Using Otrivin Paediatric Nasal Drops to ease your child’s congestion.

A blocked nose can severely impact how your child eats, sleeps and breathes throughout the day or night, so it’s only natural that you want to get them some relief as quickly as possible.

Nasal congestion can be caused by several things, including the common cold, sinusitis, or allergic rhinitis. Whatever the cause, a nasal decongestant like Otrivin Paediatric can help to ease symptoms for your child with nasal drops specially designed for treating little ones’ nasal congestion.

There are different types of nasal decongestant drops. Some contain medications to target the biological processes going on in your nose or sinus, while some use natural ingredients like isotonic saline solution to gently clear the blocked nose.

Learn more about nasal decongestion, and how Otrivin nasal drops can help relieve your child’s blocked nose, below.

Why is my child’s nose blocked?

Inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose leads to swelling and congestion of the nasal passages. Nasal congestion can lead to the build-up of thick mucus in the nose and cause a frequent desire to blow the nose, disturbing sleep and impacting your ability to breathe normally. In short, nasal congestion can have a considerable negative impact on daily life.1,2

There are many common causes of nasal congestion, including:1,2

  • Upper respiratory viral infections such as common cold or flu
  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Sinusitis

Of these, the cold is one of the most common causes, affecting adults around two to four times per year, and young children around six times per year. Nasal congestion is the most common symptom among common cold sufferers.1,2

Young woman sneezes into a tissue as she tries to relieve her congested nose.

What are nasal decongestant drops?

Nasal decongestant drops are a type of medicine that you put into your nose to reduce swelling of nasal blood vessels and relieve nasal congestion. Nasal decongestant drops are taken differently from nasal sprays. Ask your doctor if you have any queries on how to use them.4

Using the correct technique will help the medication work more effectively. The aim is to get the liquid to spread over all the inside surface of the nose – including the upper surface.4

Whenever you use any type of nasal decongestant drops, be sure to read the instructions carefully and follow the instructions for use.

 

Otrivin Paediatric Nasal Drops.

If your child is suffering with a blocked nose due to a cold, try Otrivin Paediatric nasal drops for kids (aged 1-11 years).

Otrivin Paediatric helps to open up and unblock the nasal passages by reducing any excessive nasal secretions and returns the swollen blood vessels to their normal size. A nasal decongestant specially designed for kids and babies from one year old, it acts in just two minutes and provides long-lasting relief from nasal congestion for up to 12 hours. This is because Otrivin Paediatric nasal solution is applied directly inside the nose, so it can get to work on a blocked nose quickly.

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Otrivin Paediatric Nasal Drops

How to use Otrivin Paediatric Nasal Drops?

The usual recommended dose of Otrivin Paediatric nasal drops is:

Dosage:

Otrivin Paediatric is indicated in children aged 1 to 11 years old only under adult supervision. Otrivin Paediatric Nasal Drops is to be used as nasal drops only. The dose is as follows

For children 1-5 years of age: 1-2 drops into each nostril, every 8-10 hours. Do not exceed 3 applications daily into each nostril. 

For children 6-11 years of age: 2-4 drops into each nostril, 2-3 times daily as needed. Do not exceed 3 applications daily into each nostril.

Do not exceed 3 applications daily into each nostril. It is recommended to make the last application shortly before retiring to bed. Otrivin Paediatric should not be used for more than 10 consecutive days. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor. Prolonged or excessive use may cause stuffiness in the nose to return or worsen.

Instructions to administer Otrivin Paediatric are as below:

Follow these simple steps to use Otrivin Paediatric:

  1. Gently clean your child's nose
  2. Before applying the nasal drops to your child’s nose, practice your dosage control by using the bottle as dropper
  3. Tilt your child's head slightly back (as far as is comfortable)
  4. Without touching the nose, very carefully apply the drop(s) into each nostril. Keep the head tilted back for a short time to allow the drops to spread throughout the nose
  5. If the drop completely misses the child's nose, simply administer the drop again
  6. If any part of the drop gets into the nose, do not administer the drop again
  7. Repeat with the other nostril
  8. Clean and dry the nozzle before replacing it back into the bottle immediately after use
  9. To avoid possible spread of infection, the bottle should only be used by one person

Consider your options to unblock your child’s nose.

Otrivin has a range of products for children.

For Infants, toddlers and children, Otrivin Baby Saline, which contains isotonic saline solution and aloe vera, helps in blocked nose by loosening nasal secretions, making its removal easier. It also gently cleanses and moisturises the nasal cavity. Aloe vera provides further moisturisation, thus giving a soothing effect.5

Otrivin Paediatric nasal drops, which contains xylometazoline, helps in providing relief from nasal congestion in children (one year and above) by unblocking the nose, reducing any excessive nasal secretions, and returning swollen blood vessels to their normal size.3

Otrivin Paediatric nasal drops can be used when your child complains of a blocked nose due to cold that may be making breathing difficult.  It acts in just two minutes and provides long-lasting relief from nasal congestion for up to 12 hours.3

Otrivin Moist P nasal drops helps to provide relief in nasal congestion due to allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, or cold. A nasal decongestant suitable for kids (and babies above one years of age), it acts in just two minutes and provides long-lasting relief from nasal congestion for up to 12 hours. Otrivin Moist P nasal drops contains xylometazoline in an aqueous solution of sorbitol and hypermellose. Hypermellose has high water retention and thickening properties. Sorbitol helps to retain water. Together in aqueous solution they prevent drying and irritation of nasal mucosa and provides further moisturisation.6 

Otrivin Breathe Clean can be used for daily nasal cleaning. It is a nasal wash that helps to clean pollutants, germs, and allergens from the nasal passage thus maintaining nasal health.7

You should always ask your doctor, which Otrivin product is best suited for your child’s condition before initiating a treatment.

 

References:

  1. Eccles R, Eriksson M, Garreffa S, et al. The nasal decongestant effect of xylometazoline in the common cold. Am J Rhinol. 2008;22:491-496 
  2. Eccles R, Martenssen K, Chen S. Effects of intranasal xylometazoline, alone or in combination with ipratropium, in patients with common cold. Curr Med Res Opin. 2010;26:889–899
  3. Otrivin Paediatric PIL
  4. NHS. Steroid nasal sprays. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/steroid-nasal-sprays/ (last accessed March 2020)
  5. Otrivin Baby Saline PIL
  6. Otrivin Moisturising Paediatric PIL
  7. Otrivin Breathe Clean PIL

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