Nasal flaring means the opening of your nostrils enlarge while breathing. It is an indication of increased effort to breathe or breathing difficulty.
Flaring nostrils are usually seen on an infant and younger child’s nose. And nasal flaring is an important symptom for communicating respiratory distress in those to young to talk.
Yet, adult noses can widen with breathing health issues as well.
Any condition that causes more work to breathe can cause a nostril to flare. While flaring nostril causes are not always serious, some can be life threatening.
Some causes of nasal flaring symptoms include:
- flu
- croup
- asthma
- bronchitis
- epiglottitis
- pneumonia
- bronchiolitis
- common cold
- pneumothorax
- congenital herpes
- pulmonary edema
- airway obstruction
- pulmonary embolus
- respiratory syncytial virus
- transient tachypnea ~ newborn
- respiratory distress syndrome ~ newborn
- group B streptococcal septicemia ~ infant
Flaring nostrils are often accompanied by noisy breathing sounds, coughing and rapid breathing.
If nasal flaring is caused by a stuffy nose, then suctioning your “youngin’s” nose out with a nasal aspirator may help relieve nasal congestion caused nostril flare.
Seek immediate health care if you, or your child, experience nostril flare symptoms with severe breathing difficulty and/or cyanosis.