It is absolutely easy to cure transparent snot in children: find out how. Doctor Komarovsky on the treatment of a runny nose in a child

Runny nose at a young age is a fairly common problem. Some sound the alarm and at the first appearance of transparent snot in a child they run to the doctor. Others, on the contrary, are too loyal to such a symptom and let everything take its course.

It is not uncommon to see children on the street safely wiping their noses with their sleeves. The sight is not pleasant. Of course, a runny nose does not oblige you to immediately go to the pediatrician, but a set of procedures that parents and children must carry out and follow, of course, exists and you need to know about it.

Consider the causes that cause this symptom in children:

AT Normally, such microbes do not cause the development of the disease. they become pathogenic only with reduced immunity.

Ways to influence the "transparent" runny nose

Treatment of clear snot in a child is required or not, depending on the cause. If an allergy is the cause, it should be treated. Having established what exactly causes the reaction, this factor should be excluded from contacts with the baby. Antiallergic drugs are prescribed to relieve symptoms.

If a runny nose is due to cold or heat, it does not need to be treated. The only thing worth doing is to bring the temperature in the room to the optimum for children. If the baby is "snotty" after a walk, you should simply clean his nose. It is also important to maintain the humidity in the room. In dry air, the mucus thickens quickly. Thick transparent snot in a child indicates that you have not paid attention to the presence of a runny nose for a long time.

When infected with a cold, the pediatrician decides how to treat a runny nose. Antiviral drugs and nasal drops will help clear the infection. If the problem is in weak immunity, the decision is also made by the doctor. They prescribe a course of vitamins, hardening, immunostimulants and eliminate the problem.

If transparent snot does not go away, you should consult a pediatrician. Perhaps the drops are not suitable for the baby, or the cause of the runny nose that you have established is incorrect. In babies, transparent snot flows after tears. If he cried, it is perfectly natural if he gets a runny nose. It usually passes after a short period of time, as the baby stops crying.

Newborns and runny nose

Transparent snot in infants may occur due to mother's milk. If a product used by the mother causes her allergy, then most likely the baby will also be allergic to it. By eliminating this product from the diet, you can eliminate the common cold. A runny nose in infants is problematic because they do not know how to blow their nose on their own.

Fortunately, there are now quite a few devices that can help clear your baby's nose. The safest and most practical is the aspirator. This is a plastic tank with a suction tube. With the help of an aspirator, all the mucus can be pulled out of the spout so that the baby can breathe through the nose and eat.

If he has thickened mucus, then sucking it out is useless. First you need to soften it with drops of oil. After the mucus becomes liquid, you can remove it from the nose.

The baby has transparent snot flowing very often due to the fact that its immunity is only learning to resist bacteria and viruses.

When the body first encounters bacteria, a runny nose occurs. It is safe. This runny nose goes away on its own within a week. It is enough for parents to clean the nose, moisturize it, maintain humidity in the air and a comfortable temperature for the baby.

Cold drops

Drops for children can help get rid of a runny nose faster. And the first in terms of efficiency in this list - vasoconstrictor drops. Parents should be aware that although they are fast acting and effective, they are harmful and addictive.

It is absolutely impossible to drip them to infants, and to older children - with great care. They are dangerous because they cause swelling of the nasal mucosa after the cessation of long-term use (more than 1 week).

They are addictive, since there is no discharge, but due to swelling of the mucous membrane, the baby cannot breathe, and again requires a drop. There is a vicious circle. Despite their effectiveness, they should not be used on children.

It is possible and necessary to bury the nose in childhood with sea water. Pharmacies have a variety of sea water drops that will help get rid of nasal discharge. They act on the mucous membrane, absorbing all the fluid from the tissues, reduce swelling. By removing fluid from the mucous tissues, sea water facilitates breathing and soon eliminates the runny nose completely. Drops should be used according to the age of the children. The instructions for the drops should indicate the age range. So, for an early age, more sparing regimes are used.

You can make drops yourself at home. Dilute a liter of boiled water with 1 teaspoon of salt. Such a solution should be pipetted into the spout no deeper than 1 cm from the wings. By patting on the wings of the nose, spread over the entire mucosa. Such drops are less effective, but more harmless in composition. For those parents who do not like medications, this method can be a godsend if the baby has clear snot and cough.

Menthol or mint oil can be added to the solution if the child is older than a year. The components of these oils act as antibacterial and disinfectant and make breathing easier.

