What is a blocked nose?

A blocked nose, sometimes called a ‘stuffy’ nose, happens when the mucous lining of the nose becomes swollen or inflamed. It is a common condition in both children and adults.

A blocked nose can be very uncomfortable for babies. It can make it hard for them to breathe through their nose.

The medical term for blocked nose is nasal congestion.

What is runny nose?

A runny nose happens when mucus drips or ‘runs’ out of your nose. It’s a common symptom in people of all ages, including babies.

A runny nose is sometimes called rhinorrhoea or rhinitis — these are similar conditions, but they’re not the same. Rhinorrhoea is when a thin, clear fluid runs from your nose. Rhinitis is when the inside of your nose is irritated and swollen.

What symptoms are related to a blocked or runny nose?

The symptoms related to a blocked or runny nose often depend on the cause.

Symptoms of a blocked nose

Signs of a blocked nose include swelling, inflammation and mucus inside your nose. This can make it hard to breathe through your nose. Other symptoms may include a feeling of ‘fullness’ in the face and sleep disturbance. Babies and young children can’t describe their symptoms or tell you that their nose is blocked — you may notice that they are unsettled or upset.

Newborn babies often only breathe through their noses (for example, when feeding), so a stuffy nose with mucus can make their breathing sound noisy.

Symptoms of a runny nose

Signs of a runny nose include sneezing, upper airway cough syndrome (known as ‘postnasal drip’) and nasal congestion.

If your child has a runny nose as a result of an allergy, they may also have itchy skin or watery eyes.

If your child does not have an allergy, you may notice that symptoms happen throughout the year, but they may become worse in certain weather conditions (for example, changes in temperature) and physical irritants (such as dust or smoke).

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

What does the colour of snot mean?

The colour of your baby’s mucus (or snot) can mean different things.

Clear

Clear mucus is normal. It helps to fight off infections and prevent your baby's nose from dirt and dust. However, if your baby has more clear, stringy mucus than normal, it can be a sign of allergies.

White

If your baby has had white mucus for more than 2 weeks, and is showing other symptoms, like a cough, it could be a sign that your baby has a cold or an upper respiratory infection.

Yellow or green

Yellow or green mucus usually means your baby is fighting an infection. If your baby has had yellow or green mucus for more than 10 days, and also has a fever, see your doctor.

Pink or red

Pink or red mucus is a sign of blood in their mucus. If your baby has a dry nose, their nasal passage could be irritated by allergies or dry air. It is usually nothing to worry about, but see your doctor if it happens regularly.

Brown

Brown mucus is usually a good sign that the mucus is doing what’s it’s meant to do, which is cleaning out dirt, dust and other pollutants from your baby’s nose and airway.

Black

Black mucus is a sign that your baby is unwell, and you should take your baby to see your doctor immediately.

What causes a blocked or runny nose?

Blocked or runny nose can be caused by many different things. Some are contagious (they can be passed from person to person), but many are not.

Some examples include:

• allergic or non-allergic rhinitis
• infection (for example, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or cold or flu)
• deviated septum
• cleft palate
• large adenoids
• tumour (rare)

How is the cause of a blocked or runny nose diagnosed?

Your baby’s doctor will examine them to check their symptoms and diagnose the cause. They will also ask you if your baby’s family members have any known allergies.

They will look for mucous, blood or other things that may be causing the blocked or runny nose. They will also check the physical structure inside your baby’s nose, to see that it the shape is normal and not causing irritation or breathing problems.

If your baby has a runny nose, they will look at the colour and consistency of the discharge as part of their review.

When should I see my doctor?

If you think your baby may have an object in their nose, a broken nose or some other physical problem that affects their breathing, take them to a doctor.

Your baby should also see if a doctor if:

• only one side of their nose is blocked or runny
• their nose is bleeding from one side
• the mucous from their nose smells bad
• they have had an injury (for example, if they fell or were dropped) and there is swelling
• symptoms affect your baby’s feeding

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

When to seek urgent care

If you think a child’s symptoms are the result of abuse or neglect, report it to a child protection authority.

You can also call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) — a national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for anyone who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence or sexual assault.

How is a blocked or runny nose treated?

If the only symptom your baby has is a blocked or runny nose, this is not usually a sign of serious illness. Often, they won’t need medical treatment.

If you’re worried, take your baby to your local child health clinic, or their doctor. They will check your baby and reassure you if there is nothing to worry about.

Self-care at home

If you can see that your baby has mucous around their nostril, you can clean it out using a salt solution (1 teaspoon of table salt dissolved in some cooled boiled water). Use a clean tissue or cotton swab, gently wash away the mucous. You can do this every 2 hours while they are awake.

Ask your doctor, child health nurse or pharmacist to show you how to use saline (sterile salt water) nose drops or spray. Apply this after you’ve cleaned away any visible mucous at or near the outside of your baby’s nostril.

Medicines for a blocked or runny nose

Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before you give your baby any medicine, including over-the-counter, complementary or alternative medicines.

If your baby seems to be in pain, ask your doctor or pharmacist if paracetamol mixture or drops might help relieve their discomfort. Tell them how old your baby is, so they can recommend the right dose.

Decongestant medicines that may be used in older children or adults should not be used in babies, unless your doctor has specifically prescribed them.

Can a blocked or runny nose affect how my baby feeds?

A blocked or runny nose can make it harder for your baby to feed. Young babies mostly breathe through their noses, especially during feeding, so if their nose is stuffy, they may struggle to latch or stay latched during breastfeeding or bottle feeding. This can lead to fussiness during feeds.

Clearing your baby’s nose before feeding can help them breathe more easily and feed more comfortably.

If your baby continues to have feeding difficulties or you notice signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies, it’s important to see a doctor.

What are the complications of a blocked or runny nose?

A blocked nose may lead to snoring, mouth breathing, reduced sense of smell, dribbling and possibly obstructive sleep apnoea.

For most babies, blocked or runny noses do not cause serious complications.

Can a blocked or runny nose be prevented?

While it’s not always possible to prevent a blocked or runny nose, there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of it happening.

Keeping your baby away from sick people can help prevent infections, which are a common cause of a blocked and runny nose.

Maintain good personal hygiene whenever you are around your baby.

You can keep your baby’s nasal passages clear with saline drops to help them breathe more easily.

Resources and support

Learn more on symptoms and treatment of the common cold at HealthyWA.

The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne fact sheet Should I bring my child to the Emergency Department? includes information on a blocked or runny nose.

Looking for information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?

Visit NSW Health for influenza information for Aboriginal people.

Do you prefer to read in languages other than English?

The Royal Children's Hospital has information in many community languages on looking after a child with a viral illness.