How to treat a runny nose in a 3 year old child. How to quickly cure a runny nose in a child at home. Folk remedies, pharmaceutical preparations. Quick ways to treat runny nose in children at home

In modern pharmacies you can find great amount drugs used to cure the common cold. But are they really safe? Many parents choose homemade folk remedies instead pharmaceutical drugs. But these methods also have their pros and cons. The main thing to remember is one rule - don’t overdo it. This is especially true for grandmothers, who believe that the more procedures are performed, the faster the child will be cured.

Before you start treatment with folk remedies, you should definitely visit a doctor who will advise which recipes are safe for the child. Otherwise, there is a chance that the situation will only worsen. The appearance of snot is not a reason to torment your baby with all known home procedures.

You can quickly get rid of snot, even green ones, without the use of medications, only if you follow a few simple rules:

  • correctly diagnose and use a remedy that is effective specifically for this disease;
  • follow the procedures;
  • study all possible consequences and contraindications.

Based on the symptoms, parents can independently determine the type of runny nose their child has, but only if the disease is in a mild stage. It is best to play it safe and seek help from your local pediatrician, allergist or otolaryngologist. In severe cases, tests may be needed to determine an accurate diagnosis.

Types of runny nose and their signs

Based on external signs, doctors divide runny nose into four types:

allergic; viral; bacterial; catarrhal.

Allergic rhinitis in children is characterized by a runny nose, redness, swelling and watery eyes, sneezing, and hives. Doctors warn about the dangers of using various infusions of herbs and juices from vegetables or fruits with this type. It is worth starting with finding out the causes of allergies and eliminating the child’s interaction with the allergen.

The viral form manifests itself in children in the form of increased body temperature, clear snot, redness of the larynx, drowsiness, and fatigue. It is not recommended to use inhalations with herbs that have an anti-inflammatory effect. Must give to child a large number of liquids.

The bacterial species is distinguished heat body that lasts more than three to four days, green or yellow snot, severe nasal congestion. It is possible to use herbal drops and rinse the nose with various homemade solutions. Avoid any type of inhalation.

A cold runny nose is the most mild form and intensive treatment is not required. It is enough to give the child plenty of fluids and carry out all kinds of warming procedures.

First of all, in the room where the baby is located, you need to create the right conditions. The house must have a thermometer and a hygrometer to know the temperature and humidity in the room. The optimal temperature at which the nasal mucosa will not dry out is 18-22 degrees.

Humidity should be between 50-70 percent. You can purchase a special air humidifier, place containers of water in the room, and hang wet towels on the radiator. This will all help avoid the appearance of dry air, which is dangerous for the nasal mucosa. Daily ventilation and wet cleaning will also be an excellent help during the treatment period.

Treatment with folk remedies

There are various folk remedies that help get rid of snot in children. The most famous are:

  • drops;
  • infusions;
  • solutions;
  • inhalation;
  • ointments;
  • oils

All these remedies are prepared from herbs and products that can be found in almost every home.

The most effective remedy- these are drops into the spout, as they penetrate directly into nasal cavity and act locally. They will help cure a slight runny nose, and even thick green snot will subside in a couple of days.

To prepare the drops you will need beets, carrots, and sea buckthorn oil. Squeeze the juice out of the vegetables, add sea buckthorn oil, which can be bought at any pharmacy. You need to instill two drops into each nostril four times a day.

A very powerful remedy made from onion or garlic juice and honey. But its use must be discussed with an allergist in order to make sure that the child is not allergic to these components. This combination - good treatment from green snot.

Another recipe for drops is aloe juice and honey. Mix the ingredients in equal proportions and use three times a day, two drops in each nostril. If you add carrot juice to this mixture, even green snot will lose its position much faster.

If you have a bacterial rhinitis, you should not use honey and breast milk as nasal drops, as they can become a favorable environment for the development of fungal diseases in the nasal cavity.

It is important to remember that the drops must be prepared daily, stored in the refrigerator, and heated in a water bath before use. Dispose of unused drops prepared yesterday.

Before instillation, be sure to rinse and clean the nose. To do this, use sea water or saline. But you can prepare the saline solution yourself, thereby saving money. To prepare it you will need half a glass of warm boiled water and half a teaspoon of salt. Pour salt into a glass and stir until completely dissolved. For convenience, you can pour it into a small bottle with a dispenser or instill one drop into each nasal passage using a pipette. Next, remove the mucus using an aspirator or a special tube. If green nozzles are stuck in the nasal passage, remove them with a cotton swab.

Inhalations with soda, herbal decoctions (linden, chamomile, sage), potato broth, essential oils are extremely effective treatment green snot. They will also help with sore throat and cough. You need to breathe the steam for about 10 minutes. The only thing is that children under one year old cannot be treated in this way. Inhalations are suitable for children aged three years and older. This procedure must be carried out under the supervision of an adult.

To strengthen the immune system, infusions can be added to treatment medicinal herbs, such as St. John's wort, chamomile, anise, thyme, lemon balm, calendula, etc. It is worth introducing treatment with infusions little by little, starting with one teaspoon. If no allergic reactions were detected during the day, the dosage can be increased. For children under one year of age, use this treatment with extreme caution.

During illness, children often experience the problem of dry nasal mucosa. In order to prevent this, it is recommended to prepare oil to lubricate the mucous membrane. It will also suit the skin around the nose, which may begin to peel. The main component can be any oil - vegetable or olive. Mix it with beetroot or carrot juice, a few drops of Kalanchoe or aloe juice. Stir the mixture thoroughly and put it in a dark place for a couple of hours. Next, strain through cheesecloth and squeeze. Lubricate your child's nose three times a day.

For very young children, not all of the above methods can be used. Suitable for babies:

  1. instillation of beet or carrot juices diluted in equal proportions into the nose;
  2. treatment of the mucous membrane using cotton swabs or swabs soaked in oil or juice. Most often used if there is green discharge;
  3. cleansing the nasal cavity using saline solution.

A runny nose in a child, especially if green snot is present, raises many questions for parents. Traditional medicine can be used in in this case, but only under the supervision of a specialist. In severe stages, complex treatment in combination with medications is recommended.

Respiratory infections do not spare children and adults. The signs of the disease, without exaggeration, are familiar to everyone. Parents are most interested in how to treat a runny nose in children using folk remedies quickly and safely. The desire to avoid medication is understandable: many medications have unwanted effects. However, folk remedies also have contraindications and are not without side effects, but warnings about this are usually not attached to age-old recipes.

The safety of treatment with folk remedies is important

Dosages of medications designed for an adult body are not suitable for children. The same remark applies to the treatment of runny nose in children with folk remedies. Unfortunately, it is impossible to accurately calculate the amount of active substances in a serving of herbal decoction or propolis tincture.

Exit to difficult situation- prepare remedies in accordance with recipes in reference books on traditional medicine and medicinal plants. Children at an early age are given a fourth, preschoolers - a third, preschoolers and primary schoolchildren - half of the adult dose of the folk remedy.