Children born in winter may experience dry air. In such a situation, it can help humidifier. It makes the air humid and comfortable for the newborn. So you can avoid frequent flow from the nose.

Every parent should know that a runny nose may not be as harmless as it seems.

Be sure to pay attention to the color of the mucus. If it is white and transparent, there is no danger. But with a prolonged and prolonged runny nose, you should consult a doctor. If the mucus is green and purulent, this may be a prerequisite for inflammation of the mucous membranes and even sinusitis.

You can’t start a runny nose, since the nose is closely connected with the lungs and the hearing aid. If you run it, complications can go into the airways. Rinsing the nose is also not recommended on its own. Get it done by the experts. With improper washing, mucus can get into the maxillary sinuses and this will provide you with a bunch of problems.

You can often hear advice from grandmothers and mothers drip breast milk if the child sneezes and clear snot is present. You should know that milk is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. Therefore, such advice is not only not useful, but will also harm your child. Breast milk is useful only as food for the baby, but not in the form of drops for the nose.

A clear flow from the nose is not dangerous and does not require medical intervention. This runny nose goes away within seven days. If it lasts longer, then you can seek help and establish the true cause of the flow from the nose. Hygiene, compliance with all temperature standards and timely cleaning of the nose will help the baby get rid of mucus and breathe calmly.

Runny nose is a frequent visitor in families where children grow up. Everyone knows that nasal congestion is not an independent disease, it is only a symptom. Moreover, he can talk about a wide variety of diseases. However, in most families, moms and dads continue to treat the child with a runny nose. This therapy is sometimes long-term. The well-known pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky tells what a child's runny nose "signals" to adults, and what parents should do to make the child breathe easily and simply.

About the problem

Even the most caring mother, who takes care of and protects the child from everything in the world, will not be able to make sure that the child never catches a runny nose in her life. This is because more often rhinitis (the medical name for the common cold) occurs with acute viral respiratory infections. At the physiological level, the following happens: one of the many viruses that always surround a child gets on the nasal mucosa. In response, immunity gives the command to secrete as much mucus as possible, which should isolate the virus from other organs and systems, preventing it from moving further along the nasopharynx, larynx into the bronchi and lungs.

In addition to the viral form, which occupies about 90% of all cases of childhood rhinitis, according to Yevgeny Komarovsky, rhinitis can be bacterial. With it, pathogenic bacteria enter the nasal cavity. The body reacts similarly - increased production of mucus. By itself, bacterial rhinitis is extremely rare, and its course is always very severe. Bacteria (most often staphylococci) cause severe inflammation, suppuration, and toxic waste products - general intoxication.

Sometimes a bacterial runny nose can become after the child has had a viral infection. This is due to the fact that the accumulated mucus in the nasal passages becomes an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.

Usually these bacteria are harmless, they live in the nose and mouth on a permanent basis and do not bother the child in any way. However, in conditions of an abundance of mucus, its stagnation, drying out, microbes become pathogenic and begin to multiply rapidly. This usually happens with complicated rhinitis.

The third, fairly common cause of a runny nose in children is allergies. Allergic rhinitis occurs as a reaction of local immunity to an antigen protein. If such a substance enters the body, the nasal mucosa reacts with swelling, as a result of which it becomes difficult for the child to breathe through the nose.

In some cases, nasal congestion and nasal breathing disorders are associated with ENT diseases, such as adenoids. If the runny nose is acute (it occurred no earlier than 5 days ago), then there should be no reason for special unrest. In the case of prolonged snot in the presence of other symptoms, it is better to consult an otolaryngologist.

Treatment of viral rhinitis

Viral rhinitis is the most common among children and does not require treatment as such. The mucus produced by the membranes of the nose contains special substances that are very important for fighting the virus that has entered the body. However, the beneficial properties of mucus will end immediately after the snot becomes thick. While they are flowing - everything is fine, parents can calm down.

But if suddenly the nasal mucus thickens, becomes green, yellow, yellow-green, purulent, purulent with blood impurities, it ceases to be a “fighter” with the virus and becomes an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. This is how a bacterial runny nose begins, which will require antibiotic treatment.

