What to do if the baby has a runny nose. Treatment of a runny nose in an infant Snot in an infant 2 months

A runny nose is one of the most common diseases of the ENT organs in children. During the off-season, abundant nasal secretion in infants is perhaps the most common symptom of a cold. Such a phenomenon causes considerable discomfort to the child and his parents, who sometimes do not know how to cope with this problem. Because of, in connection with which appetite and sleep are disturbed. At the same time, the prolonged course of the disease can entail a number of undesirable, and moreover, dangerous complications.

It should be remembered that in a child under 2.5 months, nasal discharge does not always signal the presence of any pathology. This condition may be purely physiological in nature, in which case no treatment is required.

The first thing that needs to be done when a runny nose appears is to consult a doctor who will find out the cause of its appearance, based on what, and make the best decision.

Cold

Almost always, the occurrence of a cold in a child in the second month of life is associated with a bacterial or viral lesion.

The infectious process, as a rule, is accompanied by edema of the mucous membrane, secretory activity of the glands, and impaired nasal breathing.

Allergy

In addition, an allergic reaction resulting from exposure to unfavorable environmental factors or constant contact with allergens can provoke the appearance of a runny nose in a baby. Allergy is manifested by watery nasal discharge, paroxysmal sneezing, increased tearing, swelling of the mucous membranes, redness of the eyes.

Physiological

There are also several types of rhinitis that are unique to newborns. These include physiological rhinitis, which is a natural adaptation process of the nasal mucosa. When a child is born, there is a dramatic change in the environment. The mucous membrane that is not fully formed and does not fully fulfill its functions, adapts to the new conditions of extrauterine life. The mucous glands of the nasal cavity begin to work in an active mode, in connection with which transparent discharge appears. It is not necessary to treat this type of rhinitis.

Dental

Also, special types of rhinitis that do not require serious treatment in newborns include "dental snot" that occurs against the background of teething, and "false runny nose" that appears due to the activation of the salivary glands.

Regardless of what type of runny nose in infants, parents, first of all, should prevent drying out of the nasal mucosa. With rhinitis of a physiological nature, this will be quite enough. In the case of an infectious or allergic origin of an unpleasant symptom, such measures will enhance the therapeutic effect.

For any type of cold in a newborn, you should:

provide an optimal microclimate in the room in which the child stays. The humidity level in the children's room should be at least 60-70%. Humidifiers can be used to achieve this. However, not everyone has the opportunity to purchase it, so you can use a more affordable way - put a wet towel on the battery. And also, do not forget about the systematic carrying out of wet cleaning;
with the accumulation of mucous discharge in the nasopharynx, it is necessary to give the child water between feedings;
it is especially important during a runny nose to free the baby's nose from mucus in a timely manner.

Difficulty breathing disrupts the work of all organs and systems, therefore, it is impossible to allow the accumulation of mucus; ventilate the room regularly. It is advisable to do this every time before bedtime.

If a newborn baby has nasal discharge accompanied by fever, general malaise, impaired appetite, lethargy, this may indicate the development of a bacterial or viral disease. In this case, such events are only auxiliary, this kind of rhinitis should be treated with medication.

Conservative treatment

With the abundant formation of a mucous secretion, not accompanied by alarming symptoms, the doctor may recommend treating the ailment exclusively with local agents. For the treatment of infants, the safest option is to use nasal drops rather than sprays.

Most often, to eliminate local symptomatic manifestations, they are prescribed:

Vasoconstrictor drugs

In the case of pronounced mucosal edema, it is recommended to use drugs that constrict blood vessels. You should not independently resort to the use of drops belonging to this pharmacological group. The appropriateness of their use is determined solely by the doctor. To treat rhinitis in an infant with this kind of means should be done with extreme caution, avoiding an overdose, and no more than three days.

Nasal drops - Nazol Baby, Nazivin 0.01% are acceptable for use in the treatment of newborn children. It is advisable to perform the procedure for instilling the nose no more than once every six hours.

Antiseptic drugs

The most common and most often prescribed agent belonging to the group of antiseptics is Protargol, which is a colloidal solution of silver. The drug is not sold in ordinary pharmacies, it can be ordered and purchased only by prescription, in pharmacies that manufacture drugs.

Antiviral immunomodulators

All drugs, and antiviral drugs with immunomodulatory drugs are no exception, can be used only as directed by a specialist. Since the long-term effects of the use of drugs, which, to one degree or another, have an effect on the immune system of the baby, have not yet been studied enough. If the pediatrician considers it rational, rhinitis can be treated with drugs such as: Grippferon, Genferon-light, Viferon.

In no case should a runny nose in a child of 2 months be left without due attention. A long-term illness is dangerous for its complications, especially for babies. In the event of profuse nasal discharge, shortness of breath and other characteristic symptoms in a newborn, you should definitely consult a pediatrician, since it is also not recommended to treat the ailment on your own.

Content

Everyone suffered from abundant mucous discharge from the nose at least once, and in newborns they are constant in the first weeks, but not every runny nose in a baby is natural and safe, since for a small child's body it is as serious a problem as the flu is for an adult. How to cope with the disease, are complications possible and when is it worth starting treatment?

What is a runny nose in a baby

In official medicine, this disease is called rhinitis, and it is characterized by the secretion of mucus of different density and shade from the nasal cavities. They appear if the mucous membrane is affected by the inflammatory process, mainly generated by the effect:

bacterial infections;
viruses;
allergens.

In infants, not only these factors, but also a natural reaction to the environment, may be present among the prerequisites for a cold. The mucous membrane of the newborn is not yet adapted to the air outside the uterus, so it takes time for it to function properly. In addition, the condition of the baby is complicated by the narrow nasal passages and the general sensitivity of the mucous membrane, which can react to any changes in the environment.

How long does it take

The duration of a cold in an infant is determined by its nature: so doctors say that in babies under 2 months old, this is mainly a physiological secretion of mucus, which lasts for several weeks, but does not give dangerous complications. The longest period is 3 months from the moment the snot appears. A more serious case is the appearance of a runny nose in a baby aged 4-5 months, because it is early for teeth and ARVI, and if it does not go away quickly (in 2-3 days), this is a reason to see a pediatrician.

Features of the common cold in infants

Even with physiological or allergic rhinitis, the child's body has a hard time, because already on the first day it leads to swelling of the mucous membrane in the baby, which interferes with full breathing, disrupts sleep, leads to constant crying, loss of appetite. It is possible that the baby will even have a fever, more due to malfunctions of the nervous system than a disease. In viral diseases, the situation is even more difficult, since a newborn's runny nose is often not only abundant, but also purulent, and the body itself cannot fight the disease.

Symptoms

Physiological rhinitis is characterized mainly by only the separation of transparent mucus from the nasal passages, due to which the baby breathes with difficulty, but he does not suffer from severe nasal congestion, and there is no deterioration in well-being either. If rhinitis in infants is infectious, the problem should be considered in stages that differ in symptoms. They look like this:

The mucous membrane is absolutely (!) Dry, there are no problems with nasal breathing, but it can be too noisy, and the baby constantly rubs his nose or sniffs.
There is swelling of the mucous membrane, the baby refuses to eat, becomes restless, can often cry for no reason, does not sleep well.
The density of the outgoing mucus increases, the nose is stuffy. The appearance of purulent discharge (greenish color) is possible. If the baby is affected by an infection, a cough is added, the disease may be accompanied by a fever. At the same time, the frequency of discharge is reduced.

Apart from how a runny nose can occur in children, if it is not physiological, doctors advise taking into account that different causes of rhinitis give different manifestations:

Bacterial rhinitis is characterized by thick yellow or yellow-green discharge, which may be mixed with pus. The temperature rises and falls quickly, but a runny nose will last for a long time.
With a viral frequent phenomenon, loss of appetite, lethargy of the baby, high (38 degrees) temperature, which lasts for several hours, become common. Even with an acute viral infection, profuse and prolonged rhinitis may not be, the mucus is transparent, not thick.

Allergic rhinitis in infants

If, with abundant nasal discharge, young parents see the child's absolutely normal temperature (up to 37.5 degrees), cold symptoms (cough, thickening of mucus and its yellow or green tint) are not observed, it is highly likely that we are talking about allergic rhinitis. It can be triggered by any external factor, but mainly by substances in the atmosphere that irritate the baby's mucosa. If the cause of the allergy is eliminated, the child's condition will return to normal.

Causes

A runny nose in a baby is not always a sign of a cold, ARVI, etc. As specified above, this may be a natural moment due to a sensitive mucous membrane that reacted to a drop in humidity or air temperature, which does not require medications and therapeutic manipulations. A runny nose can also provoke a small object into the nostrils that irritates the lining of the nasal cavity. The intensity of nasal discharge is not associated with the cause of their appearance - a less obvious runny nose is possible from bacterial inflammation than from physiological prerequisites.

However, if the baby develops swelling of the mucous membrane or the nose as a whole (noticeable by a change in its size in the area of the bridge of the nose), a runny nose is accompanied by frequent sneezing or the temperature rises, it is likely that among the reasons for its appearance, one should suspect:

an allergic reaction (to food, medicine, chlorinated water, dust, wool, etc.);
drying out of the nasal mucosa (accompanied by the formation of crusts that injure the membrane of the nasal passages and provoke bleeding);
viral or infectious disease (mainly characteristic of children over the age of 6 months);
bacterial inflammation.

Separately, doctors mention the onset of the appearance of teeth, which in newborns is accompanied by the release of mucus from the nose due to inflammation of the injured gums. Blood circulation in them and in the lining of the nasal passages is interconnected, which leads to excessive production of mucus in the nasopharynx of the baby. You do not need to do anything about this, since such a runny nose goes away on its own when the teeth stop cutting.

Treatment

Most pediatricians agree that you need to understand not how to treat a runny nose in infants, but why it appeared. Rhinitis is always a mucosal reaction, which cannot be causeless: physiological is characteristic of newborn crumbs, whose nose is not yet accustomed to the environment. There is no point in treating a baby in such a situation, but leaving the situation “as it is” is also not entirely reasonable, since it causes discomfort to the child and parents.

Treatment of a common cold in infants regarding its prerequisites looks like this:

in physiological conditions, the nose is necessarily washed, the snot is pumped out with a "pear" so that there is no congestion and breathing is not disturbed;
for allergic patients, it is important to use drugs that will remove inflammation from the mucous membranes, and oral antihistamines are possible (you need to consult a doctor);
with a viral, especially with a high temperature and severe intoxication, you need to go to an ambulance, or, if the temperature is at 37.5 degrees, call a pediatrician at home - here they are already prescribed drugs that kill the virus and strengthen the immune system.

Than dripping your nose

Only a doctor can advise medicines for babies that involve internal intake if he considers this to be the only effective way to eliminate rhinitis, and in most situations, pediatricians recommend trying to cope with the problem with nasal drops, which can be done on their own using breast milk - this is the safest option. which can even bury the nose of a newborn. However, this remedy will not help "break through" the congestion - it will only strengthen the immune system.

Mostly doctors:

antiseptics are used (saline is the safest for babies);
instill vasoconstrictor drops;
use nasal immunomodulators;
moisturizing preparations are injected into the nasal passages.

Moisturizing medicines

Preparations that help save the mucous membrane from drying out (this is especially important for babies aged 2-3 months) are often produced as a spray that is convenient for irrigating the nasal cavity. In most cases, they are based on a special solution of sea water, which will not provoke allergies. Among the moisturizing drops, there are also immunity stimulants, anti-inflammatory compounds.

The most effective:

AquaMaris.
Aqualor Baby.

Vasoconstrictor

When the runny nose is profuse, the baby's sleep is disturbed, which negatively affects the state of the nervous system of both the baby and the parents. In this situation, it makes sense in vasoconstrictor drops, which will stop the secretion of mucus for a short time. However, they are used only in the symptomatic treatment of rhinitis, since they have no effect on the root cause. It is advisable to drip them once a day, at night, as they quickly provoke addiction and dry out the mucous membrane.

For babies (used even in newborns), you can buy:

Nazol Baby.
Nazivin 0.01%.
Otrivin Baby.

Antiseptic drops

Effective treatment of infectious prerequisites for the common cold should involve the use of drugs that kill viruses (only on the nasal mucosa). However, their choice should be approached with caution: antibiotics are only prescribed by a doctor (they are almost never prescribed for babies) - it is better to dwell on less "severe" options. Drops based on colloidal silver and Miramistin show themselves well. Use should be carried out strictly according to the instructions.

The therapy for children with viral rhinitis often includes:

Collargol.
Protargol.
Octenisept.

Antiviral and immunomodulatory agents

In infants, nasal use is also permissible for some drugs that have the ability to strengthen the body's defenses. The problem with such drugs is that they do not cure chronic diseases, do not give a quick effect, and therefore do not help during an exacerbation: they are mainly used to prevent the onset of a disease. However, if the first symptoms of a runny nose were noticed in the baby, the main course of therapy can be supplemented with immunomodulators.

The safest:

IRS-19.
Derinat.

Treatment with folk remedies

If you are afraid of pharmacy medicines, you can use non-traditional medicine recipes to eliminate the common cold:

Do evening baths (10-15 minutes) using eucalyptus and cedar essential oils (1-2 drops).
Fresh onion juice diluted with warm water (ratio 1:20) is dripped into each nasal passage up to 3 times a day.
A solution of sodium chloride (9 g for 1 liter of water) is used to rinse the nasal passages of the baby during the day. Doctors say: the composition of this "medicine" is almost the same as in saline, so the remedy is safe.

Chamomile for a cold

Pediatricians call a safe traditional medicine a decoction of chamomile, in which some parents bathe their babies, but it can also be used for inhalation (carry out the procedure only if the baby does not have a temperature) - this helps to moisturize the mucous membrane and stop the reproduction of microbes. It will be more effective to rinse the nasal passages of the baby, which can be performed 1-2 times a day. Some experts advise making a decoction for oral administration:

Pour a tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers with 0.5 liters of boiling water.
Let the liquid boil again, remove from the burner.
Wrap the container with a towel, leave for an hour.
Give the child 10 ml of a warm product in the morning and evening.