A runny nose is one of the first symptoms of a cold, ARVI, or flu. Young children suffer more severely from these diseases due to the narrowness of the nasal passages and underdevelopment of the sinuses. The infection quickly causes irritation and swelling of the mucous membrane. Inflammation leads to narrowing of the nasal passages and difficulty external respiration. Children are susceptible allergic diseases, which can also be accompanied by increased formation of mucus in the nose.

Many plants and folk remedies can cause irritation to the nasal and oral mucosa. During the first and each subsequent use, parents need to observe the reaction of the child’s body so that it does not turn out like the saying “we treat one thing, we cripple another.”

Increasing runny nose and cough, redness of the eyes and watery eyes, rash on the body are symptoms of an allergic reaction to the drug used.

The following traditional methods should not be used for a runny nose in an infant:

  • mustard plasters on feet;
  • nasal drops breast milk;
  • inhalations with essential oils;
  • nasal drops containing oily substances.

Relatively safe way treating babies - adding a few drops essential oil in shampoo, liquid soap, shower gel or bubble bath. Taking water procedures, a sick child will inhale eucalyptus oil or oil tea tree, which are considered excellent antiseptics and antimicrobial agents.

It is not recommended for use in the nose of a newborn and infant Fresh Juice plants. Severe attacks of sneezing, coughing, even bronchospasm may occur in children of the first year of life. For a child over one year old, nasal drops are prepared from the juice of Kalanchoe leaves, aloe vera agave and crassula (Crassula).

Saline solution for rinsing the nose and treating a runny nose

Modern mothers usually learn how to cure a runny nose in a child using folk remedies from older people. One of the most important “grandmother’s tips”: clean the baby’s nose before instilling the prepared product. To dissolve thick mucus, a solution can be injected into the nasal passages. baking soda(1 tsp per 0.25–0.5 l of water). Or clean the nasal cavity with cotton wool soaked in soda or saline solution. Such products moisturize, disinfect, reduce swelling and inflammation.

Saline solution is prepared from 9–10 g table salt and 1 liter of boiled water. The liquid can be used for rinsing and instillation into the nose of infants. In terms of sodium chloride concentration, saline solution is close to human blood plasma. Ready product sold in pharmacies (large bottles and ampoules).

Benefits of using 0.9% salt water to treat a runny nose in a child:

  1. liquefaction viscous secretion and facilitating its removal from the nasal passages;
  2. washing out pathogenic microbes and other irritants;
  3. softening and moisturizing the mucous membrane;
  4. easier breathing.

It is advisable to use saline solution to rinse the nose of a child prone to allergies. The liquid washes away allergens from the mucous membrane: pollen, germs, dust.

You can cure a child’s runny nose at home using ready-made pharmaceutical preparations for instillation into the nose. Many types of nasal drops contain a sterile isotonic seawater solution. Its composition is rich and diverse: compounds of chlorine, sodium, magnesium, bromine, sulfur, iodine. They produce products based on saline solution, sea water in the form of sprays and dropper bottles, convenient for use.

Iodine is mentioned in recipes home treatment colds. For example, add a few drops of tincture to a salty solution for gargling. When a child has a runny nose, a so-called mesh is used: longitudinal and transverse lines are applied to the feet using cotton swab, soaked in iodine. After the procedure, socks are put on.

Plants are faithful helpers in the fight against the runny nose.

Herbal infusions and decoctions contain antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal components. Phytoncides - volatile plant substances - help fight infection that affects the nasal mucosa. Therefore, plants play an important role in the treatment of infectious diseases.

A popular folk remedy for the common cold for infants and young children is a weak infusion of chamomile. Measure out 1 tsp. flowers, brew with a cup of boiling water, cool to 36–37°C. Inject 3-5 drops of chamomile infusion into each nostril 3 times a day for the infant. The herb has a moisturizing and anti-inflammatory effect, and the antiseptic effect is less pronounced.

Before each instillation, you need to clear your nasal passages. If there is excessive mucus, congestion, or crusts, the medicinal substances will not work.

Rinse your nose not only with saline solution and chamomile infusion. Oak bark is often used for colds in children and adults. For a child over 3 years old, a decoction of the bark is dripped - an antimicrobial, moisturizing and anti-inflammatory agent. Oak preparations do not have vasoconstrictor properties.

Calendula flowers, thyme and yarrow herbs have a strong antimicrobial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. An infusion is prepared from these and other plants with similar properties for oral administration. Be sure to take the child’s age into account when choosing herbs. The safest, if the dosages are observed, are chamomile, linden blossom, mint, black currant, raspberries, strawberries (leaves and fruits).

A collection of folk recipes for nose drops for children

Sea buckthorn oil for a runny nose is a popular remedy alternative medicine. It has an anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and regenerating effect. Moisturizes the nasal mucosa and prevents it from drying out even at night.

Before using the product, the nasal passages are washed with saline, for example, using a syringe without a needle. Then inject 2-3 drops of sea buckthorn oil into the nose of a child over 1 year old. It should be borne in mind that the oily liquid has a bright orange color and leaves stains on mucous membranes, skin, underwear and clothing.

Recipe for local treatment runny nose in children over 7 years of age:

  • Thoroughly mix 6 drops of sea buckthorn oil and 4 drops of calendula flower juice.
  • Add 2 drops of honey and a piece of propolis the size of a buckwheat grain (can be replaced with propolis tincture).
  • Grind all components well.
  • Moisten cotton buds with the product.
  • Introduce into each nasal passage and leave for 10 minutes.

Fir oil is instilled into children over 7 years old - 1 drop into each nasal passage. Other methods of use: rubbing into the collar area of ​​the back, foot massage with this oil. After the procedure with fir oil, the patient should put on warm socks, put him to bed and drink herbal tea.

Peach oil, less commonly sea buckthorn and fir oil, is used in its pure form for instillation into the nose. Usually drops are prepared from equal parts of mumiyo, glycerin, and distilled water. The mixture is then diluted with peach seed oil.

Traditional medicine suggests using a living tree for a runny nose for children and adults. The name “living tree” is a collective one; it can be attributed to succulents that are capable of accumulating sap in thickened leaves during periods of drought. There are several such plants known in folk medicine: Crassula or Crassula, Aloe and Kalanchoe.

Use of living tree sap in nasal drops:

  1. Wash fresh leaves, grind and squeeze out the juice.
  2. Drop 5 drops of liquid into each nasal passage using a pipette.
  3. For a one-year-old child, 1 or 2 drops are enough.
  4. Perform the procedure 3 times a day.
  5. The product must be prepared immediately before instillation.

Aloe juice works more effectively if the leaves are first kept in the refrigerator (from 3 days to 2 weeks).

Has a wide variety of applications camphor oil for runny nose in children. Mix equal parts of propolis tincture, camphor and sunflower oil. After thorough stirring, the product is instilled into the nose (2-3 drops three times a day).

Ingestion of folk remedies for a runny nose

The pulp of juicy scales or onion juice is mixed with honey in a 1:1 ratio. Half or ¾ teaspoon of this mixture is given to the child before meals 3 times a day. The product tastes more pleasant if you use onion juice. You can take finely chopped garlic with honey (1:1). It is recommended to take 1 dessert spoon before bedtime.

