Patient's question:
My sister's colleague's child often has a runny nose and drools—is it due to iron or zinc deficiency?Doctor's answer:
Hello: It is uncertain. It is recommended to have a trace element test at the hospital.A normal person secretes about hundreds of milliliters of mucus daily, but these mucus flows in the direction of the ciliary movement of the nasal mucosa, from the posterior nasal to the pharynx. With evaporation and drying, it is generally not visible as it flows out of the nose. Children's nasal mucosa has richer blood vessels than adults, with more secretions, and their nervous system's regulation of mucus secretion and ciliary movement is not yet fully developed. Additionally, children are not good at wiping their noses themselves, so they often have clear nasal discharge, which is a normal physiological phenomenon and nothing to worry about.
If a child's nostrils are always hanging with two lines of mucus or if they are discharging yellow-green pus-like nasal discharge, it indicates a pathological condition. Long-term discharge of yellow-green pus-like mucus may suggest sinusitis. Frequent discharge of white mucus could be due to a lack of vitamins A and B. Treatment with these two vitamins can be effective. Allergic reactions to inhaled dust may cause a large amount of clear nasal discharge in a short time. A small number of children with foreign bodies in their nasal cavities may also frequently have nasal discharge. The most important thing to note is that some children with nasal-pharyngeal lymphadenopathy may also frequently have nasal discharge, but they often accompany severe snoring, dull facial expressions, and small, flat noses. These symptoms can significantly affect development and posture, and should be treated promptly.