Ana Silva ALEXANDRINO, David TOMÉ, Paulo ABREU, Şule ÇEKİÇ, Patrícia CARVALHO
Journal of Basic and Clinical Health Sciences - 2026;10(3):490-499
Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) have a high incidence in young children leading to Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction and middle ear impairment, due to anatomical and physiological connections between these structures. In recent years, pharmacological treatments have started to be avoided. Moreover, there is no evidence of an effective pharmacological treatment of URTI in children, since antibiotics, narcotics, antihistamines, and decongestants are not recommended. Thus, effective rhino-pharyngeal clearance could avoid the deleterious evolution of the child's health condition by reducing or eliminating nasal secretions, re-establishing nasal breathing, and preventing dissemination, which may result in bacterial infection. Several studies have underpinned the benefits and immediate effects of rhino-pharyngeal clearance, such as the improvement of nasal obstruction and middle ear pressure on tympanometry in children under 3 years of age with URTI. However, a consensus on future research directions and clinical trials is required to establish and implement efficient protocols with adequate treatment monitoring and outcome measures. This article aims to highlight the best evidence, clarify some goals among different areas of expertise, and suggest future research.