Lemon syrup helps a lot (add 2 tablespoons of sugar to the juice of 1 lemon). A pleasant tasting remedy is raspberry jam. It is added to tea or infusion of medicinal herbs. For a runny nose, prepare a decoction of dried raspberries, strawberries, and currants. Berries retain more nutrients if, after picking, they are washed, dried and quickly frozen.

Herbal remedies for nasal congestion for preparing tea drinks:

  • peeled ginger root + lemon;
  • linden blossom + rosehip;
  • chamomile + mint;
  • sage.

Drink plenty of fluids for better liquefaction and removing mucus from the nose - a simple and effective way to treat a runny nose. Give the remedy to the baby at the first signs of a cold: nasal congestion, sore throat.

Using Asterisk for a runny nose

The Zvezdochka balm, well known to many generations, Golden Star came to us from the East, from traditional medicine Vietnam. Used at the first symptoms of a cold as an antiseptic and distracting agent. The composition contains menthol, camphor, mint, clove and cinnamon oils. The base of the pencil and liquid balm is Vaseline, the ointment also contains lanolin and beeswax. Asterisk is also a nasal spray, lozenges, and soluble powder for oral administration.

The components of the product can cause irritation of the mucous membranes, and less often - a burning sensation on the skin and allergic reactions.

Nasal spray is used for runny nose of various etiologies in patients over 6 years of age. The balm can be used to relieve the first symptoms of a cold in children over 2 years of age. For a runny nose, rub a small amount of the drug into the wings of the nose with your fingertips and gently smear it under the nostrils.

Various forms of the drug are often used for preventive purposes. If a child or adult is hypothermic or gets their feet wet, then you need to smear the feet with the balm, let the tablet dissolve in the mouth, and prepare a hot drink from Zvezdochka Hot powder. Do not apply the product into the nasal passages, and in case of accidental contact with the nasal mucosa or eyes, rinse with water.

A runny nose is a problem familiar to everyone. But if in adults it most often passes without consequences and serious discomfort, then for children it can be much more dangerous. It is important to know how to recognize the disease and what measures to take to defeat it as quickly as possible.

The danger of a runny nose and its signs

Description of children's runny nose

At 3 years old, a child can already communicate what is bothering him. Therefore, identifying a runny nose is much easier than in a newborn.

The symptoms are the same as in adults:

  • Nasal congestion. The child has difficulty breathing, eating, sleeping poorly and complaining of swelling. A painful symptom requires mandatory elimination.
  • Copious secretion of mucus. Snot always tells the mother that the child is getting sick. It’s good if by the age of 3 a child can already blow his nose normally. If not, you will have to suction it with an aspirator. Frequent nose blowing can increase swelling.
  • Frequent sneezing. Usually, after sneezing, a child’s snot flows especially heavily. Sneezing itself can be a sign of dry nasal mucosa.
  • Redness of the nose. The nose turns red both from swelling and from the fact that you are constantly wiping the child’s snot. To prevent irritation from getting worse, lubricate your nose with special moisturizing creams and use only soft handkerchiefs.
  • Other signs of ARVI. These include cough, fever, malaise, headache, decreased appetite. A runny nose is most often one of the signs viral infection. So if it appears, expect other symptoms. If they are not present, allergic rhinitis can be suspected.

Children under 3 years of age do not have sinusitis, but when they reach this age, such a danger appears. Therefore, it is important to treat a runny nose correctly and on time to prevent the spread of infection and inflammation of the maxillary sinuses.

When the nose is swollen, it becomes blocked auditory tube, so the inflammation can spread to the middle ear (otitis media), which will cause the child a lot of unpleasant sensations.

At first, the pain in the ear is quite severe. An infection from the nose can travel down into the bronchi and pharynx, causing various diseases and complications. Therefore, you should not believe anyone who claims that there is no point in treating a runny nose. Even if it begins simply in the form of sniffles in a child, there is a risk of complications. It is necessary to contact a pediatrician who will tell you how to treat a runny nose in a 3-year-old child.

Nasal drops for runny nose for children 3 years old

Drug treatment

It is advisable that the drops be prescribed to you by a doctor. They vary in price, effectiveness and purpose - vasoconstrictor, anti-inflammatory, for rinsing, etc.

Vasoconstrictor drops differ in the main active ingredient. This is usually oxymetazoline or xylomatezoline. The first one lasts longer, up to 12 hours, and the second only 6-8 hours.

Vasoconstrictor drops include:

  • Children's Tizin
  • Nazivin
  • Nazol Kids, etc.

When purchasing, be sure to specify what age they are intended for. These remedies are designed to relieve symptoms such as nasal congestion. They relieve swelling, the child can breathe, eat, sleep normally, but only until the effect of the drops ends.

It is recommended to use them no more than 3 days and no more than 3 times a day. If after 3 days you still have a runny nose, your doctor may change the drops to others. If overdosed or used for too long, these drops lead to addiction, allergic rhinitis and other complications. This does not mean that you should completely abandon these drugs, but they must be used according to the instructions.

Moisturizing drops are also necessary to treat children's runny nose.

They not only rinse the nasal cavity, but also prevent the proliferation of bacteria and help restore the mucous membrane. Such drugs include drops such as Aqua Maris and Otrivin. They are harmless and non-addictive. They usually consist of purified water, sea salt and other additives.

More information about children's runny nose can be found in the video.

Among disinfecting drops, Protargol based on silver ions is popular. However, there is no consensus on whether these drops are dangerous for children or not. Typically, pediatricians try not to prescribe them to young children under 5 years of age. Although they have clear bactericidal properties, side effects are possible.

Children over 3 years old are allowed to instill Pinosol into their nose:

  • These drops are oily in structure and contain mint, eucalyptus, and pine oils.
  • This is undoubtedly useful for runny nose and colds, but at an early age they can cause a severe allergic reaction.

Folk remedies for children's runny nose

Treatment of a runny nose with folk remedies

From the age of three, some of them are already considered safer:

  • Mustard plasters. Our grandmothers' remedy. Each of us installed mustard plasters in childhood. You can simply pour mustard into the child’s socks, and before that, steam your feet if there is no fever. Rubbing your feet with badger fat or special baby cream Barsukor helps a lot with a runny nose.
  • If there is no swelling, but snot is flowing, you can warm your nose. Only if there are no hints of sinusitis. To do this, you can boil an egg, potato or salt in a rag bag and apply it to the bridge of your nose. Keep it like this until it cools down.
  • You can rub the child's chest and back with diluted essential oils of eucalyptus, mint, and pine. Never apply pure oil. To make a rubbing, add a few drops of essential oil to the base oil (baby oil, vegetable oil). This will make your baby's breathing easier.
  • Some mothers treat a runny nose with a mixture of honey and aloe juice. This method can be effective, but in other cases it can cause an allergic reaction, since honey is a strong allergen. If you want to use this method, apply the mixture to the crook of your child's elbow first and see if there is any rash or redness.
  • Children's runny nose is also treated with beet juice and they even put tampons in the nose from beet pulp on long time. Using this method on a child can be dangerous; beets cause pain, irritation of the mucous membranes, and burns are possible. At best, you can dilute fresh beet juice with water and drop a couple of drops into the child’s nose.
  • Onion juice is known for its disinfecting properties. However, if you want to put it in your nose small child, try this method on yourself first. Pure onion juice will cause such pain, burning and irritation of the mucous membrane that you will want to climb the wall. The child can inhale over onion vapor or dilute the juice very much with water before use.

