We asked the experts from Stérimar to explain why you should clean your kids’ nasal passages and how it can prevent colds and other conditions
Ever heard of nasal hygiene? Simply put, it’s the practice of keeping your nasal passages clean and moisturized. Stérimar, the UK’s No.1 GP recommended non-medicated nasal spray brand^, has over 45 years of experience in nasal health. Stérimar products help keep nasal passages clear and help prevent colds, by washing out nasal cavities and eliminating any impurities.
Stérimar has partnered with TV doctor, Dr Zoe Williams, to share more about nasal hygiene and how Stérimar can help to keep babies and children healthy this winter.
What are the causes of nasal congestion in children?
Blocked noses and congestion in children are most commonly caused by infection or allergy.
Hay fever is common amongst children, and most prevalent in spring, summer and sometimes autumn. During winter indoor allergies are more likely as we spend so much time inside our homes, and are therefore exposed more to dust, mould, pet dander or other indoor pollutants.
Less common causes of nasal congestion are from physical structures inside the nose that are blocking airflow, these can include enlarged adenoids, a deviated nasal septum or a foreign body in the nose or polyps.
Why are babies particularly affected by nasal congestion?
It is common for babies aged under 6 months to have a blocked nose (commonly called ‘snuffles’), even if they do not have an infection or allergy. It is usually due to normal mucus that collects in the nose, which is difficult for the baby to clear when they are so young. If the baby is otherwise well and feeding well this is not a cause for concern.
Why do children seem more prone to catch colds?
Young children are prone to lots of colds simply because they haven’t built up immunity to the hundreds of cold viruses that circulate around us, especially in the winter months. Some experts suggest that on average children under the age of two get around 8-10 colds per year.
Once you catch a specific cold virus (there are over 200 different viruses that cause the common cold) you then become immune to it meaning it won’t cause you problems again. This explains why, as you get older, you will suffer from fewer colds.
Another reason that children get more colds, particularly those that attend nursery or school, is because they interact with a higher number of people, and therefore are more likely to be exposed to the common viruses that cause colds.
And then there’s also the argument that children may be less accomplished when it comes to washing their hands thoroughly and covering mouths and noses when coughing and sneezing.
How does Stérimar work to clear congestion?
Stérimar congestion relief nasal spray contains hypertonic sea water. Hypertonic means that the sea water contains a slightly higher concentration of salt than cells in the human body. This has an osmotic effect, which means that it draws excess fluid out of the cells in the nasal passages, and that way alleviates the swelling and congestion.
The spray also helps to clear the nasal passages of germs along with mucus. A gentle fine spray of the sea water acts to soften and loosen the nasal mucus that lines the nasal passages, which you can then blow out along with any bacteria or viruses. This helps to clear irritants and allergens such as dust and pollen from the nasal passages.
How does Stérimar help prevent colds?
Regularly practicing nasal hygiene can help to strengthen the nose’s barrier function, which is an important part of your body’s immune defense against colds and other infections.
What are the ingredients in Stérimar?
All Stérimar™ products are made with 100% Natural Sea Water sourced from the Bay of Cancale off the coast of France. The Bay of Cancale is an extremely protected environment, which benefits from the highest tides in Europe. The area is also known to host the largest colony of Bottlenose dolphins in Europe, 400 of them!
Sea water from the Atlantic Ocean contains an average of 35 grams per litre of mineral salts, the best known and most abundant of which is sodium chloride (NaCl). Seawater also contains essential trace elements such as Copper, Manganese, Sulphur, Zinc and Magnesium. Although present in very small quantities in the body, these are important for many metabolic processes and are essential for the growth of the cells of the nasal mucosa, especially in babies and children.
Each of Stérimar’s products is enriched with a specific trace element that are beneficial for different symptoms. For example, Stérimar Congestion Relief is enriched with additional copper and manganese.
How is the Breathe Easy Baby nozzle designed?
Stérimar’s Breathe Easy Baby nasal spray has a specially designed safety nozzle. This nozzle is perfectly adapted to the nose of little ones. It has a soft and ergonomic shape and a self-locking end and can be used at any angle. The nozzle is also designed with a very gentle micro-diffusion spray pressure, specially designed for your baby’s sensitive nasal lining.
What ages is Stérimar suitable for?
The whole Stérimar range is suitable for children age 3 years and up, Stérimar Congestion Relief Kids is suitable for babies and children from 3 months, and Stérimar Breathe Easy Baby is suitable for babies from birth. The whole range is free from drugs and preservatives, which means that all of our products can be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women and alongside other medicated products.
Where can I buy Stérimar?
You can find Stérimar both online and in stores. Our nasal sprays are available in Boots and Superdrug together with all major supermarkets as well as many different pharmacies. They can also be purchased online from Amazon or chemist4u.com.
Where can I find out more about Stérimar?
If you wish to find out more about Stérimar, please visit sterimarnasal.co.uk.
^ GPrX data, non-medicated nasal sprays, August 2021 – July 2022