Is it possible to walk with a cold in a baby

Parents, who are very concerned about the health of their baby, try to play it safe and exclude any factors that potentially harm the well-being of the baby for any ailment. However, doctors do not prohibit walking with a runny nose if there is no high temperature. For physiological or allergic rhinitis, a visit to the street is the right step, but care must be taken so that the child does not overcool.

Complications

Physiological nasal discharge is predominantly eliminated on its own, and even if they are observed for several weeks, they do not affect the health of the baby. A lingering rhinitis of an infectious etiology can provoke:

otitis;
bronchitis;
conjunctivitis.

Prevention

If you do not want to rush to figure out how to cure a runny nose in an infant when the problem has worsened, take care of protecting the immune system and the nasal mucosa. Doctors give some advice:

Provide good air humidity in the apartment (at 65%). A simple method for those who do not have a humidifier is to fill plastic bottles with a severed neck with water and place them on the radiators.
Try to save the child from inhaling tobacco smoke - even a baby with good immunity develops allergies.
Damp mop regularly.

Discuss

How to cure a runny nose in an infant - a list of effective drugs

But a situation where a runny nose does not go away 2 weeks after the onset of the illness, or even a month later, can excite any mother. Why can rhinitis take such a long course and how should parents act in such cases?

Causes

Quite often, a situation where parents and doctors have not figured out the cause of the disease leads to a protracted course of the common cold, so all measures to combat it turn out to be ineffective. At the same time, the child suffers not only from the symptoms of a runny nose (it interferes with breathing, sleeping, eating, smelling and taste), but also from various manipulations that do not bring relief.

The reasons for a situation where a runny nose does not go away for 10 days or more may be:

Physiological reaction of the mucous membrane of newborns. It occurs during the adaptation of the infant's airways to the conditions of breathing outside the mother's womb. This is manifested by a runny nose, which can last up to 8-10 weeks. Its symptoms are puffing and sniffling, as well as a small amount of transparent snot coming out of the baby's nose. The general state of health of the crumbs does not suffer and such a runny nose does not require any treatment.
Sinusitis. In addition to a prolonged runny nose, the child's sense of smell will also be impaired, the voice will become nasal, and the body temperature will rise. The baby may complain of pain and distention in the area of the affected paranasal sinuses. At the same time, the general condition of the baby, as a rule, suffers greatly, which forces the parents to immediately seek medical help.

Allergic reaction. Prolonged runny nose with watery clear discharge caused by this cause is usually accompanied by sneezing attacks, itching in the nasopharynx, and difficulty breathing at night. It is caused by exposure to pollen from flowering plants, house dust, mold, synthetic substances from household chemicals, wool, fluff and other allergens. In many children, allergic rhinitis is associated with dermatitis, food allergies, and even asthma.
Adenoids. Due to the excessive proliferation of tonsil tissues in the child, breathing through the nose is disturbed and local immunity suffers. The disease can be detected by the appearance of nasal tone in the voice, snoring during sleep, or constant breathing through the mouth.
Complications of acute rhinitis. It is often caused by viruses, but with the addition of a bacterial infection, the disease becomes long-term and requires a change in treatment tactics. Most often, bacterial complications are caused by staphylococci, pneumococci and haemophilus influenzae. In this case, the nature of the discharge from the nose changes - they become thick, first yellowish, and then greenish. The risk of developing sinusitis or otitis media increases.

Doctor Komarovsky also talks about the causes of the common cold in his program:

More rare factors that cause a prolonged course of rhinitis are:

Foreign body entering the nasal cavity.
Teething.
Curved nasal septum.
Polyps or other tumors in the nasal cavity.

What to do

When to see a doctor

Show the child to the pediatrician or ENT specialist if:

A runny nose does not go away for more than 10 days.
The child's nose is constantly blocked, as a result of which the baby breathes only through the mouth.
The child's sense of smell has decreased or completely disappeared.
A thick yellow-green mucus is discharged from the nose.
The child complains of itching in the nose and headaches.
The kid is lethargic and does not sleep well.

Survey

A child who does not have a runny nose for 10 days or longer will be prescribed:

General blood test with definition of leukoformula. Such an examination will help confirm a bacterial infection or an allergic nature of the disease.
Rhinoscopy. The doctor will examine the nasal cavity using a frontal reflector and nasal speculum (for anterior rhinoscopy) or a nasopharyngeal speculum and spatula (for posterior rhinoscopy). The examination will help to see the condition of the nasal septum and turbinates. If sinusitis is suspected, endoscopic rhinoscopy may be performed.

Examination of nasal discharge. The child can have a smear, PCR to detect viruses or bacteria, as well as bacterial culture to determine the sensitivity of the flora to antimicrobial drugs.
Diaphanoscopy. Such a study of the paranasal sinuses with the help of transillumination is now often prescribed instead of an X-ray examination. It is performed in a dark room to determine if the paranasal sinuses are conducting light. Normally, they let it pass well, and with inflammation there will be darkening.

Treatment

If a runny nose in an infant in the first months of life turned out to be physiological, no specific treatment from the parents is required. You just need to create optimal conditions for the baby to breathe - to purify the air, humidify it, maintain a comfortable air temperature.
In the treatment of viral rhinitis, complicated by a bacterial infection, drugs are used that contain antiseptics or antibiotics. They must be prescribed by a doctor, since such drugs, although they differ in local action, also have side effects. In the treatment of such protracted rhinitis, Protargol, Dioxidin, Miramistin, Isofra, Polidexa and other drugs are used.
If the cause of a prolonged runny nose is an allergy, first of all, the influence of allergens on the child's body should be excluded. Also, the doctor will prescribe specific treatment using anti-inflammatory and antihistamines, for example, Zyrtec drops. In addition, for children with such a runny nose, moisturizing the nose with saline or sea salt products is indicated.
In a situation where adenoids provoke a prolonged runny nose, the doctor should decide on the tactics of treatment. In some cases, conservative methods are sufficient, but sometimes it is impossible to do without surgery.

The pediatric otolaryngologist I.V. Leskov:

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What to do if a child has a runny nose?

When, despite the treatment being carried out, the child's runny nose does not go away, the parents fall into despair. Indeed, in this case, the well-being of the baby suffers, he cannot normally exercise, play, sleeps badly, does not feel the taste and smell of food. With a long-lasting runny nose, the risk of complications increases.

Often, a runny nose is delayed due to a misunderstanding of the cause of its occurrence. And this is followed by ineffective measures to combat the violation of nasal breathing, and in addition to the symptoms of the disease, the child suffers from various manipulations that do not bring him relief. Conventional cold remedies do not work if the cause is:

physiological restructuring of the body during the neonatal period;
sinusitis;
accession of a bacterial infection;
allergy;
adenoids;
other reasons (foreign body of the nose, etc.).

Any of these conditions can be accompanied by nasal congestion and nasal discharge. Such diseases require a differentiated approach and prescription of drugs that effectively eliminate the cause of the common cold.

Physiological rhinitis in infants

If a child does not have a runny nose for a long time during the neonatal period and in the first 2-3 months of life, then it is most likely physiological and does not require treatment at all. Symptoms of a physiological runny nose are slight runny nasal discharge and squelching sounds while sucking. The child's well-being does not suffer.