Thus, with a viral rhinitis, the main task of parents is to prevent the mucus in the nose from drying out. The snot should remain liquid. Therefore, Yevgeny Komarovsky recommends not looking for pharmacy magic drops in the nose, because there are no drugs for viruses, but simply rinse the child's nasal cavity with saline solutions, and do it as often as possible (at least every half hour). To prepare the solution, you need to take a teaspoon of salt per liter capacity of boiled chilled water. The resulting solution can be dripped, rinsed with a disposable syringe without a needle, sprayed with a special bottle.

For instillation, you can use other means that help thin the nasal mucus - "Pinosol", "Ekteritsid". Effectively liquefies the snot by washing with the most common saline solution, which can be bought inexpensively at any pharmacy.

The drying up of nasal mucus, which is so necessary during the period of the body's struggle with viruses, is facilitated by stuffiness and dry air in the room, the lack of a sufficient amount of fluid in the body. Therefore, the room where the child with a runny nose is located should be ventilated and wet cleaned. The air must be humidified up to 50-70% without fail . This parents will help special devices - humidifiers. If there is no such miracle of technology in the family, you can put basins of water in the corners of the room so that it can evaporate freely, hang wet towels on the batteries and make sure that they do not dry out. A child who often suffers from rhinitis should definitely give an aquarium with fish.

Dad needs to put special valve valves on the heating radiators in the room, with which you can regulate the air temperature during the heating season. The air temperature in the children's room should be 18-20 degrees (year-round).

During the treatment of a viral infection, the child must definitely drink. But not syrups and medicines from a pharmacy, and the tea compote from dried fruits or fresh berries, fruit drinks, ordinary drinking water. The drinking regimen should be plentiful, the mother should serve all the drink to the child warm, but not hot, preferably at room temperature. Such a drink is absorbed faster in the body, and the likelihood of drying out of the mucous membranes is significantly reduced.

If the child does not have a high temperature, he, despite the runny nose, must definitely walk in the fresh air, breathe more. This is where the treatment of viral rhinitis ends.

Treatment of bacterial cold

If the snot has changed color, consistency, become thick, green, purulent, you should definitely call a doctor. A bacterial infection is a serious matter, and ventilation alone is not enough. In most cases, the child will need antibiotic nose drops. But before the appointment, the doctor will definitely examine the prevalence of the inflammatory process and only then will decide in what form to give the child antibiotics - in tablets (with an extensive infection with additional symptoms) or in drops.

Treatment of allergic rhinitis

The best treatment for rhinitis caused by antigen proteins is to get rid of the source of these proteins. To do this, says Komarovsky, the allergist and pediatrician should try and find, with the help of analyzes and special tests, the very allergen that has such an effect on the child. While doctors are looking for the cause, parents need to create the safest conditions for the baby at home.

Be sure to remove all carpets and soft toys from the children's room, which are accumulators of dust and allergens. Wet cleaning should be done more often in the room, but without the use of chemicals, especially household chemicals, which contain a substance such as chlorine, should be avoided.

The child’s things should be washed exclusively with baby powder, on the packaging of which there is an inscription “Hypoallergenic”, all things and bed linen after washing should be additionally rinsed in clean water. Parents should create adequate conditions in the room - air temperature (18-20 degrees), air humidity (50-70%).

If all these measures fail, and the runny nose does not go away, then the use of medicines may be required. Usually in this situation, vasoconstrictor nasal drops are prescribed. They do not cure allergic rhinitis, but they provide temporary relief. Almost immediately after instillation, the vessels of the nasal mucosa narrow, the swelling subsides, nasal breathing is restored.

These drops are in any home first aid kit, and usually everyone knows their names. With regard to children's treatment, these are Nazol, Nazivin, Tizin, etc. However, these drops should not be dripped for longer than 3-5 days (maximum 7 days, if the doctor insists on this), otherwise they will cause a persistent drug dependence in the child, in which, without drops, he will always experience difficulties with nasal breathing, and from constant use of the nasal mucosa may atrophy. In addition, Komarovsky calls for the use of exclusively children's forms of drops, which differ from adults in a reduced dosage. In addition, it should be remembered that many of these drugs are categorically contraindicated in children under two years of age. The list of side effects of vasoconstrictor drugs is also quite large.

For the treatment of allergic rhinitis, calcium gluconate at an age dosage is often prescribed, antihistamines, if the doctor considers it necessary. For children who have an allergic rhinitis of a chronic, protracted nature, exacerbations occur every season, antiallergic agents for topical use (Kromoglin, Allergodil, etc.) can be prescribed. The drug "Rinofluimucil" proved to be quite effective.”, which is a combined remedy, which includes hormones, anti-allergic components, and antibacterial agents.

If the child sniffs

Usually, parents immediately tend to think that the baby has a runny nose and plan how and with what to treat it. However, says Yevgeny Komarovsky, sniffing is not always a sign of illness.

If the child is upset, crying, and then sniffs for a long time, this is a normal physiological process in which "excess" tears flow down the lacrimal canaliculus into the nose. Nothing to treat and drip is not necessary, it is enough to offer the child a handkerchief.

Runny nose in infants

Often parents ask how to treat a runny nose in newborns and infants. Evgeny Komarovsky claims that such crumbs do not always require treatment as such. If it seems to the mother that the baby is snoring or sniffing in a dream, this is not always rhinitis. In babies, the nasal passages are very narrow, which makes nasal breathing somewhat difficult. This condition does not require any other help than creating the right microclimate in the room, which was mentioned above. You can walk with your child more often.

If the nose does not breathe, breathes poorly, or mucous secretions appear, it should be remembered that it is the narrowness of the nasal passages in infants that makes it difficult for the outflow of mucus, and therefore the risk of developing a bacterial infection is significantly higher than in older children. The baby still does not know how to blow his nose. Parents will need to buy an aspirator and help the little one free the nasal passages from accumulated snot. Salt solutions can be dripped, watered and moistened - too.

If a baby has white snot coming out of his nose, this is mucus mixed with milk or formula. This happens if the child unsuccessfully burped (partially in the nose). There is no need to treat anything in this situation either. Remove white mucus, rinse nose with saline solution.

Nasal congestion sometimes occurs during teething. In this situation, parents are also required to fulfill the necessary minimum to create normal conditions. It makes no sense to drip and treat such a runny nose, as soon as the teeth erupt, the swelling in the nasal passages will subside by itself.

The longer a child with a stuffy nose breathes through his mouth with the flu or SARS, the higher the risk that not only the mucous secretions in the nose will dry out, but also in the bronchi and lungs. To avoid bronchitis and pneumonia, which are the most common complications of respiratory viral infections, be sure to moisturize and thin. All methods are described above.

If, after applying certain drops in the nose, the child sneezes, his eyes are watery, you should not write off these symptoms as an allergic reaction to the medication. These are normal manifestations of the immune fight against the virus, it is not worth canceling the treatment.

A runny nose does not always look classic. If a child's snot does not flow outward, but inward, along the back wall of the larynx, then the disease will be called nasopharyngitis. A doctor must treat him.

Any treatment with folk remedies can lead to serious complications, says Yevgeny Komarovsky. All recipes offered by traditional healers are aimed at eliminating the amount of mucus. With a bacterial runny nose, you can not warm your nose, rinse it with warm solutions, make compresses and

In children, a runny nose appears much more often than in adults, since their body is more prone to colds. It is enough to take a walk in cool weather down the street or open a window in the apartment, and the next day the child may have a fever and a runny nose. The main thing in this situation is not to get confused and start treatment on time.

Runny nose (rhinitis) is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nasal cavity, which is accompanied by the secretion of mucus and thereby interferes with the usual work of the respiratory tract. A runny nose in a one-year-old child can cause great discomfort.

At such a young age, the baby is not yet able to blow his nose on his own, so mucus accumulates in the sinuses. During a runny nose, the child will lose sleep, he becomes restless.

The accumulation of snot in the nose confuses breathing, interferes with the perception of odors and can lead to complications in the future. In order to decide how to quickly cure a runny nose in a child of 1 year, you need to determine the cause of the onset of the disease.

There are three types of rhinitis, which differ in causes and methods of treatment:

• Infectious. The cause may be viruses, bacteria or fungi. When the virus enters the nasal cavity, the child's body begins to fight it. The child has itching in the nose, there is redness caused by inflammation, then mucus is abundantly secreted. At first it is transparent and liquid, then thickens and becomes white with a yellowish tint. Changes in the general condition of the body are also noted: headache, a sharp and prolonged increase in temperature, lethargy, lack of appetite, restless sleep. The main period of the disease lasts about 3 days. Infectious rhinitis is considered dangerous, as there is a risk of infection spreading and this can lead to complications (sinusitis, etc.).
• Allergic. Occurs when a child comes into contact with an allergen. Flowers, dust, pet hair, food, cosmetics, household chemicals can act as allergens. The first step is to determine the source of the allergy and try to eliminate it. The main symptoms of allergic rhinitis are shortness of breath, discharge of watery mucus, sneezing. It can last from several days to a month. It is also possible to transform into a chronic form.
• Vasomotor. It is caused by dilation of the blood vessels of the nose and narrowing of the nasal cavity. Such a reaction of the body can be the result of stress, the influence of negative factors (tobacco smoke, exhaust gases), endocrine disease. Also, rhinitis may indicate a curvature of the nasal septum. The child has abundant watery discharge from the nose, lacrimation, heaviness and hum in the head, sleep disturbance. The condition may worsen in the supine position. The nasal passages lay alternately.

