First Aid & Emergencies

Nose Foreign Body Treatment

• Is choking
• Has moderate to severe difficulty breathing

For choking, see Choking Treatment.

1. Remove Object, if Possible

• Have the person breathe through his or her mouth.

• For an object partially out of the nose, try to remove it with fingers or tweezers. Do not push it further into the nose.

• For an object deeper in the nose, pinch the clear side of the nose closed. Have the person blow his or her nose hard several times. This may dislodge the object.

• For a child, you can try gently closing the unaffected nostril. Blow a puff of air into the child's mouth. Repeat as necessary.

• If minor bleeding occurs after object removal, firmly pinch the nose shut for 10 minutes.

2. When to See a Health Care Provider

See a health care provider or go to a hospital emergency room if:

• You can't remove the object or can only remove part of it.

• The object poses immediate danger.

• You're not comfortable removing a sharp object, such as a nose ring or stud or broken glass.

• The person has a bloody nose that can't be stopped.

3. Follow Up

• Call your health care provider if signs of infection appear.

If the nose is tender or stuffy:

• Give extra fluids for 2 to 3 days.

• Have the person breathe moist air from a humidifier or hot shower.

• Have the person sleep with head elevated.

• Ask your health care provider about using an oral decongestant or decongestant nasal spray.

If you seek medical help to remove the object:

• The health care provider will use suction or another method to remove it. The person may need to be sedated.

• The health care provider may prescribe nose drops or an antibiotic ointment.