Other treatments

Modern medicine offers a lot of options on how to relieve a runny nose in a small child. These include special inhalations, patches, ointments, drops, and rinses.

If you are afraid to anoint your child with eucalyptus oil, buy a Nozzle-type patch. It will emit a pleasant smell and free your breath. It can be attached to clothing during the day or at night. If your baby removes the patch from his clothes, tape it to the wall of the crib when he falls asleep. The smell is quite strong, so close proximity to your face is not necessary. It works for about 8 hours, then the smell disappears.

Clean Nose Cream helps relieve nasal congestion, but it does more to moisturize the irritated skin around the nose. It cannot be applied to the mucous membrane.

There are also special rinsing solutions that already come with a device for the most convenient use.

If you have a nebulizer, this will help get rid of a runny nose much faster:

  • This is a portable inhaler. Usually it comes with a children's mask.
  • Put it on the child, pour saline solution into a special container, mineral water or the medicine that the doctor prescribes, and turn it on.
  • The child breathes in vapors that penetrate deeper than any sprays or drops.
  • The mucous membrane is moistened, the nasal cavity and throat are disinfected.
  • The only problem with such devices can only be called high level noise. Children may be frightened by the buzzing sound. Try to explain three year old child that there is nothing painful or scary in this procedure.

If there is excessive mucus discharge from the nose, you can instill a soda solution. But this should not be done too often, so as not to dry it out.

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medications if really necessary. Do not refuse treatment if the pediatrician insists. The faster you destroy the virus, the faster the recovery will come. Antiviral drugs are used in the form of suppositories (Viferon), tablets (Arbidol, Ergoferon) or nasal drops (Interferon powder is diluted with water and instilled into the nose every two hours).

Prevention of runny nose in children 3 years old

At 3 years old, children usually go to kindergarten, where they bring snot, colds, etc. Prevention is very important to prevent persistent infections. The immune system is formed in sufficient volume only by 4-5 years. If you still had to send your child to kindergarten before this age, be prepared for the fact that he will end up in an aggressive microbial environment and begin to get sick.

Based on the above, we can conclude that:

  • The first rule of prevention is to find the right kindergarten. This is one where teachers monitor hygiene, ventilate the premises, and also send home a sick child.
  • Second rule - the right clothes. Children at 3 years old are very active, they run, jump, and therefore sweat. If you wear too much warm, and even synthetic, clothing, there is a high chance that your sweaty child will catch a cold. Choose clothes so that they are suitable for the weather, made from natural materials and do not allow cold air to pass through.

At home, rooms need to be ventilated, especially in winter, when radiators actively burn oxygen and dry out the air. Open windows when you go somewhere, and also buy a humidifier. It will help create comfortable conditions for the child.

Proper nutrition will help strengthen your immune system, rich in vitamins and microelements, as well as vitamin complexes, walks in the fresh air, away from dust and cars.

You can begin to harden the child. But there's no need to water it cold water. It is enough to reduce the water temperature. For this purpose, you can send your child to a toddler pool, where the temperature difference is created by the air temperature being lower than the water temperature.

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Children, due to the relative weakness of their immunity, often suffer from a runny nose. Rhinitis can be called one of the most common childhood ailments. Sometimes the disease has obvious causes, but sometimes the nose “blocks up” in a child who is outwardly completely healthy, and apart from impaired nasal breathing, there are no other complaints. Be that as it may, parents want to help the baby as soon as possible. It is not always possible to see a doctor, because clinics are closed on weekends and holidays. It is not customary to call an ambulance with complaints of a runny nose.

Prescribing medications to a child on your own is unsafe and risky, especially if we are talking about a small toddler. Parents can come to the aid of folk remedies that help get rid of a runny nose quite quickly.

Why does a runny nose appear?

A runny nose (rhinitis) is difficult to consider as an independent disease; it is usually a manifestation of the most various violations in organism. The nose stops breathing partially or completely due to inflammation of the mucous membranes of this organ. Most often, this is a consequence of resistance to pathogens and viruses.

As is known, viruses enter the body mainly through the respiratory system. The nose is the first line of defense; most often, invading viruses manage to pass further - into the nasopharynx, into the larynx. Inflammation of the mucous membrane in this case is an attempt by the body not to let the harmful agent pass further.

The episode of Dr. Komarovsky’s program about the causes and methods of treating children’s runny nose can be seen in the following video.

But by airborne droplets Several people inhale the same influenza virus at once. But not everyone gets sick. Whether a runny nose starts or not depends not only on the state of the baby’s immunity. The development of rhinitis is greatly promoted various factors, such as dusty or polluted air, hypothermia.

There is another type of runny nose - non-infectious. This includes nasal congestion due to allergies (allergic rhinitis) and vasomotor rhinitis (associated with disturbances in the processes in the autonomic nervous system). They arise somewhat differently, as a result of narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels during a reaction to an antigen or vascular nervous pathology.

Acute rhinitis - occurs as a reaction to a virus (less often to bacteria). With it, the swelling of the mucous membranes is quite strong, and it affects both halves of the nose. With it, the child may experience increased lacrimation, redness of the wings of the nose and the release of liquid mucus; people say “running nose”.

If such a runny nose is treated incorrectly or not treated at all, after 3-4 weeks the process will become chronic. With it, the nose will remain stuffy for a long time, the child’s sense of smell will noticeably decrease, the discharge from liquid will turn into thick, sometimes purulent, the mucous membrane will sometimes dry out, and crusts will form in the nasal passages.

Nasal breathing disorders in children occur due to various diseases:

  • ARVI and influenza.
  • Scarlet fever.
  • Measles.
  • Allergy.
  • Vegetovascular dystonia.
  • Sprawl tonsil(adenoids).
  • Other diseases.

A runny nose in a child can be mild, or it can be accompanied by fever, loss of appetite, headaches and severe general weakness. It is impossible to predict exactly what symptoms will accompany rhinitis; everything is purely individual.

When are traditional methods not enough?

A runny nose in itself does not pose a danger to a child. But its consequences can be quite serious. These are sinusitis, sinusitis, meningitis, inflammatory processes in inner ear, and as a result - complete or partial hearing loss, encephalitis and a number of other unpleasant diagnoses. Therefore, there are some indications for immediate consultation with a doctor if you have rhinitis:

  • If your child's nasal discharge is gray-green or green in color and has a very unpleasant odor. This may indicate severe bacterial infection. This condition requires prompt prescription of antibiotics.
  • If, in addition to a runny nose, the child has pain in the frontal region, under the eyes, in the area of ​​the paranasal sinuses. This may be a symptom of sinusitis, inflammation of the hearing organs. A child in this situation does not need onion drops in the nose, but serious therapy with the use of antimicrobial agents, hormonal and anti-inflammatory drugs.
  • If, after a head injury or fall, the child’s nose is blocked and a thin, clear discharge appears, you should urgently take him to the hospital! Such symptoms may indicate a disturbance in brain activity; this condition requires prompt examination and hospitalization.
  • If blood is noticeable in the mucus discharged by a child with a runny nose, ichor or clots. This may indicate the traumatic nature of rhinitis, a foreign body in the respiratory system, the baby needs to be examined as soon as possible.

Effective folk remedies

In most cases of acute infectious rhinitis, a child can be quite effectively helped using alternative medicine.

Fresh vegetable juices

The most popular way to quickly relieve nasal congestion is to give your child juice. onions. To do this, you need to grate the onion on a fine grater, squeeze out the pulp using a piece of gauze, and dilute the resulting juice in half with saline or boiled water. You can drip the onion preparation from 2 to 6 times a day.

This recipe is not suitable for children who have not yet turned 2 years old, since onion juice, even diluted, acts quite aggressively and can cause burns to the delicate mucous membranes of children. For children over 5-6 years old, you can add a little honey to the onion drops, this will have an additional anti-inflammatory effect.

Children under 2 years old can use beet or carrot juice in their nose with caution. To do this, using a juicer or a fine grater and a piece of gauze, you need to squeeze out the juice, dilute it with boiled water in half and drop 1-2 drops into each nasal passage up to 5 times a day. When instilled, infants may choke; it is better for them to place small cotton wool pads soaked in beetroot juice in both nasal passages.

Oil mixtures

A good effect for a runny nose is given by drugs that will have a gentle effect on the nasal passages. These include mixtures that include oil - sunflower, linseed, vaseline.

A popular recipe is based on mixing finely chopped 2-3 cloves of garlic with 30 ml of sunflower oil. You need to infuse the drug for at least 10-12 hours, then strain and drop 1-2 drops into the child’s nose 3 times a day. This recipe should not be used to treat rhinitis in children under 6-7 years of age.

Another effective way to relieve nasal congestion is based on sea buckthorn oil mixed with calendula juice. This recipe can be used even by small children who have not yet turned 3 years old. The ingredients are mixed in half. The resulting oil mixture does not need to be dripped into the nose; it is enough to soak cotton swabs in it, which are placed in the nasal passages for half an hour. The procedure is repeated 3 times a day.

Children over five years old can drop a mixture of two oils - thyme and olive - into their nose. Proportions -1:1. You need to drip 2 times a day, 2-3 drops in each nostril.

Plants

Among indoor plants that can quickly cope with a runny nose, the leader is aloe. The juice of this plant has antimicrobial effect, softens the mucous membrane, relieves swelling. To prepare the drops, you need to cut off one fleshy aloe leaf and squeeze the juice out of it. Mix the resulting liquid with a drop of honey and drop it into the child’s nose once a day, preferably before bedtime.

St. John's wort will come to the aid of a child who is overcome by a runny nose. Dry collection of this medicinal plant(1 teaspoon) should be mixed with a glass of boiled water and boiled in a water bath for a quarter of an hour. Cool, strain through several layers of gauze. Drop the liquid into the nose of a child aged two years and older no more than 4 times a day.

Warming up

Freshly cooked millet porridge should be cooled to a warm state, formed into small balls, placed in a cloth and applied to the maxillary sinuses. Some recipes use a boiled chicken egg instead of porridge. They carefully “roll out” the area of ​​the nose, sinuses, and forehead above the bridge of the nose.

Inhalations

Inhaling the vapors of medicinal herbs and essential oils allows you to quickly cope with a runny nose. The most effective procedures are based on pine and eucalyptus oils, fir oil. Sage, chamomile, and calendula are excellent as raw materials for inhalation. Inhalation can be carried out over a container with a hot decoction of herbs, to which a few drops of oil are added. But it’s better if you have a home for such purposes special device- inhaler or nebulizer. This way there will be no fear that the child will get burns to the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs if he inhales too much.

Rinse

You can use regular salt to rinse your nose when you have a runny nose. To do this, a tablespoon of salt should be dissolved in a half-liter container of boiled water. You should rinse your nasal passages with saline solution several times a day, this will relieve swelling and restore nasal breathing.

The danger of self-medication

Parents, even very attentive ones, who are carried away by preparing nasal drops from vegetables and fruits, may not notice important clinical manifestations when the character of the runny nose begins to change. Thus, they may not notice the transition to a new stage in time, which will then affect the timing of treatment of a runny nose in a child, because doctors will have to completely traditional methods treat severe complications ordinary rhinitis.

Often, a mother persistently treats her child’s runny nose, but there is no reaction to any medications.

The fact is that diagnosing allergic rhinitis at home on your own is quite difficult. And vegetable juices in the nose will only increase the swelling of the respiratory organs, since they also contain allergens. What can we say about drops with honey!

What not to do

  • It is forbidden to carry out any heating during purulent discharge from the nose and suspected sinusitis. Heat in this situation can aggravate the problem, the inflammation will only intensify. Also, warming up is strictly contraindicated at elevated body temperatures.
  • You cannot blindly trust all the recipes for a runny nose published on the Internet by “knowledgeable” people. Thus, mothers who advise others to wash their children’s noses from the inside with laundry soap for rhinitis are risking the health of their child. Laundry soap, coming into contact with inflamed mucous membranes, irritates them and provokes further spread of infection.
  • The positive effect of the laundry soap that they write about can, with a stretch, be explained by the same irritating effect. Soap causes the baby to sneeze; during this reflex, the mucus moves away faster. However, then the congestion will certainly return, and the runny nose may become even stronger.
  • When placing turunda and cotton balls with medicine in the baby’s nose, you should not make them too small, so that the baby does not accidentally inhale them.

Adviсe

  • Before instilling any products into the nose, you should prepare mucous membrane, after pre-rinsing. Only then can you drip the prepared drug, both medicinal and folk.
  • If a child often suffers from a runny nose, you need to pay attention to the air condition in the apartment, Where does he live. Perhaps it is too dry; the mucous membrane inside the nose dries out and inflammation begins. Ventilate the house more often, do wet cleaning, and humidify the air. To do this, you can buy a humidifier or regularly hang wet towels over the radiators. The best indicators for children's health are as follows: air temperature is about 19 degrees, humidity is about 60%.
  • When treating a child with a runny nose, you need to provide him with plenty of warm drinks. This is necessary so that the mucous membranes of the nose, already inflamed, dry out less.
  • A child's runny nose is not a reason to refuse walks. In any weather, even in the rain (under an umbrella), you can take short walks outside, since fresh air is very important for restoring breathing through the nose.
  • You should not limit your child’s movement. If he wants, let him run and jump; active movements improve blood supply to the body, including the nasal mucosa.
  • When treating allergic rhinitis, folk remedies are undesirable, almost all of them can also be allergens. It is important to eliminate the main antigen; for this it is better to go to the hospital, where they will do a special test (nasal swab).
  • Vasomotor rhinitis should not be treated with folk remedies, since its causes lie in vascular nervous disorders, it will be better if, with this form of runny nose, the child receives therapy under the supervision of a doctor.

Before you start treating your baby for a runny nose with folk remedies, especially if he is not yet 1 year old, consult a doctor, because even harmless, at first glance, herbal preparations that you prepare yourself can harm the child.

Persistent runny nose in children (aka chronic rhinitis) is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa that has lasted for more than 7 days. If you do not immediately begin to eliminate it, complications may arise that can even lead to disability.

Most often, a prolonged runny nose in children appears in winter, when the weather is damp and a thaw begins. To prevent the disease from developing into chronic form, it is necessary to treat it in a timely manner.

Any childhood runny nose must be treated, otherwise it can become chronic!

Types of rhinitis

Your child may develop a persistent runny nose. different types, each of which has its own characteristics. Let's look at the features of each of them:

  1. Vasomotor - appears due to hypersensitivity nasal mucosa to various irritants (cigarette smoke, strong odors, chemical substances etc.). This type of disease can also develop as a result of foreign objects getting into the nose, due to stress or a certain pathology (for example, adenoids, deviated nasal septum) (see also:).
  2. Allergic – occurs due to the contact of an irritant (dust, pollen, animal hair, etc.) on the nasal mucosa. Such a runny nose can cause a child to sneeze, clear discharge from the nasal passages, difficulty breathing, severe lacrimation, rashes on the skin, cough, etc.
  3. Infectious rhinitis develops as a result of pathogens (viruses, fungi, bacteria) entering the nasal mucosa. Microbes provoke its inflammation.

Causes of persistent runny nose in children

You should not begin treatment for a runny nose in a child without finding out the cause of its occurrence. It can signal the development of a dozen different diseases, many of which are quite serious. Let's consider the main causes of rhinitis in children 2-4 years old. It is provoked by:

  • allergic reaction;
  • sinusitis;
  • injury or damage to the nasal mucosa;
  • hyperplasia of adenoid tissue (we recommend reading:);
  • dryness in the room;
  • abuse of nasal drops.

Allergic reactions

Allergens may enter the baby's nasal mucosa, causing a runny nose. The following are the irritants: pollen, cigarette smoke, dust, food (strawberries, milk, chocolate, honey, eggs), animal hair, etc.

Signs of allergic rhinitis include frequent sneezing, white clear mucus from the sinuses, itchy skin, urticaria, conjunctivitis. There are more severe cases when a runny nose provokes the development of spasms in the bronchi, and it is very difficult for the baby to exhale.


A runny nose can be of an allergic nature and occur when an allergen gets into the nasal mucosa

Sinusitis

If a child’s runny nose does not go away for a long time, this may indicate complications, one of which is sinusitis. This pathology consists of the accumulation of pus in the sinuses, resulting in an inflammatory process. Sinusitis in children requires complex treatment, during which antibiotics are necessarily used. If the disease is very advanced, the baby may need a puncture or rinsing of the nasal sinuses.

Sinusitis manifests itself as severe headache and ear pain. If a child of 2-4 years old presents such complaints, then he should be quickly shown to a doctor in order to avoid complications such as meningitis, deafness, and mental retardation.

Injury or damage to the mucous membrane

Rhinitis can occur as a result of mechanical, chemical or thermal damage, that is, as a result of injury to the nasal mucosa. Injury can occur, for example, due to some children’s “favorite” activity – picking their nose with a finger, pen, or pencil.

Depending on the degree of damage, the doctor prescribes the necessary treatment. If the mucous membrane is not severely injured, then everything can be corrected with the help of wound healing agents. In other cases, surgery is required.

Hyperplasia of adenoid tissue

Another reason why children 2-4 years old develop a prolonged runny nose is hyperplasia (pathological growth) of adenoid tissue near the base of the nasal cavity on the pharynx side.

An enlarged tonsil blocks the nasal passages, preventing the child from breathing normally. Accumulation of snot is accompanied constant feeling lump in the throat and difficulty breathing through the nose. The pathology is quite common in children.

Dry indoors

Due to its structure, a child’s nose, unlike an adult’s, reacts negatively to poor quality air. If the air in the room is too dry, the body may react to it with a long runny nose.

In order to rid a child of this type of rhinitis, you simply need to humidify the air. If parents do not have such an opportunity, then there is only one thing left to do - stock up on clean scarves and wait for the heating season to end.

Abuse of nasal drops

There are two reasons for the development of a runny nose from medications:

  • as a side effect from the drug taken;
  • rebound effect (when medications are taken in excessive doses).

The second type of rhinitis, which is also called drug-induced, can manifest itself 4-6 days after the start of treatment for a common runny nose with vasoconstrictors. If the drops are used longer than the period recommended by the doctor, the mucous membrane gets used to them, and the treatment becomes ineffective. The drug will have to be discontinued, and this threatens to increase the swelling of the nasal mucosa, that is, its congestion. That is why you should not use vasoconstrictor drops for longer than the time specified in the instructions.


One of the reasons for a prolonged runny nose may be the abuse of vasoconstrictors.

How to help your child recover faster?

Every parent wonders what to do if a child’s runny nose does not go away for a long time. How to cure it quickly? To start:

  • carry out wet cleaning in the room where the baby is;
  • ventilate the room;
  • install a humidifier;
  • Clean the baby's nose with a damp gauze pad.

There is no need to give your child strong medications if a runny nose does not affect his well-being. A gentle regime will be the most acceptable for him in this situation. It lies in simple rules care:

  • The baby should be left at home instead of the usual trip to kindergarten or school;
  • take a walk with your child - the walk should not last more than an hour.

Children who develop snot should drink a lot (for example, compote, homemade jelly, lemon tea). To cure a baby, you can give him milk with honey, but provided that he is not allergic to the product.


Drinking plenty of fluids during rhinitis will help your baby recover faster

Don't forget about clearing your nose. To do this you need to use a saline solution. Such drugs as Otrivin, Marimer, Aquamaris are suitable. Regular rinsing is the key to a quick recovery.

Therapy depending on the cause of the disease

As a rule, not all parents seek help from a doctor at the first symptoms of rhinitis in a child. They try to eliminate the disease on their own without finding out the causes of its occurrence, and this is their main mistake. All mothers and fathers should know that the effectiveness of treatment directly depends on the nature of rhinitis. Let's get acquainted with the principles of treatment of different types of runny nose in more detail.

Treatment of allergic rhinitis

If, as a result of diagnostic measures, it was found that the baby’s rhinitis is allergic in nature, then the first measure to combat it is to identify the allergen and protect the child from contact with the irritant. Next, the allergist will prescribe antihistamines or nasal drops with a vasodilating effect. Do not forget that the latter should be used no more than 3 times a day and no longer than a week.

Vasodilator drops are considered the safest option for children. They fight nasal congestion in the baby and make breathing easier.

Therapy for vasomotor rhinitis

Many methods are used to treat this type of runny nose. The simplest of them is treatment with medications. The little patient is prescribed:

  • vasoconstrictor drops (decongestants);
  • rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution (we recommend reading:);
  • local antihistamines (to block sensitivity to irritants);
  • anticholinergics (to control and block symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis);
  • corticosteroids (to eliminate signs of illness).