Physiological rhinitis is not a disease, but a way of adapting the body to new conditions of existence. At first, the baby's nose is excessively dry, after a while the air humidification mechanisms are activated, but due to insufficient regulation, mucus is formed in excess.

To reduce the manifestation of such a runny nose, careful observance of hygienic requirements for the environment - cleanliness of the air and the entire room, sufficient humidity, and a comfortable air temperature - will help.

Sinusitis as a cause of the common cold

If for a long time the child's cough and runny nose does not go away, then it may be caused by sinusitis - inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.

In addition to the common cold, the symptoms of sinusitis are:

high body temperature;
violation of the sense of smell;
nasal voice;
pain when pressing on the bone over the affected sinus;
a feeling of fullness and pressure in the area of the affected sinus.

With sinusitis, the discharge of fluid from the paranasal sinuses is disturbed due to the narrowing of the outlet. This narrowing, or even complete closure of the outlet from the sinus cavity, creates an edematous mucous membrane.

Sinusitis is often a complication of upper respiratory viral infections and rhinitis. One of his classifications was created according to the anatomical principle, in this case the name of sinusitis comes from the Latin name for the paranasal sinus.

Frontit

Frontitis is an inflammation of the paired frontal sinuses. Since the frontal sinus is formed in children by the age of 2.5 years, they do not have frontal sinus before this age.

Frontal sinusitis is characterized by pain above the bridge of the nose and in the region of the brow ridges, which is more pronounced in the morning. The pain goes away after part of the contents of the sinus goes into the nasal cavity, around 14 - 15 o'clock in the afternoon. The pain radiates to the eyes, accompanied by lacrimation and fear of light. As a rule, babies find it difficult to determine the location of pain, and simply complain of a headache.

The contents of the sinuses during frontalitis can go out, which manifests itself in the form of a runny nose, or drain along the back of the pharynx. The flow of mucus down the back of the pharynx causes a cough that worsens when lying down. Mucus can be seen during rhinoscopy at an appointment with an ENT doctor, sometimes when examining the oropharynx.

Ethmoiditis

Ethmoiditis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the ethmoid labyrinth. A persistent runny nose in a child may be associated with ethmoiditis, starting from the age of 2 to 3 weeks, since the ethmoid bone cells, in which the pathological process occurs, have already been formed by the time the baby is born.

Ethmoiditis is characterized by a rapid transition of inflammation to a purulent form. The general condition of the child suffers significantly - he has poor health and mood, high body temperature, and has no appetite. Of the local symptoms in the case of severe inflammation, in addition to difficulty in nasal breathing and nasal discharge, there will be swelling in the orbit area. The eye on the affected side is half-closed; there may be redness around it.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinuses. It can be the cause of prolonged runny nose and nasal congestion in babies, starting at the end of 1 year of life, but it is extremely rare before 2 years.

For sinusitis in children, abundant mucopurulent or mucous discharge from the nose is characteristic. They can be from only one nostril in the case of a unilateral lesion, in this case the child complains that one half of his nose “does not breathe”. Blowing your nose into a handkerchief is often ineffective, and only special manipulations (rinsing the nose, puncture, "cuckoo") make it easier to breathe through the nose.

Sphenoiditis as a type of sinusitis in children, especially young children, is much less common.

The lack of a positive effect from the instillation of vasoconstrictor drops makes the child think that a runny nose does not go away due to the fact that he is one of the symptoms of sinusitis. In this case, an ENT doctor must be included in the treatment.

As a rule, it is difficult to cope with sinusitis in young children without the use of antibiotics; in case of severe disturbances in well-being in the first days of treatment, antibiotics are prescribed in injections.

When treating sinusitis with antibiotics, it is imperative to observe the dosage of drugs and the duration of the course. Otherwise, you can only worsen the child's condition.

In addition, in order to finally recover from sinusitis, sometimes special interventions and manipulations are required, such as:

placement of the YAMIK catheter;
"cuckoo";
puncture of the paranasal sinus;
surgical intervention in severe cases.

A protracted runny nose is considered that does not go away for more than 2 weeks. If a child's runny nose does not go away for a month or more, then the sinusitis most likely turned into a chronic form, and the cause of persistent nasal discharge is chronic inflammation in the paranasal sinuses.

The cause of the common cold is a bacterial infection

Normally, the mucous membrane is covered with a layer of epithelial cells and immunoglobulins on their surface. Sometimes immunoglobulins are not enough to protect the mucous membrane. This happens in the case of insufficient production with a decrease in immunity.

They can also be spent on binding pathogenic viruses, neutralizing them. In this case, viruses freely penetrate into the mucous membrane, causing its inflammation - acute rhinitis, which manifests itself in the form of a runny nose.

With a runny nose, mucus secretion is a protective reaction of the mucous membrane to the effects of infectious pathogens.

Viruses, depriving the surface of the nasal cavity of protection, open the way for a bacterial infection, which easily joins the viral one. Most often, bacterial inflammation is caused by pathogens such as:

They contribute to a change in the nature of nasal discharge with a cold. The discharge first becomes yellowish, and then yellow-green or thick green. The next stage in the development of bacterial inflammation is its spread to the mucous membrane of the paranasal sinuses with the development of sinusitis or the transition through the auditory tube into the middle ear cavity. Sinusitis and otitis media in this case should be considered as a bacterial complication of rhinitis.

When parents ask themselves what to do - the child does not have a runny nose with yellow-green purulent discharge, they should remember about the possible bacterial nature of rhinitis. In this case, it will be effective to eliminate the cause of the common cold - bacteria. This can be done with nasal drops and sprays containing antibacterial drugs. Antibacterial agents in the nose can only be used on the recommendation of a doctor.

Antibacterial drugs for getting rid of the common cold are divided into the following groups:

Parents should be aware that side effects can develop from the use of topical antibacterial drugs, as well as from oral agents.

Local remedies containing an antiseptic

Local preparations for the nose based on colloidal silver are protargol, collargol. Also used are chemically synthesized substances - miramistin, dioxidine, etc. Their distinctive feature is the indiscriminate destructive effect on all microorganisms with which they come in contact.

Protargol, in addition to antiseptic, has anti-inflammatory and astringent effects. For the treatment of a cold, its aqueous solution is used. The mechanism of action of protargol is that silver ions have a damaging effect on bacteria and viruses. They also deposit proteins on the mucous membrane, which are formed as a result of inflammation, due to which a protective film forms on the surface. Protargol can also relieve mucosal edema by narrowing its vessels.

Collargol was the first colloidal silver drug. For the treatment of purulent rhinitis, it is used at a concentration of 2 - 5%. Prepare the product in the pharmacy immediately before use. Collargol is similar in mechanism of action to protargol. And although colloidal silver is approved for use in children from the neonatal period, you need to be careful in its use - quite often it gives allergic reactions.

Miramistin is instilled into the nose with a long-lasting runny nose of a bacterial nature. This remedy destroys many pathogenic pathogens of rhinitis. It is used as a spray or instillation solution. The mechanism of action of miramistin is to disrupt the integrity of the pathogen sheath. The tool is approved for use from an early age, practically has no side effects.

Local remedies containing an antibiotic

Topical antibiotics are available in a convenient form as a spray, ointment, or nasal drops. These funds characterize the selectivity of action in relation to certain groups of microorganisms. An example of such a drug is isofra. Isofra contains the antibiotic rifampicin. The spray is approved for use in children from 2 years old.

Polydex with phenylephrine contains two antibiotics - neomycin and polymyxin, as well as a vasoconstrictor and anti-inflammatory component. This spray is approved for use in children from 2.5 years of age.

Levomekol in the form of an ointment is used for prolonged runny nose, applied to cotton wool and inserted into the nasal passages. It contains two components - the antibiotic chloramphenicol and methyluracil, which has an immunostimulating and healing effect. The hydrophilic base of the ointment has the property of pulling off purulent discharge from the nose. Approved for use since a year.

Runny nose from allergies

If a child has a runny nose for a long time, then one of its causes may be an allergy. For the first time, allergic rhinitis manifests itself in childhood. The body's defense reaction to the effects of allergenic substances is excessive, and is manifested by symptoms of rhinitis.

According to statistics, allergic rhinitis occurs in 11-24% of the population. An important role in its occurrence is played by a hereditary predisposition to allergies.

The child may be in constant contact with environmental allergens. Then the runny nose bothers him constantly, and allergic rhinitis will be year-round. It is caused by house dust, animal dander, mold, detergents and other chemicals. In the occurrence of allergic rhinitis, it is precisely those allergens that the child inhales from the air play a significant role.

If the baby is allergic to pollen from flowering plants, then the runny nose will be seasonal. It is exacerbated during flowering plants, which are the cause of allergic rhinitis. Most often it is pollen from trees and shrubs (birch, poplar, etc.), as well as weeds.

Signs of allergic rhinitis:

paroxysmal sneezing;
itching sensation in the nose;
nasal discharge clear, watery;
nasal breathing is difficult only in severe cases, more often at night.

Children with allergic rhinitis often have comorbidities that are caused by allergies. These are bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, food allergies.

If a prolonged runny nose is of an allergic nature, then its symptoms are reduced by antihistamines for oral administration (fenistil, zyrtec, clarotadine, etc.), sprays with anti-inflammatory, antihistamine and corticosteroid components (nazonex, vibrocil, etc.).

It is impossible to break the vicious circle without eliminating the cause of the allergic rhinitis. Therefore, if a child is allergic to animal hair, then it should not be allowed that they live in the same apartment with the baby, and also exclude his contact with woolen clothes and blankets, down pillows. Parents note that even with a short-term change of place of residence, the child's condition improves.

In case of seasonal allergic rhinitis to pollen, agents based on sea water or saline sodium chloride solution must be added to the treatment. The drugs are used to cleanse the nasal cavity from allergens that have settled in it. For children, solutions of aquamaris, physiomer, saline, marimer, etc. are recommended. Their effectiveness has been proven by numerous studies.

Runny nose and adenoids

Another cause of a prolonged runny nose in a child may be adenoids - excessive proliferation of tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. Impaired nasal breathing will be one of the earliest symptoms of adenoids.

Adenoids are composed of lymphoid tissue responsible for local immunity in the nasopharynx. Frequent SARS constantly stimulate the immune response and the proliferation of adenoid tissue. As a result, the overgrown adenoids hang down into the nasopharyngeal cavity, making it difficult for air to circulate, especially in a horizontal position. In a dream, the child may snore, and his voice eventually becomes nasal, creates the feeling that the nose is constantly stuffed up, and the child suffers from a cold.

Frequent acute respiratory viral infections cause inflammation of the adenoids - adenoiditis, and the adenoids themselves become a focus of chronic infection. If you do not engage in treatment, then over time, the appearance of the child changes. His mouth is constantly open, as nasal breathing is difficult, the upper teeth protrude forward of the lower ones, redness and irritation of the skin under the nose due to mucus secretion.

Treatment of adenoids is not an easy task, even for an ENT doctor. Depending on the degree of their growth, it can be conservative or surgical. Modern medicine offers getting rid of adenoids and using cryotherapy or laser coagulation.

A runny nose in children becomes protracted if the treatment is not chosen correctly, or is not effective enough. Any chronic rhinitis forms through the acute stage. If you engage in his therapy under the supervision of a specialist, the risk of a runny nose becoming a protracted one is minimal.

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A runny nose is one of the most common diseases of the ENT organs in newborns. Excessive discharge of nasal secretions in infants during the off-season is probably the most common symptom of a cold. This phenomenon causes great discomfort for both the child and adults, who sometimes do not know how to cope with this ailment. Due to a runny nose, the baby cannot breathe fully, for this reason sleep and appetite are disturbed. Moreover, the prolonged passage of the disease can entail a whole list of undesirable and, in addition, serious complications.

Causes of the common cold in infants

A runny nose in newborns in the first months of life can have a different origin. As a rule, it is caused by:

teething;
unsatisfactory environmental conditions;
bacteria or viruses.

In infants, allergic rhinitis occurs only in an exceptional case. Various manifestations of allergic reactions can be observed in children from the first months of their life (for example, atopic dermatitis or food allergy to breast milk).

It takes some time for hypersensitivity to airborne allergens to appear. Many children develop allergic rhinitis within three years. As a rule, the main role in its appearance is played by pollen of weeds and various flowers.

Symptoms of rhinitis in newborns

When infants have a runny nose, then its symptoms may be different and will depend on the cause that caused this ailment and the stage of the disease. In some cases, a runny nose is accompanied by a general reaction from the whole body:

lethargy and poor health of the child;
increased body temperature;
brittle muscles;
poor appetite, refusal of breast milk.

But, as a rule, the manifestation of the disease is local and affects the nasal cavity itself. The main symptom is mucous discharge from the nose. Most often, at the beginning of the disease, they are transparent, watery and abundant. The mucous membrane thickens due to swelling, significantly narrowing the nasal passages, this causes nasal congestion and respiratory failure.

If a baby has a runny nose with liquid discharge, then often they provoke damage and irritation of the skin under the nose.

A few days after the onset of a runny nose, the discharge becomes thicker, gets a white, and then a yellowish tint. Breathing in the nose becomes free as the swelling subsides.

How is a runny nose treated in infants?

Then, when the doctor gives all the recommendations on how to treat a runny nose in an infant, parents will need to perform a number of medical procedures. Before you start instilling the nose, it must be thoroughly cleaned. Any manipulations with the baby's nose must be done carefully and carefully. Otherwise, you can damage the mucous membrane. Many doctors, in order to speed up the recovery time, prescribe special vasoconstrictors to children. You need to use them carefully, strictly following the doctor's recommendations. Products that show a quick result can be addictive in children, so they do not need to be used for more than three days.

How to treat a runny nose in a newborn at 1 month old?

Before treating a runny nose in a child at 1 month of age, you need to identify the cause of its appearance. It's just that newborns are characterized by physiological rhinitis. Minor nasal discharge is normal and does not require additional treatment. During a physiological rhinitis, the child feels normal, does not have fever, is actively sucking a bottle or breast.

In infants, in the first month of life, a physiological rhinitis is often accompanied by a characteristic “squelching”, especially noticeable during feeding. In addition, minor light discharge which have a liquid consistency.

It is possible to help defeat the physiological rhinitis in a newborn by timely cleansing and humidifying the air. You also need to periodically clean your nose from mucus.