If you find a runny nose in a one-year-old baby, then it is better not to self-medicate. Immediately go to the doctor so that he prescribes the appropriate therapy.

Runny nose treatment

How to cure a runny nose in a child of 1 year? The arsenal of medicines for a child of this age is small. In most cases, it is limited to saline and vasoconstrictor drops. All other drugs (such as antibiotics) must be prescribed by a doctor.

Saline is a solution of salt and water in the proportion: 9 grams of salt per liter of water. It is used to thin mucus. You can bury the solution in the child's nose with a pipette.

If the child still does not know how to blow his nose on his own, then parents should help him. To do this, you can use aspirators.

Another option would be a cotton swab pre-soaked in saline. If the baby is already blowing his nose himself, then you need to make sure that he does not pinch his nose with a handkerchief.

You need to blow your nose with each nostril alternately. Instead of saline, you can use antibacterial from 1 year old, such as Aqua Maris or Physiomer..

After the child's nose is cleaned with saline, vasoconstrictor drugs can be dripped. But, in no case should you use the medicine without consulting a doctor.

Cases where specialist advice is required as soon as possible are:

• pain in the ear (possible development of otitis media);
• difficult nasal and oral breathing;
• high temperature for a long time.

For the treatment of a runny nose in a 1-year-old child, Nazol Baby (1-2 drops every 6 hours) and Vibrocil (1-2 drops 3-4 times a day) can be used.

The period of use of vasoconstrictor drugs should not exceed 3 days, otherwise it may lead to an overdose. If the child has vomiting and dizziness, then you should immediately stop using the drug and see a pediatrician.

Another method to cure a runny nose and cough in a child at 1 year old is inhalation. Steam inhalers are considered the most effective for the treatment of the common cold. You can use saline, herbal decoctions (chamomile or sage) and essential oils (fir, eucalyptus, pine).

You can not do inhalation if the baby has a fever. Also, after the event, you should not take him outside for 2 hours. It is best to carry out this procedure before going to bed.

Non-drug treatment of a runny nose in a 1-year-old child is considered to be the creation of a favorable background in the apartment. This method means airing the room, wet cleaning, humidifying the air.

The patient's room should be ventilated in the morning and in the evening (while the child should not be in the room). All this will allow the nasal mucosa not to dry out and the runny nose will pass faster.

You should also drink plenty of fluids. Well suited tea, compote, decoction of wild rose.

Folk methods of treatment

In search of a suitable cold remedy for children from 1 year old, parents often turn to folk recipes. One of the most popular is steaming the feet in a mustard bath.

Pour hot water into a bowl (the temperature should be about 35 ° C) and pour 2-3 tablespoons of mustard powder into it. It is necessary to warm the child's legs for 10-15 minutes (until the water has completely cooled). Then you should put warm socks on the child and put them under the covers.

The main contraindication for taking this type of bath is elevated body temperature. Usually children really like this procedure.

Also, instead of steam inhalation with solutions, you can breathe over a pot of boiled potatoes. The procedure should be carried out for about 10 minutes with the mouth and nose alternately. A prerequisite: this method of treatment should be under the supervision of parents. A child may tip a hot pot on himself.

The arsenal of traditional medicine is quite wide. However, before using folk recipes for a cold for children 1 year old, you should consult a pediatrician.

Complications of the common cold

The most common complication of the common cold is sinusitis. This disease is caused by inflammation of the maxillary sinuses. Pronounced symptoms are: prolonged runny nose, sinus pain, fever and headache.

Treatment usually combines vasoconstrictor drugs, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs.

What can be more unpleasant for parents than a child's health disorder? No matter what causes snot to appear in children, home remedies or medicines are unlikely to do without treatment. With a runny nose, the baby does not sleep well, eats, his mood deteriorates. In addition, parents worry about possible complications. Most often, a runny nose occurs due to a weakened immune system. Gradual hardening will help, starting from birth. In case of a prolonged runny nose, you should consult a doctor.

1. Cold. The baby's feet got wet while walking in bad weather, or he was dressed too lightly. Sometimes a child may catch a cold, on the contrary, due to the fact that he was dressed too warmly. He sweated during the game, and then caught a cold in the cold wind.
2. Viral infection (ARVI).
3. Getting into the nose of a foreign body (often kids put the bones from cherries, buttons and other small objects into their noses).
4. Unfavorable indoor conditions (high humidity or dry air, the presence of tobacco smoke or irritating odors).

The cause of a runny nose can be allergies, as well as excitement or excitement.

Types of runny nose

Any runny nose belongs to one of three types: infectious, allergic or vasomotor.

Infectious runny nose

If the cause of snot is an infection, then damage to the nasal mucosa occurs due to the introduction of a virus into it. In this case, liquid and mucus are released, with the help of which the body tries to remove bacteria, prevent the virus from entering the respiratory tract and spreading the infection to neighboring organs.

Such a runny nose is one of the symptoms of influenza and many childhood infectious diseases (scarlet fever, SARS). As a rule, a runny nose begins with sneezing due to irritation and inflammation of the nasal mucosa, and then liquid transparent snot appears. As they recover, they thicken. Infectious lesions especially often occur during the transitional season (early spring, late autumn), when the child's body is just beginning to adapt to changes in temperature and humidity of the surrounding air, the body's resistance forces are weakened.

allergic rhinitis

Sneezing, tearing, and liquid snot that occur in children often become a reaction to animal hair and smell, plant pollen, household dust, certain medications, as well as certain fruits, berries and other foods.

In some cases, when the cause of the allergy is known and can be eliminated (for example, by eliminating allergenic foods from the diet), the snot goes away on its own. Sometimes the cause of allergies is birch or grass pollen during the flowering period. Then it is necessary to establish which allergen affects the child, and to carry out appropriate treatment with antihistamines.

Vasomotor runny nose

It occurs due to the expansion of blood vessels in the nose due to the use of hot food with the addition of spices. Such a runny nose can occur if onions are cut or peppers are scattered indoors. The smell of tobacco smoke or strong perfume aromas can also cause snot. Vasodilation leads to inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Snot is a means of removing bacteria that cause inflammation.

Such snot in a child also arises as a result of experiences (quarrels with friends, failures at school). Vasomotor runny nose can last for a long time, accompanied by headaches, sleep disorders, memory impairment and attention.

Snot color and consistency

Liquid transparent snot a child usually appears at the initial moment of a cold or flu, and can also be an allergic reaction.

If left unattended, the inflammatory process from the nose spreads to the respiratory tract and nasopharynx, leading to inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media) or maxillary sinuses (sinusitis).

green snot in a child usually appear at the next stage of the inflammatory process in the nasal mucosa. The appearance of thick green snot indicates the development of a bacterial process or is associated with any stressful situation experienced by the child (moving to a new apartment, for example). If he first went to kindergarten, then there is an increased risk of catching an infection that is transmitted by sneezing and coughing. Children often use other people's handkerchiefs, towels, exchange nipples. Infection is especially possible if the baby has a weak immune system.

yellow snot a child appears at the end of a common cold as a result of thickening of transparent snot. But they can also be evidence of a purulent process in the sinuses, which is dangerous for its severe complications. Untreated sinusitis (inflammation of the nasal mucosa) causes otitis, pneumonia, meningitis (inflammation of the meninges), rheumatism. Therefore, if such a runny nose lasts more than a week, you should definitely consult a doctor. When a child has a runny nose, as a rule, side symptoms such as lacrimation, fever up to 37.2 ° -37.4 °, loss of taste, tinnitus, and hearing loss occur.

Snot in infants

With any runny nose, the nose is usually stuffy. This condition is especially dangerous for infants, since difficulty in breathing prevents them from sucking milk normally and does not allow them to sleep. Since the nasal passages of babies are narrower than those of older children, the nose becomes clogged quickly. It is more difficult to remove snot from such a child, he cannot blow his nose, and he has not yet learned to breathe through his mouth. The nose must be cleaned with a special spray can.

