A deviated nasal septum is a very common condition, especially among children during their developmental stages. Various factors can interfere with normal nasal function, such as adenoid hypertrophy or frequent occurrences of rhinitis and sinusitis. Regardless of the cause, if a child experiences nasal congestion, they may start breathing through their mouth. Mouth breathing increases the airflow through the oral cavity.

The roof of the mouth, also known as the hard palate (commonly referred to as the upper palate by laypeople), tends to elevate to accommodate the increased airflow into the mouth. As the hard palate elevates, the volume and space of the oral cavity increase. However, the hard palate's underside is the mouth, and its upper side is the nasal cavity. As the oral cavity enlarges, the space in the nasal cavity diminishes. The nasal cavity's upper surface, which is the cranial base, remains unchanged. But with the hard palate growing upward, the nasal cavity naturally becomes smaller. This is the most common cause of a deviated nasal septum.

A deviated nasal septum is very common. But is it considered a disease? Not necessarily.

When a deviated nasal septum leads to nasal obstruction that cannot be regulated, we classify it as a medical condition. To clarify, if the deviation of the septum causes persistent unilateral or bilateral nasal obstruction, often due to the hypertrophy of the turbinates on either the deviated side or the opposite side, this is diagnosed as a deviated septum condition. It is a disease and a very common cause of nasal obstruction.

It’s essential to thoroughly understand nasal obstruction, as many people have concerns about whether a deviated septum requires surgical intervention. Surgery is only considered if there are significant symptoms that cannot be alleviated by other means. This decision should be made with caution.