Symptom 5: Chronic Nasal Discharge
Chronic nasal discharge is a common but often overlooked symptom of choanal atresia. This persistent runny nose is not the typical discharge seen with a common cold; it is usually thicker and may be one-sided or bilateral, depending on whether the choanal atresia is unilateral or bilateral.
Parents may initially mistake this symptom for a sign of recurrent colds or allergies, but the key difference is persistence. The discharge associated with choanal atresia does not improve with typical cold treatments or allergy medications, and it is not accompanied by other signs of infection like fever.
The constant nasal discharge can affect the infant’s daily life, making breathing more difficult and potentially leading to more serious infections if the mucus obstructs the nasal passages further or if it is aspirated into the lungs.
Careful monitoring and management of chronic nasal discharge are essential. Keeping the nasal passages as clear as possible can help reduce the risk of infections and improve the infant’s ability to breathe and feed more comfortably. While chronic nasal discharge can be a symptom of various conditions, in the context of other signs of choanal atresia, it should prompt a thorough medical evaluation to rule out this congenital condition as an underlying cause. (5)
