Teenager always has a blocked nose

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Ds 13 got the last 6 weeks has had a blocked nose which results in sniffing but never see much snot. We’ve tried antihistamines thinking hayfever but starting to think it’s not hayfever after all. He has no cough with this and can smell and taste fine but he’s autistic and the sensation of having a blocked nose all the time is really effected him.

I’ve sent off a online request with doctors so perhaps they could check him over 🤷‍♀️

he won’t use nasal sprays! Not sure what else to do but he doesn’t want to go school when it’s particularly bad!

It’s a long shot if he doesn’t like using sprays, but would he try a neti pot nasal rinse bottle? I’m not a fan of sprays but the nasal rinses have been a life saver for me and really give me a lot of relief. There’s a knack to them so you need to look on you tube to work out how to get it right. Also always have to use with the salt sachets, but the kits always come with them.

I wouldn’t discount hayfever if it’s come on in the last six weeks. My 14yo ds suffers really badly at this time of year. We have an air filter in his room and keep windows shut which helps. Maybe also a humidifier for his room?

Good luck.

You can get drops instead of sprays on prescription. I had to get them during covid as my nose was so inflamed I couldn't get the test up it.

If he won't put the medicine right up his nose perhaps he could put it just at the base of his nose (as though it were his nose dripping) and just sniff it up.

Does he eat a lot of dairy?

I get really stuffy if I eat too much cheese.

Could it be a sinus infection? Does it hurt if he presses around the top of his nose and under eyes? I can have sinusitis sometimes without a lot of headaches ect and it only makes me feel actually poorly if I've left it too long. They can prescribe drops that I always find work a lot better than sprays anyway x

Thanks all. I will try drops. I don’t think he would like a sinus rinse.

he eats barely any dairy

I don’t think it’s a sinus infection as it really is just the congestion and not complaining of any pain or pressure in the face and seems happy enough generally just keeps getting frustrated with his blocked nose and rubs it making it sore. He doesn’t know how to blow his nose either!