Nasal obstruction and snoring: three unusual cases as a lesson for the paediatrician

Nasal obstruction with or without snoring is a frequent condition and, as such, it is easily disregarded by paediatricians and by parents as well. The paper describes three “unforgettable” clinical cases that must be a warning to investigate and not to underestimate those atypical and/or characteristic aspects, such as the nasal obstruction that rapidly becomes severe. Such aspects must induce to deepen investigations to exclude much more rare pathologies that if not promptly diagnosed would have serious prognostic repercussions on the child. Surely, the first alarm signal is time (recent onset and/or snoring that rapidly becomes severe), with worsening of symptoms. Surely, lymphadenopathy is another alarm signal, especially when bilateral and large. Furthermore, the onset of epistasis associated with oral cavity bleeding must not be underestimated.