In infants, a runny nose does not necessarily indicate an illness. It can occur as a result of the fact that the body of the crumbs adapts to a new environment for it. Transparent snot becomes a reaction to new smells, to any changes in the mother's diet that affect the composition of the milk. Often they go away on their own. But it's not worth the risk. In such a baby, inflammatory processes spread very quickly. The doctor will tell you what caused the snot and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Video: Drugs for the treatment of the common cold in children

Runny nose treatment

If snot appeared in a child as a result of a cold, then at the initial moment it will be helped by washing the nose with a saline solution: saline or appropriate drops that will be advised in a pharmacy (for example, Aqualor, Aquamaris). You can drip your nose with a solution of sea salt or rinse it with infusion of chamomile or calendula.

If the child is small and does not know how to blow his nose, then diluted aloe juice is dripped into his nose so that he sneezes, then the nasal passages will be cleared. Breastfeeding is recommended to wash the nose with mother's milk.

Diluted juice of beets or carrots is instilled into a clean nose. Parents should definitely test the effect of such drugs on themselves to make sure that the medicine does not cause burning.

It should be emphasized: Before you start instilling a baby's nose with any medicine bought at a pharmacy, you need to make sure that it is intended for a child of the appropriate age. A medicine with a higher concentration can cause a burn of the nasal mucosa.

If a child has a cold, snot appears in him, then in order to improve his well-being, it is necessary, first of all, to take care of normal conditions in the room (temperature 20 ° -22 °, humidity 60-70%). To do this, the room is often aired, wet cleaning is done. A sick child must be carefully looked after, 6-7 times a day, clear the nose of snot. To facilitate breathing before going to bed, vasoconstrictor drugs, such as Nazivin, Otrivin, are dripped into the nose. In addition, these drops disinfect the mucosa.

For children under 4 years old, only drops are used, since their nasal passages are located too close to the auditory tubes. The liquid, leaving the spray under pressure, along with the mucus enters the pipes, which leads to otitis media, a disease much more dangerous than a slight runny nose.

It is known that there is a reflex connection between the nasal mucosa and the feet. Therefore, hypothermia of the feet causes a cold and runny nose in a child. If his feet are frozen on the street, it is recommended that after returning home, give him a warm foot bath. On the same principle of warming the feet, the treatment of a runny nose and colds is based with the help of warm socks, into which dry mustard is poured. A slight irritation of the nerve endings on the feet with essential oils contained in mustard has a warming effect on the body. The main thing is to keep your feet dry, as you can get a skin burn. This method is not used to treat very young children.

If a child has snot, then he should be given plenty of water, as he loses fluid with snot. In addition, frequent drinking will help to cope with increased body temperature.

Video: Features of the treatment of the common cold in children

How to clear the nose of snot, what sprays to use

If the room is too dry and hot, the child's mucosa begins to dry out, the mucus forms crusts. A saline spray will help soften and remove them. To do this, you can also use cotton swabs moistened with olive or sea buckthorn oil.

Note: It must be remembered that tampons should not be too small and should be easy to get out of the nose, otherwise the child may sneeze and the tampon will fall into the windpipe. You can not clean both nostrils at the same time.

Thermal procedures and nasal rinsing help eliminate the common cold in 3-5 days. If the condition does not improve, the child must be shown to a pediatrician and an otolaryngologist in order to prevent complications.

If the child has a stuffy nose with a runny nose, while the ear hurts, then you can use a spray to narrow the vessels. Swelling in the nose often causes toothache as well.

Thick snot is treated with mucus thinners to help clear the nose (Rinofluimucil, Salin). They contain only salt and water. For allergic rhinitis, sprays with antihistamine drugs are used.

Video: How to clean the nose of snot for a baby

Folk remedies for the common cold

Warming up the nose helps to get rid of snot. It can be done even by very young children. For heating, a dense fabric bag with warm porridge or heated salt is used. It is placed on the nose area. Warming can not be done with sinusitis (purulent inflammatory process). A hard-boiled egg is also used to warm the nose.

A well-known folk way to treat snot in a child is steam inhalation. Pour soda into boiling water, let it breathe in alkaline steam. You can use for inhalation a decoction of potatoes, spruce branches, as well as decoctions of herbs (chamomile, sage, mint), eucalyptus leaves. After warming up, the nose is dripped with diluted aloe juice or lubricated with sea buckthorn oil.

A runny nose in a child often becomes a real test for his parents. Nasal congestion in children is usually manifested by frequent whims, poor sleep and refusal to eat. The causes of rhinitis in children can be various factors. Often a runny nose is activated as a result of long walks in wet weather in the cold.

