Question
The child is two weeks old and a set of twin girls. She had opened her mouth to call ‘Mama’ for over a week, but now she can only call ‘Mama’. When she was two weeks old, she went to a local hospital, and the doctor said there were no issues with her vocal cords. What could be the cause of this?
Answer
A child may breathe through the mouth during deep sleep, indicating poor nasal ventilation. This could be due to hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates or adenoiditis caused by inflammation and viruses after a cold. It is recommended to consult an otolaryngology department for a fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy (pediatric type) to carefully examine and confirm the condition. In cases with a short medical history, oral Chinese herbal anti-inflammatory medicine, such as Bai Rui Granules, can be taken while observing carefully. Also, be aware of any enlargement of the tonsils.