If conservative treatment methods do not produce results, the baby undergoes surgical therapy:

  • laser photodestruction;
  • radioelectrocoagulation;
  • ultrasonic disintegration;
  • vasotomy

Laser therapy with a persistent runny nose

Elimination of diseases of infectious origin

To treat prolonged infectious runny nose in children, the following therapeutic measures are used:

  1. local treatment (the nose is instilled with a saline solution and cleaned using an aspirator or bulb, warmed with warm salt);
  2. taking general strengthening and immunomodulating drugs;
  3. physiotherapeutic procedures.

If infectious rhinitis If it does not pass for more than two weeks, yellow-green pus is discharged from the nasal sinuses, the child is prescribed antibacterial drugs. They can be in the form of ointments, sprays or liquid medications.

General treatments

Regardless of the reason why the baby started snot, everything must be done so that it can easily flow out of the nasal cavity. At the same time, you need to ensure that the mucous membrane does not dry out. There are several methods for treating long-term rhinitis in children, each of which has its own pros and cons:

  1. medicinal;
  2. folk remedies;
  3. with the help of physiotherapy.

Quartz heating of the nose

Use of medications

  • vasoconstrictors (Naphthyzin, Nazivin, Galazolin, etc. to eliminate swelling of the nasal mucosa) - taking this group of drugs has strict time restrictions;
  • antihistamines (Claritin, Suprastin, Telfast, Levocabastine, etc.) - for the treatment of the allergic form of the disease;
  • antiviral (Interferon, Gerferon, Oxolin, etc.) - for the treatment of infectious rhinitis;
  • antibiotics (Bioparox, Polydexa, etc. (we recommend reading: ).) – for the treatment of bacterial rhinitis;
  • moisturizing drops (Aqua Maris, Aqualor, etc.) - to maintain normal functioning of the nasal mucosa.


Treatment at home

If your baby starts having snot, and there is no way to see a doctor, then you can start treatment at home, following this scheme:

  • rinse the spout using water and sea salt;
  • use an aspirator to remove mucus from the nasal passages;
  • drip your nose with special drops;
  • using an inhaler, inhale;
  • lubricate the nose with warming ointment.

Do not forget that self-medication is very dangerous, so take your child to the doctor as soon as possible. Only he can prescribe effective treatment.

Physical procedures

In some cases, physiotherapy is more effective than any medications. There are many different devices for treating a child. home use. One of these is a nebulizer, which breaks down the medicine into micro particles. When inhaled, the medicine does not enter the bloodstream or digestive system. It only affects the nasal mucosa.

A device for UV irradiation of the nasal cavity will help cure a runny nose in 5-6 procedures. In addition, it is used for quartz coating of premises.

A runny nose in a child can also be eliminated using a blue lamp. It is worth considering that this method is not used for all types of disease.

Features of treatment for children aged 2-3 years

When a child is only 2-3 years old, it is very difficult to treat his runny nose. The range of drugs for this age is limited, and many traditional methods are undesirable, as they can harm him. In addition, a 2-3 year old baby hardly knows how to blow his nose correctly, which also complicates the recovery process. What to do in this case? How to treat rhinitis in a child? The answer is simple - follow the doctor's recommendations.

Treatment should be carried out as follows:

  • clean the nose of mucus accumulations using a saline solution or products with sea salt (Physiomer);
  • use vasoconstrictor drops to restore breathing through the nose;
  • use antibacterial or antiviral drugs to treat the disease;
  • ensure that the conditions in which the child lives are conducive to a rapid recovery.

In order for recovery to proceed faster, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for this: optimal temperature air temperature should be 20 degrees, humidity – 50-60%

In general, treatment of a runny nose in a 2-3 year old child does not differ from the treatment of children of other age categories. The main thing is to ensure that medications corresponded to the age of the small patient.

Difficulties in treating runny nose in children

Nasal congestion brings a lot of inconvenience to children, because, compared to adults, they do not know how to get rid of snot by blowing their nose. Because of this, a large amount of secretion accumulates in their nasopharynx, which makes breathing difficult, a feeling of nausea occurs, headaches begin and appetite completely disappears.

Babies cannot understand what their mother wants from them when she is trying to clean or rinse their nose. In response to these actions of hers, they become mischievous, turn their heads, preventing her from committing necessary procedure. In order to avoid such difficulties, parents should take an organized approach to the treatment of snot in children.

A child’s immune system is weaker than that of adults, so ordinary snot is a frequent “guest” at this age. When a child develops snot, parents begin intensive treatment by all means and means. This treatment only leads to increased symptoms of a runny nose.

Therefore, in order not to harm your baby, call a pediatrician who will determine the cause of snot and draw up a treatment plan.

Causes of snot in three-year-old children

Snot can be of infectious or non-infectious origin. Infections still dominate, and therefore a runny nose in a 3-year-old child most often occurs due to viruses and bacteria.

Sometimes the cause of a runny nose can be foreign bodies that get into the nasal passages. Children love to experiment with various small objects, and such unsafe games lead to injury and blockage of the nasal passages.

Important! If you find a foreign body in your child’s nose, immediately seek help from the ENT department. Never try to remove a stuck object yourself.

A very common cause of a runny nose in children is simple hypothermia, especially when the child’s feet are frozen. This is explained by the interaction of reflex connections between the nose and feet. Therefore, the child’s feet should always be protected from getting wet and hypothermia.

Polluted air, flowering plants, smoke, chemicals are common causes of allergic rhinitis in children, which cause sneezing and copious mucous discharge from the nose.

Preventive measures to prevent a runny nose in a child aged 3 years

The success of treating any disease is prevention, the main thing is regular implementation of all pediatrician’s recommendations and health procedures.

What should you do to avoid snot in your child?

  • The health of a child, like that of adults, depends on a healthy lifestyle. Walk more with your children in any weather. Keep your child busy with active games. TV viewing should be limited.
  • The child's diet should be balanced. In the off-season, introduce more fruits and vitamin fruit drinks into your diet: cranberry, lingonberry, sea buckthorn.
  • Do not allow your child to become hypothermic. Clothing must be appropriate for the weather. After walking in the cold, be sure to give your child warm tea with honey.
  • If possible, identify the child in sport sections, well suited for: swimming, dancing, gymnastics. These sports perfectly strengthen and develop the body.
  • Sport helps a child from the age of three get rid of colds, as well as acquire protection against scoliosis (curvature of the spine), which often becomes the cause of many diseases in the future.
  • In summer visit seaside resorts, where there are plantations of coniferous trees. The child will receive healing sea bathing and will saturate his respiratory tract with phytoncides, without which it will be difficult to cope with viruses and bacteria.

Treatment of snot in a child aged 3 years

At the first sign of snot, all measures should be taken to alleviate the child’s condition. If there is a fever, you should put the child to bed and call the pediatrician.

Rinse your nose with slightly salted water using a dropper full of water into each nostril. Before the doctor arrives, perform the procedure three times a day. Saline solutions are prepared very simply: a teaspoon of table salt (you can take sea salt) is dissolved in 200 ml of boiled water.

Often give your baby tea made from raspberries, linden, currants and sea buckthorn. If you are not allergic to citrus fruits, give your child oranges and tangerines. These fruits not only saturate the body with vitamin C, but also actively reduce elevated body temperature.