Wet or cold feet almost always lead to a runny nose, since hypothermia of the feet provokes a negative reaction of the entire child's body. It is also possible to supercool the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract itself, thus causing swelling and increasing the secretion of mucus. Such symptoms are often observed after the child is very active and loud crying outside in cold weather.

You should also remember about colds, often accompanied by nasal congestion. If a runny nose in a child is not cured in a timely manner, this can lead to such serious complications as inflammation of the mucous membranes of the maxillary sinuses or an acute form of inflammation of the middle ear, simply sinusitis and otitis media.

Prevention of children's cold

First of all, you need to carefully consider the choice of shoes and clothes for walking on the street. Make sure that the child does not get his feet wet, does not sweat and is not overcooled. Upon returning home, children's feet should be checked, and if they are cold or damp, appropriate measures should be taken immediately. To do this, you can put the child in a hot bath, hold his feet in a mustard bath and drink warm milk with butter or honey.

It is very important to avoid contact of your baby with colds and sick children. It is recommended to constantly strengthen children's immunity with a balanced diet, including dairy products, fish, meat, fruits and vegetables. We should not forget about the positive impact of exercise on the health of a growing organism. If the child's immune system is too weakened, you can contact a pediatrician who will select natural immunomodulators for the baby, such as echinacea, ginseng, red clover, garlic, dandelion, St. John's wort, milk thistle, elecampane, celandine and much more.

Prevention of the common cold in children with sea water

Washing the nose and sinuses with sea water containing natural salts and a large number of trace elements is one of the most effective and common means for the prevention of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections during a period of reduced immunity and the greatest likelihood of illness in children. The use of products with sea water helps to strengthen the mucous membrane of your baby without disturbing the microflora of the nasal cavity. Sea water contains only natural ingredients, is not addictive with frequent use and is completely safe for your child.

Treatment of a cold in a child

Antibiotics that suppress the immune system should not be used unnecessarily during the treatment of a child's cold. Vasoconstrictor drops will help to improve breathing and relieve swelling, which serve as a prevention of complications such as sinusitis and otitis media. It should be remembered that the abuse of such drugs can lead to overdrying of the nasal mucosa, rapid addiction and other negative consequences. Medicines for the treatment of the common cold must necessarily correspond to the age of the child and have a sparing mild effect.

Saline solutions and sea salt-based medicines, which can be purchased at a pharmacy, help to effectively clean the nasopharynx and nose. When using folk recipes for the treatment of a runny nose in children, it must be remembered that such remedies are based on herbal ingredients, many of which can lead to an allergic reaction in the child's body. Therefore, before starting such an independent treatment, it is better to consult a homeopathic doctor.

Folk methods to eliminate the common cold

Steam inhalation is the most common treatment for the common cold. As a rule, decoctions of eucalyptus, chamomile, bay leaf, sage and mint are used for such procedures. It should be remembered that inhalation of children should be carried out very carefully so as not to cause even more harm to health. Instead of a special medical inhaler, you can use an ordinary pot, into which a hot solution of medicinal herbs is placed and the child is forced to breathe over it, covered with a towel. In some children, this procedure can provoke a painful reaction as a result of exposure to steam on the mucous membrane of the eye. In such cases, it is recommended to replace steam inhalations with an ordinary heating pad, into which pour a hot solution, wrap it in a towel and help the baby breathe in healing vapors.

If a runny nose is observed in infants, they can instill a nose with beetroot or carrot juice, 2 drops into each nasal opening. Juice should only be fresh and diluted with water in half. If the child does not allow to bury his nose, you can make cotton turundas soaked in beetroot juice, which should be alternately inserted into each nostril several times a day.

For older children, you can use the following method: grate the head of garlic, squeeze, pour olive or vegetable oil and leave for 12 hours. The finished medicine is recommended to bury two drops in each nostril with a cold. If the disease is accompanied by viscous and thick mucus, which may be a sign of infection, instillation of garlic or onion juice diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1 helps well. It is useful to add a little fresh liquid honey to such a medicine. An excellent remedy for a runny nose is aloe juice mixed with the same amount of honey, which is useful to bury at night. It is very important that the plant is older than 3 years.

Before taking on the treatment of a runny nose in a child, it is necessary to consult a doctor, especially when it comes to sinusitis.