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My 6-year-old son gets runny nose only in the morning. Why?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

It is about my 6 years son. Everyday morning he has a running nose after getting up from sleep. This is going on for the past 15 days. Running nose or nose block stops after one or two hours. He is not getting any symptoms in the evening or night. He does not have any fever. We are using Nasoclear drops or saline solution nebulization for him. Also, advise to increase his appetite.

Answered by Dr. Sudhakar Palanisamy

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

The way you describe, it looks like allergic rhinitis (basically nose allergy). Mostly, it happens due to dust or other air pollution. If you had changed your residence recently, then it might be the main cause. If this place is temporary, then I am sure it will become normal when you get back to your place. I will give you a syrup try that for one week, then let us see. Apart from that, I feel nothing to worry.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

We are staying here for the past two years. My house is also clean. But the weather here is rainy every day due to monsoon. Due to COVID-19, my son does not go outside the house at all. Our place is also isolated, and no dust here.

Thanks for the medication. I will give this medicine for seven days.

Answered by Dr. Sudhakar Palanisamy

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

The city is as such polluted and the rain might have triggered the problem. Let us wait and see.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

What about medications for improving my son's appetite?

Answered by Dr. Sudhakar Palanisamy

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

What is your son's weight? At this age, children tend to get involved more in playing and do not like to waste time in eating. Just make him food which he likes. If his activity is good, then I will not worry about his appetite. But you can try vitamin supplements for one month. It improves the appetite of children with vitamin deficiency.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

My son's weight is 48.50 lbs. He likes junk food. No physical activity due to current COVID-19 situation and always playing on mobile. His running nose stopped. Should I continue Cetirizine for four more days as prescribed by you?

Answered by Dr. Sudhakar Palanisamy

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Expected weight for 6 years old is 44.09 lbs approximately. So please avoid junk foods. Decrease screen time. As a parent, we must involve in playing with children. That is my personal request. Take care and continue the medicine for three more days. Nothing wrong in it.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

As per your recommendation, I used to give Cetirizine syrup 5 ml to my son at night only. As I am giving in the morning he feels drowsy and does not attend his online classes. From day 1 of taking Cetirizine itself his running nose stopped. Yesterday, again after completing the course early morning my son started having nose block and running nose. What should I do now?

Answered by Dr. Sudhakar Palanisamy

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

The actual treatment for allergic rhinitis can go on for more than three months. But Cetirizine is not the right drug for it. If he was a known case of allergic rhinitis I would have started nasal spray which we usually give for one or two months. But since it is his first episode we will try another three days of the same drug then give half the dose for five days and then we will gradually decrease and stop. If this does not work then we will start nasal spray treatment.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

I used to give my son Budecort nasal spray using huf-puf kit until he was four years (irregularly that is three or four months at a time), as he had a wheezing problem at one and a half month and was hospitalized four times for severe cough. But those problems stopped three years back, now he is having only running nose or nose block in the early morning (1 AM to 4 AM) for the past one month.

Answered by Dr. Sudhakar Palanisamy

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I think you are saying Budecort (Budesonide) inhalation, which is given for asthma. The Huf-Puf kit is for inhalation purposes. I can understand, but this is not asthma and can mostly be managed with a nasal spray (just using it into the nostrils and not breathing). Let me know if you have any doubts.

Patient's Query

Doctor, again late night nose block at early morning is reoccurring. Last week he had fever took him to near by clinic, he was prescribed Truclave 625 mg tabs and montair LC tabs, doctor gave CBC test and told it was viral fever. Three days after completion of course his nose block at early morning has occurred. He has habit of sleeping under pillow and chews pencil lead while doing home work.
Answered by Dr. Sudhakar Palanisamy
Hi... The reports looks ok.. not much to worry... for nose block we will try a nasal steroid spray. Get "Momeflo nasal spray" and use it once daily at evening. We will try this for 2 to 3 weeks then decide on further course of action. Sleeping under pillow is ok, y are you worried?... Chewing pencil lead is habitual.. if it occurs in very young child we can think about iron deficiency... at ur child's age we need to change the habit.. if positive reinforcement doesnt work then we will decide what to do. According to me it can be changed easily by constantly reminding him not to do so. Take care...

