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Journals / Journal of Basic and Clinical Health Sciences / 2026 / Volume: 10 Issue: 3

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Rhino-Pharyngeal Clearance in Children: Myths and Clinical Evidence for a Pictorial Essay

Ana Silva Alexandrino(Polytechnic Institute of Porto)0000-0001-8146-6950
David Tome(Polytechnic Institute of Porto)0000-0002-1824-1019
Paulo Abreu(Polytechnic Institute of Porto)0000-0001-7535-2711
Şule Çekiç(ANKARA YILDIRIM BEYAZIT ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-8174-800X
Patrícia Carvalho(Polytechnic Institute of Porto)0009-0009-9450-5432
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-09-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This article aims to highlight the best evidence, clarify some goals among different areas of expertise, and suggest future research.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) have a high incidence in young children leading to Eustachian tube dysfunction and middle ear impairment, due to anatomical and physiological connections between these structures.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Several studies have underpinned the benefits and immediate effects of rhino-pharyngeal clearance, such has the improvement of nasal obstruction and middle ear pressure in tympanogram in children under 3 years of age with URTI.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:This article aims to highlight the best evidence, clarify some goals among different areas of expertise, and suggest future research.
🔬Design:Review
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:upper respiratory tract infections · rhino-pharyngeal clearance · tympanometry

Abstract

Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) have a high incidence in young children leading to Eustachian tube dysfunction and middle ear impairment, due to anatomical and physiological connections between these structures. In the last years, pharmacological treatments started to be avoided. Moreover, there is no evidence of an effective pharmacological treatment of URTI in children, since antibiotics are not recommended, neither narcotics, antihistamines nor decongestants. So, an effective rhino-pharyngeal clearance could avoid the deleterious evolution of the health condition of the child 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 has the improvement of nasal obstruction and middle ear pressure in tympanogram in children under 3 years of age with URTI. However, a consensus on the next research trends and clinical trials are 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.

🔖

Cite This Article

Alexandrino, A. S., Tome, D., Abreu, P., Çekiç, Ş., Carvalho, P., *, Ş. Ç. (2026). Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Rhino-Pharyngeal Clearance in Children: Myths and Clinical Evidence for a Pictorial Essay. Journal of Basic and Clinical Health Sciences, Volume: 10 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.30621/jbachs.1618075

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