Halitosis in two children caused by a foreign body in the nose

In two boys aged 4.5 and 1.5 years with halitosis a nasal foreign body was found. After removal the foetor disappeared. Little is known about the epidemiology of halitosis in children. Apart from specific odours with certain systemic disorders, local pathology such as chronic sinusitis, upper and lower respiratory tract infections and to a lesser degree gastrointestinal disorders may be the cause of the offensive smell. As in adults, bad breath in children is usually related to poor oral hygiene or disease of the oral cavity. The first-line treatment is proper oral hygiene and if necessary dental sanitization. In resistant cases further evaluation should be aimed at disclosing the causative pathology, in which case in children the possibility of a nasal foreign body should also be considered.