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What Causes Nasal Congestion And Wheezing While On Ibuprofen?

Posted on Wed, 21 Jun 2017

Question: My 7yo has intermittent nasal stuffiness with snoring and cough. Primarily at night. It can go on for weeks responding to antibiotic finally. Seems more so with weather changes but no allergic symptoms or wheezing. Oral sudafed and ibuprofen can be somewhat helpful. She fights the nasal sprays. What should we do?

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Steam inhalation is the mainstay of treatment.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through the details and understand your concern. Most often such symptoms are due to viral infections. Often they are associated with an allergic component which is responsible for the nasal stuffiness. This can be present even in absence of other allergic symptoms. Sudafed is a nasal decongestant that can be given. You need to give steam inhalation to your child. It helps in reducing the congestion. Just sit with your child on your lap and place the source of steam before him. The water vapor will be in the air and automatically the child will breathe it in. Water vapor will reach deep inside and would help in diluting the cough and thus would provide relief. Use Nasoclear Saline Nasal Drops in case of nose block. Give Nasivion only if steam inhalation does not provide full relief.

Please be patient. It usually takes 5-7 days to resolve.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)

Continue antihistamine also?

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, continue the antihistamine too

Detailed Answer:
Yes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (39 hours later)

Thank you. Why are symptoms only at night? She responds to inhaled saline per nebulizer and oral sudafed but symptoms of STUFFINESS and cough only occur at night. It's exhausting. We are on night #8 now

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
It is not unusual.

Detailed Answer:
Yes, that is normal. I understand that it is exhausting but it may continue for a few more days. You would need to be patient.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (14 hours later)

New symptom: thick yellow snot sneezed out today. This seems a typical course for her. Would you see this as worsening infection? Or she is now draining so that is good? In past this is when she gets oral antibiotic and resolution follows.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Normal course. Not an worsening.

Detailed Answer:
The snot formation is not uncommon. I would not worry about it. I would not see it as an worsening but as a normal course. Give her some antiallergic like cetirizine drops for the next few days. Irrespective of whether you give antibiotics the resolution occurs at the stipulated time; its just because you had given the antibiotics just prior to the stipulated time it seemed that the antibiotics deserved the credit.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng