other half were given intranasal corticosteroids for a period of six weeks.
The results of the study showed that saline nasal spray was as effective as intranasal corticosteroid in reducing the symptoms in approximately 40% of the participants.
Saline nasal sprays help clean the nose and reduce the inflammation not only in the nose but also all the way down to the throat, including adenoids and tonsils, to relieve the symptoms.
Before enrolling in the study, many children were suggested by surgeons to get their tonsils or adenoids removed. But on participation and completion of the study (six weeks), the need for surgery was reduced in half of the participants. Also, there was a significant reduction in snoring and breathing difficulties.
Hence, doctors suggest prescribing saline nasal spray as a first-line treatment for children with snoring and breathing difficulty. It is an effective, pocket-friendly, and safe approach for snoring and breathing difficulty due to various reasons.
Reference: https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/saline-as-effective-as-steroid-in-children-with-sl
