Infants younger than 1 year of age frequently have signs of nasal blockage, most often because of thick secretions that are stuck in their nose. Other symptoms, such as sneezing or ocular symptoms, are much less common in very young children. This problem has been referred to as “rhinitis of infancy,” which is almost universally related to exaggerated physiologic mucus production that cannot be effectively cleared from the nose. Often, the symptoms are most prominent after a viral upper respiratory tract infection and may last for several days to a few weeks following the infection. As the internal dimensions of the nose grow larger, these symptoms usually improve, and by 1 year of age, they may have completely resolved.
This problem is best treated with saltwater flushes and a bulb aspirator to remove the secretions. If the nasal dis-charge is yellow or green, the baby may have developed bacterial sinusitis following a cold, which may require oral antibiotics for satisfactory recovery. Hypersensitivity to airborne allergens is rare at 6 months of age and does not usually begin until 1 to 2 years of age. Infants may have a food allergy at this age, but this most often presents with eczema, which is a red, itchy, scaly rash; gastrointestinal symptoms; and is a rare cause of isolated nasal symptoms in infants.