Runny nose in a baby 2 months: treatment

Before treating a runny nose and cough in children 2 months of age, you need to know that the cause of the cough can be an excessive amount of nasal mucus that has accumulated in the nasopharynx. It is the presence of mucus that irritates the baby's nasopharynx, causing a cough. Since the baby spends most of the time lying down, the accumulation of mucus in the nasopharynx passes at a very fast pace.

Most often, doctors advise treating a runny nose in children 2 months old with the help of vasoconstrictor drops, seawater-based products, or cleansing saline solutions.

Before starting to treat a cold, the child needs to see a pediatrician. Just secretion of mucus can be triggered by bacteria, a virus, or an infection. In this case, the treatment requires the additional use of antiviral agents or antibiotics.

General principles for the treatment of rhinitis in newborns

It is necessary to determine: is a runny nose one of the constituent symptoms of the disease or is it an infection of only the nasal passages? The approaches to the treatment of rhinitis in these situations are different.

That is, when the general condition of the body is disturbed along with a runny nose, antibiotics or drugs may be required to correct immunity. And when the general condition does not suffer much and nasal discharge is the only symptom, then you can use topical preparations.

When the baby is a baby, then it is necessary to treat a runny nose carefully. During treatment, the age of the child must be taken into account. It is necessary to select effective and safe medications for rhinitis treatment.

In order to effectively and quickly help a newborn to get rid of a cold, it is necessary to create suitable conditions for recovery... Since a comfortable environment is half the success of treatment.

Ventilation of the room

The room where the child is most often needs to be ventilated. When weather conditions permit, the window can be left open during the entire sleep. Airing will promote air exchange in the room, due to this in the air the number of pathogenic bacteria decreases.

Fresh air prevents the appearance of crusts in the nose, it does not dry out the mucous membrane, it has an optimal temperature and humidity.

If periodic ventilation is not possible, then you need to take care of the humidity and cleanliness of the air in other ways. Continuous damp cleaning of the room will not only reduce the dust content in the air, but also humidify it. Special devices can also help - air ionizers, humidifiers and air purifiers.

Suction of mucus

Periodic clearing of mucus from the nasal cavity is one of the main aspects of therapy. When a newborn has a runny nose, then 2 months is absolutely not the age for the child to clear his nose or blow his nose on his own. You can help with this with aspirators.

Aspirators- these are special devices designed taking into account the specifics of the structure of the nasal cavity in young children. You can use the aspirator as many times a day as needed.

Cold drops

A large number of drops for the treatment of rhinitis are classified according to the method of their effect. To date, the following types of drops are made:

with immunoglobulins;
to cleanse the nose;
with an antiseptic;
with an antibiotic.

It is not uncommon for pediatricians to prescribe several types of nasal agents at the same time to cure rhinitis in newborns at 2 months. The most important thing is to comply with the recommended dose and the sequence of instillation.

Drops for cleansing the nose

Cleansing drops are made on the basis of sodium chloride solution or sea water. These funds prevent the secretion from drying into the crusts, dilute nasal mucus, and improve its discharge. This is an important component in the treatment of the common cold in infants.

The safety of nasal cleansers has been clinically proven. First of all, it is explained by the absence of potent substances in the composition of these drops.

Drops with sea water ( Marimer, Aquamaris), due to the content of important trace elements, also have a therapeutic effect. These drugs restore the cilia of the epithelium in the nasal cavity, making them more resistant to damage.

Antibiotic drops

Preparations that contain an antibiotic in their composition are used only for bacterial rhinitis.

If this condition is not observed, then these drops can only harm, since an allergy may appear to any antibiotics. Examples of these drugs include Polydex or Isofra with phenylephrine.

When a baby is only 2 months old, a runny nose can only be treated with drops. Antibiotics in the form of a spray up to 2 years of age are prohibited from use due to the possibility of spasm of the vocal cords.

Antiseptic drops

Preparations that contain an antiseptic kill all bacteria on the mucous membrane. Examples of these drops are:

Protargol;
Miramistin;
20% albucid.

Antiseptics do not act selectively. For drugs with an antibiotic to begin to work, it is necessary to "get" the drug into a sensitive pathogenic organism, and the antiseptic destroys any pathogens of the disease.

Drops, both with an antibiotic and an antiseptic, must not be used without a doctor's permission. In addition to the direct therapeutic effect, they dry out the mucous membrane.

Drops with immunoglobulins

Preparations containing immunoglobulins - Interferon and Grippferon, are, in essence, ready-made antibodies that bind virus particles in the nose and neutralize them. These funds have a positive effect only with a viral disease. The drops are safe, they can be used from the first days of a child's life.

Immunoglobulins should be refrigerated. If it is required to treat a runny nose in a baby for 1-2 months, then before using the drops should be heated to a temperature of about 20C. The cold composition provokes reactive edema and irritation of the mucous membrane.

Ointments for the nose

Ointments against the common cold are used by applying them to the skin on the eve of the nose or near the nostrils. Oxolinic preparations allow you to cope with a viral disease. This treatment is most effective in the early stages of rhinitis. Ointment Vibrocil has antiallergic and vasoconstrictor effects.

Preparations for the treatment of rhinitis in children in the form of an ointment are quite convenient to use: when applied topically, they hold for a long time, maintaining the required concentration of the substance.

Traditional methods of treatment

Folk remedies for combating rhinitis in children should be used with caution and only in combination with other proven methods. Some of them are dangerous for babies up to a year.

From 4 months of age, a runny nose in newborns can be treated, for example, by instilling 1: 1 diluted fresh beetroot and carrot juice.

Should be avoided when treating foods or plants with potentially allergenic properties or strong odors. Since they can adversely affect health, since they are subjectively unpleasant for the child. For example, don't use garlic or onion juice.

Many parents have heard about such a method of alternative treatment as breast milk in the form of nasal drops. This is a very controversial method, in some cases it only causes a worsening of the condition. Milk is a nutrient substrate for pathogens in the case of bacterial rhinitis.

Only a reasonable and comprehensive approach to the treatment of the common cold in babies can help cope with this disease. First of all, all drugs must be safe. If the child's illness persists, then by all means it is necessary to consult with a doctor about the methods of possible treatment.

A runny nose is usually not a cause for concern, especially in adults, but it is a serious illness in infants. A runny nose in newborns requires urgent treatment. Firstly, because it does not allow the child to breathe normally. Babies in the first months of life cannot breathe through their mouths, so the child may even suffocate. Secondly, a runny nose can turn into more serious diseases, for example, bronchitis or pneumonia.

The body of a newborn baby is very sensitive and it is not worth treating it with methods suitable for an adult - they can seriously harm the baby. Only a pediatrician is able to determine the nature of the disease in an infant and prescribe an effective and safe treatment for him.

A newborn baby can suffer from a runny nose for various reasons. A runny nose does not always mean that a child has contracted ARVI; in babies, a runny nose can be physiological or allergic. Also, with a runny nose, a cough may appear, which means that the runny nose begins to turn into, and it is worth urgently starting to treat it. In any case, in order to properly treat a runny nose in infants, it is important to know its nature.

