Nasal wash or vacuum cleaner? Opinions differ even among doctors, and parents often receive conflicting information. ENT doctor Cristina Goanta explains what are the recommendations based on scientific evidence and how they can be safely applied to young children.
“One doctor says one way, another another. Who is right?“, this is one of the most frequent questions received by Cristina Goanta about nasal irrigation versus aspirator. The answer, says the doctor, must be an honest one and based on evidence: “The honest answer, based on scientific evidence, is this: there are no strict, one-size-fits-all protocols“.
According to the doctor, the major international guidelines, including the American and European ones, do not provide precise indications for children under two years of age. “The big international guidelines don’t clearly say how many times a day, what exact volume or what device is “mandatory””she explains in a Facebook post.
The reason is simple:Because there are not enough quality studies to impose fixed rules”.
What is certain according to current studies
Even in the absence of rigid protocols, there are still a few things that experts agree on. “Saline nasal wash is safe and helpful”emphasizes Cristina Goanța, provided it is done correctly.
The doctor draws attention that the lavage must be done “as needed, not hour by hour”, that a larger volume helps clear secretions more effectively and that “excessive pressure is NOT recommended.” Also, the solution used must be “isotonic, properly prepared”.
When the nasal aspirator is indicated
As for the vacuum cleaner, the doctor says that it is not completely prohibited, but it should be used with great caution. “Shallow, gentle vacuuming is acceptable”but not the one “deep, frequent, aggressive“.
“NO every 2 hours “preventive”,” she warns, explaining that the vacuum cleaner should only be used “when the child cannot eat or breathe comfortably”.
Excessive vacuuming can do more harm than good. “It can irritate the mucous membrane, cause bleeding and does not provide additional benefits“, says the doctor.
The doctor’s conclusion: personalized care, not rigid
Cristina Goanța sums up her position clearly: “Nasal washing is the basis of care”, again “the vacuum cleaner = a helper, not the main solutionEverything has to be adapted to the child, the symptoms and the context.
The doctor also explains his personal perspective: “I, as a mother and as an ENT doctor, did not suction my children, for example, because I felt that it was a traumatic procedure for the mucous membrane and ultimately leads to the production of a new series of mucus through irritation“. At the same time, she emphasizes that “occasional vacuuming will do no harm for your child”.
The final message is one of balance and confidence in one’s own judgment: “If you hear different opinions, it doesn’t mean that someone is wrong – it means that science does not yet impose a single prescription“. And good medicine, concludes the doctor, “it doesn’t mean “rigid”, but customized and gentle, especially for the little ones”.
