Nasal congestion

For adults — See a health care provider if:

• You have symptoms for more than 10 days.
• You have a high fever.
• What's coming from your nose is yellow or green. You also have sinus pain or fever. This may be a sign of a bacterial infection.
• What's coming from your nose is bloody. Or your nose keeps running after a head injury.
• Your face hurts.

For children — See a health care provider if:

• Your child's symptoms don't get better or get worse.
• Your baby's stuffy nose causes problems with nursing or breathing.

Self-care

Until you see a care provider, try these simple steps to relieve symptoms:

• Avoid allergy causes.
• Try an allergy medicine you can get without a prescription. If you're also sneezing and your eyes are itching or watering, your nose might be running because of allergies. Be sure to follow the label instructions exactly.
• For babies, put several saline drops into one nostril. Then gently suction that nostril with a soft rubber-bulb syringe.

To relieve saliva that builds up at the back of the throat, also known as postnasal drip, try these measures:

• Avoid common irritants such as cigarette smoke and sudden humidity changes.
• Drink plenty of liquids, such as water, juice or broth. Liquids help break up congestion.
• Use nasal saline sprays or rinses.

• Causes