Patient's Query

Thanks doctor, will start from today. I hope Momeflo nasal spray does not have any side affect. Is it steriod. One more thing i forgot to mention. Friday he had lymph node swelling on right side down of neck with too much pain, but we gave Ibugesic syrup pain and swelling went away by night. We are afraid to show to doctor here due to covid situation, took him to doctor (general physician) only when he had fever even that got subsided by two days. I am only worried about his nasal block and congestion.
Answered by Dr. Sudhakar Palanisamy
Dont worry about the lymph node... And if used in proper.dose it doesn't have much side effects... Can be used for very long time too.. And yes its a steroid.. but oral steroid is only problematic... not nasal... so dont worry...

Patient's Query

Doctor, if I stop momeflo nasal spray for 3 days, again he gets nose block early morning with stuffy nose and sneezing. how long should I continue momeflo nasal spray. also he was diagnosed for acute stress and is on sizodon 0.5 mg medicine twice a day for a month. hope momeflo does interact with sizodon.
Answered by Dr. Sudhakar Palanisamy
Hi... sorry for the delay.. It can be used even longer duration... so dont worry... also dont stop intermittently repeatedly it will decrease the drug effect... And since its nasal spray the interaction with Risperidone (sizodon) will be negligible... Continue the spray...

Patient's Query

Doctor, last query do I need to show his nose to ENT specialist for any swelling or infection.
Answered by Dr. Sudhakar Palanisamy
If its easily accessible then nothing wrong in showing once. But i feel there is no indication for it now. Take care. I need more details on his acute stress.. And the need for medication for it which we will discuss later. Take care.

Patient's Query

My son was not able to sleep at night for 4 days and was in alternate world. He was afraid during day also, won't answer any questions. A month prior his personality started changing. This was due to no social interaction, no school, no play, 10-12 hrs of mobile due to covid. I took him to Paediatric Psychiatrist, where he was diagnosed for sever stress and gave him sizodon md 0.5 mg for 30 days, anxit for 3 days and asked us make him play with children and be with him full time. He is improving , but even for 5 minutes also his mind is not stable, he laughs often thinking on something. Medicine was started from 21 Sep 3020. His appetite has increased. He is unable to concentrate on online classes and homework. During last year, he was bright student. But improved a lot after taking sizodon, his follow-up checkup is schedule next week, Paediatric Psychiatrist will take call after discontinuing medicine for some days.
Answered by Dr. Sudhakar Palanisamy
Its really concerning that your child had to go through all these. sizodone is the prefered drug for children and is safe so continue that till psychiatrist tells to stop. According to me more than allergic rhinitis this stress disorder is more important so please show to child psychiatrist regularly when ever he asks for followup. If its treated early its easy to do. If problem gets out of hand then difficult to treat. For now i dont feel studies are much important if he doesnt like it. Spend time with him both parents can be of great help. Go to some where where he likes. This is the time we need to put our full efforts to bring him back. Take care.

Patient's Query

Doctor, again today at 12:00 midnight he had nose block and could not sleep even after giving momeflo spray. we are going every day night to temple due to Navaratri, and weather is not good here. he also slight cough at nights.
Answered by Dr. Sudhakar Palanisamy
Hi... Momeflo spray is not for instant relief. Its a medication which decreases allergic rhinitis over a period of time. It has to be taken continuously. Dont stop without asking. Also if u are using any other nasal spray then it may also cause nose block if used excessively. I can prescribe another medication for instant relief of symptoms but it must be used with caution. U can only use it once per 1 week. If u use more than once per week then block will become worse. I can give u the medication if u assure that.

Answered byDr. Sudhakar Palanisamy

Medically reviewed byDr. Vinodhini J.

Published At September 1, 2020
Reviewed AtDecember 15, 2023

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

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Dr. Sudhakar Palanisamy

Pediatrics

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