Causes of a cold in a newborn:

Influenza, colds or SARS ... With such infections, a runny nose in a newborn is accompanied by swelling of the nasal mucosa, which leads to respiratory failure.
Allergic reaction to chemical irritants ... In addition to a runny nose, sneezing and swelling of the mucous membrane can be observed in this case.
Adaptation of the nasal mucosa to the outside world ... The child in the womb was in a completely different "climate", and once born, the child's body begins to get used to new conditions. The respiratory organs are not sufficiently formed, and therefore breathing can be difficult. This is how a physiological rhinitis manifests itself. Most often, if the baby "grunts", then we are talking about him.
Drying out of the nasal mucosa ... This usually happens if the room where the child is located is low humidity. Under such conditions, the child, in addition to a runny nose, may have a cough.

Symptoms of a common cold in a newborn baby may also include:

snot;
heavy breathing, puffing, snoring, the baby “grunts” his nose;
sneeze;
cough.

Due to illness, the baby may lose appetite and sleep poorly. It is quite difficult to independently determine the cause of the development of a cold and treat a cold. If any symptoms appear, you should consult a pediatrician, especially if a baby has a runny nose for the first time.

In the event that a newborn child, in addition to a runny nose, has a cough, profuse lacrimation began, a high fever has risen, his appetite has disappeared, and he began to cry more than usual, a pediatrician should be called. The doctor will prescribe the treatment himself.

Types of rhinitis

Depending on the reasons, a runny nose in children under one year old is divided into several types. Since it is always necessary not only to relieve the symptom, but also to eliminate the cause, before starting treatment, you need to find out what kind of runny nose you are dealing with.

Physiological rhinitis

A runny nose in children 1–3 months of age may not need treatment. It is quite possible that this is just a physiological rhinitis. The fact is that before birth, a child, as you know, is constantly in a liquid. Therefore, mucous membranes begin to form only after birth. At first, the nasal passages are completely dry. Only after a couple of weeks, mucus begins to be produced in the baby's nose.

Since this mechanism has not yet been worked out, and the nasal passages are very narrow, a small amount of transparent liquid discharge may flow from the nose during this period. Nothing wrong with that. This does not cause any inconvenience to the child and will soon pass by itself. Intensive treatment in this case can only do harm.

First, the idle use of drugs is, in principle, not good. Secondly, stopping the physiological rhinitis does not allow the child's body to complete the adjustment of this protective mechanism.

Infectious rhinitis

Also, viruses or bacteria often cause a runny nose in children under one year old. In this case, it is accompanied by other symptoms of respiratory diseases: fever, cough, shortness of breath. In addition, the nasal discharge itself is no longer so liquid and transparent. The color of the discharge changes to yellowish or greenish, and it thickens. This is due to the addition of pus to the mucus.

This condition, of course, must be treated. If only because it causes a lot of inconvenience to your child. It's hard for him to breathe. Difficulty breathing, in turn, interferes with the feeding process. The baby has to constantly be distracted from his chest in order to breathe air through his mouth.

Of course, such a need irritates him, he starts crying, spinning, giving up his chest. The consequence of this is weight loss, weakness. Sleeping for an infant with a runny nose is also quite difficult. Moreover, in a dream, he may have an attack of suffocation.

Allergic rhinitis

Rhinitis can be a symptom of an allergic reaction. Usually, this manifestation occurs when the allergen enters the body through the nose. However, food allergy can also manifest itself as a banal runny nose in infants.

In this case, the main difficulty in making a diagnosis. It is difficult to distinguish an allergic rhinitis in an infant from an infectious one. However, for proper treatment, the cause of the common cold must be established accurately. As a rule, the thought about the allergic nature of rhinitis comes in the event that it cannot be cured for more than 2 weeks.

Stages of development of the common cold

As a rule, a runny nose in infants goes through three stages of development. At an early stage, there is a sharp vasoconstriction, which causes dryness and burning in the nose.

In the second stage, on the contrary, the expansion of the blood vessels begins, the mucous membrane swells, and a violent secretion of transparent mucus begins. This stage lasts approximately 2-3 days. In the case of the infectious nature of the disease, after a while there is a change in the color of the mucus, which was already mentioned above.

The third stage is gradual relief. The swelling of the mucous membrane subsides. The discharge becomes less, but it thickens. It is during this period that crusts may well form, which are then so difficult to get rid of. To avoid this, it is important to timely moisturize the nasal mucosa.

In total, the disease takes about a week, sometimes dragging on for 10 days. However, if you neglect the treatment, it may well spill over into a chronic form. Or cause a whole host of other complications. By the way, it makes sense to talk about them separately.

How long does a baby runny nose last

A physiological runny nose lasts about 2 weeks. Although the duration of this process depends on the individual characteristics of the baby and the conditions in which he lives.

Incorrect intervention can disrupt the natural course of the process and increase the duration of the common cold. If parents begin to actively treat a physiological rhinitis, which does not need treatment, it may drag on or become pathological.

An allergic rhinitis in a newborn can last until the allergen is eliminated from his life. As for an infectious rhinitis, its duration also depends on the effectiveness of treatment. It is important to remember that a prolonged runny nose in infants can turn into more serious diseases.

Possible complications of a cold in a child under one year old

One of the most common complications of a cold in infants can be the already mentioned chronic rhinitis. Every now and then the child lays one or the other nasal passage, nasal breathing is difficult, and at times it is completely impossible. This condition is much more difficult to treat than common rhinitis. However, it is quite possible to treat it at home, which cannot be said about other possible complications.

If a baby's runny nose does not go away for a long time, it must be urgently shown to a doctor.

A runny nose in children under 5-6 months is especially dangerous with a high risk of development. This is facilitated by 2 factors: structural features of the auditory tube at this age - it is very short and wide; in addition, at this age, the child spends most of the time in a supine position, which contributes to the flow of mucous secretions into the middle ear through the auditory tube.

Otitis is manifested by acute pain in the ear area. The child becomes restless, turns his head from side to side. Already with these symptoms, it is urgent to show the child to the ENT.

Otherwise, you may encounter purulent discharge from the ear. This will mean that the inflammation is critical. In addition, if pus is already draining from the ear, it means that the eardrum has ruptured.

If it is possible to start treatment early, then it is quite possible to cure it at home. If it comes to purulent discharge, then you cannot do without inpatient treatment.

When a child begins to sit, crawl and walk, the risk of developing otitis media is drastically reduced. In addition, with age, the auditory tube develops, becomes longer and narrower. Therefore, a runny nose in infants aged 7-10 months is much more dangerous than the development of other respiratory diseases.

Unfortunately, the nasopharynx is a leaky system, and infected bodily fluids can spread throughout the respiratory system, provoking various diseases. Most often, of course, inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.

The situation is complicated by the fact that at an early age these sinuses are very poorly developed. This means that sinusitis may be asymptomatic. But the treatment of this disease is quite possible to carry out at home. As well as other inflammations: tonsillitis, pharyngitis and the like.

Unfortunately, the infection can spread to other systems of the body. In this case, the development of complications is almost impossible to predict.

How to treat a runny nose in a baby

Treatment for a cold in infants depends on the reason for which it appeared. It is usually more effective if medication is used. There are several types of remedies for the common cold: vasoconstrictor, antiviral, moisturizing.

Preparations for the common cold for newborns come in the form of drops and sprays. Newborn babies are recommended to be treated using drops or metered-dose sprays only; spray sprays cannot be used.

Vasoconstrictor drugs

Vasoconstrictors are recommended when the swelling of the nasal mucosa becomes very severe. This type of drops for the treatment of a cold in newborns should be used carefully, in no case should an overdose be allowed, in which symptoms such as vomiting, convulsions, etc. may occur. Drops are best instilled into the nose with a pipette.

Doctors usually prescribe treatment with medications such as Nazol Baby, Nazivin Children's,. These funds are used 3 times a day, one or two drops. The most favorable time to take the medicine is before nighttime or daytime sleep.

Vasoconstrictor drugs cannot be used for more than three days, otherwise complications may arise, and you will have to go to the otolaryngologist.

Cough is not treated with vasoconstrictor drugs, so if this symptom appears, you should contact your pediatrician. It is also worth understanding that such drops will not cure a runny nose in a child up to a year old - they just relieve congestion and help the baby breathe more freely.

Antiviral and immunomodulatory agents

It is also advisable to use antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs only as directed by a doctor, since today the consequences of using such drugs for the child's immunity have not yet been sufficiently studied.

When a baby has a runny nose, especially if the baby “grunts”, the pediatrician may prescribe treatment with Grippferon drops, Viferon or Genferon-light candles.

Derinat has good recommendations, which is an immunomodulatory agent that includes exclusively natural ingredients. It is easily tolerated by children, activating their immunity to fight the disease. It is also best to use a dropper when applying drops to the nose.

Derinat can be used both for prevention and control of the disease. As a prophylactic agent, it is used in order to prevent illness in children who have been in contact with sick people. For prophylaxis, a newborn is dripped 2 drops 2 or 3 times a day for two or three days. With signs of a cold, two drops are instilled into the nose every hour and a half.

Moisturizing medicines

Various sprays such as Aqualor and Aquamaris cannot be used to treat a cold in children under one year old. Sprays can cause pus and laryngeal spasm. In addition, if it enters the Eustachian tube, sprays can provoke otitis media.

They can be given to children under one year old only in the form of drops. Aqualore, Aquamaris contains sea salt, so these medicines have very good healing properties, they:

moisturize the nasal mucosa;
treating inflammatory infections;
prevent infections from entering the body;
treat allergies;
eliminate bacteria, preventing them from multiplying;
remove excess mucus and dirt from the nasal cavity;
increase immunity.

Traditional methods of treatment

Some parents use the old methods of treating a cold in infants and instill breast milk in the nose. This is the most popular folk remedy used when the baby is snotty and "grunts". According to the prescription, milk is recommended to be applied in a few drops 3 times a day. While breast milk is actually very healthy, it shouldn't be done.

Breast milk contains antibodies that strengthen the immune system of the newborn, but if you use milk as nasal drops to treat a cold in infants, then it will not be beneficial.

In the nasal cavity, milk will create an excellent environment for bacteria to multiply, that is, milk will only worsen the condition of the newborn.

Another folk recipe, which is based on the use of Kalanchoe juice, also cannot be used to treat a cold in infants. The use of Kalanchoe juice will irritate the nasal mucosa.

It is considered a safer folk remedy for the treatment of the common cold. It quickly and effectively relieves inflammation, and also supplies the body with vitamins, amino acids, and minerals. It is only important to prepare it correctly. When treating a cold in children, juice is made from an adult aloe plant, which is more than three years old.

Recipe:

Pull off the lower leaves, rinse and wipe dry.
Wrap in newspaper and refrigerate for over 12 hours.
Squeeze the juice out of the leaves.

Mode of application:

Bring the juice from the aloe leaves to room temperature.
Drip into the baby's nose 3 or 4 drops 3-4 times a day.

Only fresh juice is used, which was prepared no more than a day ago, otherwise the healing properties are lost. Aloe juice has the most beneficial effect and promotes a quick recovery. It also helps to relieve coughs.

Folk remedies, including breast milk, do not have a strong scientific basis, and their side effects are unpredictable, so consult a specialist before using.

How to clean a child's nose with a runny nose

Treatment of a cold in infants should begin with cleansing the nasal passages. You can clean the baby's nose with a special pear or an aspirator. They come in many different types; aspirators can be purchased at the pharmacy.

But it is better to clean the nose with the help of cotton cords, which are twisted from cotton wool on their own. They are cheaper and safer than aspirators, which, if used incorrectly, can harm your baby.

Making a flagellum is very easy: you need to twist a small piece of cotton wool into a tube. The cotton flagellum must be carefully inserted into each nostril and rolled several times. This should be done carefully so as not to damage the nasal passages. The procedure should be repeated until the nostrils are completely cleared, changing the tubes to clean ones if necessary.

It is not recommended to use cotton swabs, as they are much harder than flagella and can damage the baby's fragile nasal walls. In addition to mucus, crusts form in the nose, which are preliminarily softened when cleaning the nose. For this, vaseline or peach oil, plain boiled or sea water are suitable.

Child's lifestyle while treating nasal congestion

In order to make it easier to treat the baby, you should pay attention to his lifestyle.

If the child has a high fever with a cold, then you cannot walk. During a runny nose, the child may also have a cough; in such a situation, the child can walk, but in calm weather. it is impossible if he has a fever, cough, runny nose, otherwise serious complications may appear.

The child's appetite for a runny nose disappears, as it is difficult for him to breathe. Parents should make every effort to ensure that the baby is eating well. During the period of illness, the child should eat at least 1/3 of the usual portion, while the break between feedings can be shortened.

If the baby is not sucking on the breast or bottle, then you can try to feed him with a spoon or from a syringe without a needle, the main thing is that he eats. Milk or formula can help prevent dehydration. If the child is already drinking water, then you can not limit its volume.

There should not be dry air in the child's room; it must be constantly humidified. You can do wet cleaning or hang wet things to dry. Dry air can trigger a cough. It is also important to ventilate the room regularly so that the air is cleared of germs.

Prevention of a common cold in a newborn

First of all, you need to learn how to maintain the correct climate in your home. The optimum temperature in a living space is 19-21 degrees. Air humidity is of no less importance. It should be around 60% percent. If the air in your home is dry, purchase one. Also, try to ventilate the room regularly so that the air does not stagnate.

It's also a good idea to start hardening your child. These procedures significantly increase immunity, and it is he who protects the child's body from infections and the occurrence of rhinitis. For a start, wipes with cool water are fine. You should not take on this business with special fanaticism.

It is equally important for immunity to keep breastfeeding as long as possible. In infants, their own immune system is not fully developed, and mother's milk, which contains the necessary antibodies, is largely responsible for protecting the child's body.

Try to walk with your child more. Staying in the fresh air, the sun also contributes to the development of immunity, the body's defenses. In addition, microbes and viruses do not like fresh air very much, while in a confined space they spread very quickly and, unfortunately, inevitably.

And, of course, as a prophylaxis for rhinitis, you just need to consume more vitamins. In the summer, these can be fruits and vegetables. In winter, when fresh "sources of vitamins" are practically not available, you can switch to special vitamin complexes.

Remember, if your child has a runny nose, you should not get carried away with self-medication, but it is better to immediately contact a specialist.

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