Drugs acceptable for the treatment of snot in children aged 3 years should be prescribed only by a pediatrician or pediatric ENT. If treatment is started on your own, then it is better to resort to safer drugs. Let's look at them:

  1. Salin, aquamaris - safe drops based on saline solutions. Drops moisturize and cleanse the nasal mucosa.
  2. Otrivin, Snoop, Nazivin - vasoconstrictor drops. Their action is based on reducing mucus and nasal congestion.
  3. Protargol, collargol - antiseptic and anti-inflammatory drops.
  4. Allergodil and vibrocil have an antiallergic effect.
  5. Pinosol - drops that relieve inflammation and swelling in the nasal passages, as well as reduce the viscosity of snot.

Traditional methods of treating snot at 3 years old

To get rid of snot, use frequent rinsing of the nose using folk remedies:

  • sea ​​salt solution (5 grams of salt per glass of water);
  • infusion of chamomile, eucalyptus, calendula, sage (take 10 grams of raw materials per 300 ml of boiling water, leave for 40 minutes).

Rinsing is done up to three times a day, pouring a full pipette into each nasal passage. This method allows you to thin the mucus in the nasopharynx. After just a few washes, the child will breathe easier. Usually the course of treatment lasts 5 days.


An effective method for a viral runny nose is rubbing your feet with Dr. Theiss's cold ointment. The ointment contains natural ingredients: pine and Eucalyptus oil, as well as camphor.

These components perfectly relieve the inflammatory process and have a general stimulating effect on the entire body. The ointment can be used from the age of two. Rubbing should be done twice a day, before the child rests: during the day and at night.

Another effective way is instilling onion drops. They are prepared as follows: in a teaspoon with olive oil Add 5 drops of fresh onion juice and stir the mixture. Place two drops in each nostril three times a day.

Homeopathic approach to the treatment of runny nose in children

To restore a child’s immune system, many pediatricians recommend homeopathic remedies, but choose wisely the right drug Only a qualified homeopath will help. Homeopathy is a very delicate healing that often solves a complex of problems in childhood.

Having addressed one problem, to the surprise of the parents, the child gets rid of another sore. For example, when a child comes to see a homeopath with a runny nose, after a few months the child gets rid of diathesis or dysbacteriosis. Therefore, you should not neglect homeopathy - it works!

Important! Parents should remember if a runny nose does not go away after a week, despite doing everything medical procedures, you need to consult a pediatrician or ENT specialist for a second consultation. A prolonged runny nose leads to serious complications in the nasopharynx, ears and respiratory system. Take care of the health of your kids!

Young children are susceptible to acute respiratory viral infections, colds and allergies. Many parents consult a pediatrician before treating a runny nose in a 3-year-old child. This is correct, because not all medications and home remedies are suitable for children. The doctor will explain in detail which medications will be beneficial and will not harm the baby’s health.

Upper respiratory tract infections often lead to nasal congestion, sneezing, severe runny nose. There are at least 200 viruses that cause inflammation in the upper respiratory tract. If a bacterial infection occurs, a sharp increase in body temperature occurs, and the mucus in the nose becomes greenish.

Acute respiratory diseases occur at an early age due to hypothermia and weakened immunity. Most often, nasopharyngitis develops - inflammation of the mucous membranes of the throat and nose. The child feels dry and sore in the throat, and it is noticeable that his nose is stuffy. There is a burning sensation when swallowing. Heavy discharge from the nose are observed with rhinosinusitis, when the mucous membranes of the paranasal sinuses become inflamed.

Parents are concerned about how to cure a runny nose in a 3-year-old child. The secretion of mucus is a protective reaction, a way to cleanse the nasal passages of germs. It is necessary to treat not so much a runny nose as its cause - the underlying disease. To alleviate the condition of the mucous membrane, you can rinse the nasal cavity weak solution baking soda or sea salt.

Active components pharmaceuticals for runny nose for children 3 years old have a certain effect:

  • moisturizing;
  • vasoconstrictor;
  • antiallergic;
  • immunomodulatory;
  • antibacterial;
  • antiviral.

One of the drugs is instilled into the nose of young children. Treatment with a moisturizer and vasoconstrictor begins immediately after the onset of symptoms of a cold, ARVI, sore throat, or allergic rhinitis. If the baby is against instillation, then you can soak cotton buds in the product and wipe the nasal passages with them. The child should drink tea with lime color And raspberry jam. Drinking plenty of warm fluids helps to better remove mucus from the upper respiratory tract.

At body temperatures above 38°C, an antipyretic is given in the form of a syrup or suspension for oral administration (Nurofen, Panadol). Either they use rectal suppositories with paracetamol, ibuprofen.

Moisturizing drops for runny nose

The epithelium of the nasal cavity in young children is highly susceptible to drying out and irritation by dry air. Drops based on purified sea water are best suited for cleansing, rinsing and moisturizing the mucous membrane. Such remedies are used to treat runny nose in even the smallest children.

For allergies and colds in a child 3 years of age or older, drops of sea water disinfect the nasal passages and wash away germs. Salt solutions help with coughs caused by dry air.

Vasoconstrictor nasal products for young children

Typically, such drugs contain xylometazoline or naphazoline nitrate, sea salt. The products act on the mucous membrane of the nasal passages, reduce its swelling, and quickly eliminate congestion and runny nose. The effect is noticeable within a few minutes. The effect of nasal drops or spray lasts for 2–10 hours.

Medicines for the common cold for children 3 years old - vasoconstrictor sprays and nasal drops:

  1. Xylometazoline-SOLOpharm 0.1%;
  2. Tizin Xylo BIO 0.05%;
  3. Xylometazoline 0.05%;
  4. Rinostop 0.05%;
  5. Rinonorm-teva;
  6. Otrivin Baby;
  7. Rhinorus 0.05%;
  8. Xylene 0.05%;
  9. For nose 0.05%;
  10. Snoop 0.05%;
  11. Rinomaris.

Use vasoconstrictor drops or spray for a runny nose of various origins.

Nasal products containing 0.05% drug content are intended for children over 2 years of age. The main criteria for choosing drops or spray for a runny nose in a pharmacy: what effect they have, at what age they are allowed to be used. Prices vary depending on the country and manufacturer. Often, drugs priced at 22 rubles and 102 rubles are the same.

Treatment with vasoconstrictor nasal drops or spray is a temporary relief from a runny nose, helps the nasal mucosa, and alleviates the condition of a sick child. Addiction to such drugs quickly develops. Swelling in the nasal passages and runny nose may worsen. Doctors recommend instilling vasoconstrictors for a limited time, for example, 3 days.

Runny nose of allergic origin

Symptoms of the disease: runny nose, sore throat, red eyes. Treatment will be a waste of time and money if the allergen is not eliminated from the child’s environment. The irritants that most affect the respiratory system are household mites, pet dander, and plant pollen. Food products and detergents less likely to cause allergic rhinitis.

Distinctive features of allergic rhinitis:

  • copious clear mucus in the nasal passages;
  • bouts of sneezing;
  • lacrimation;
  • itching in the nose;
  • swelling of the eyelids

Severe runny noseof allergic origin increases the risk of acute respiratory viral infections, colds, and ear inflammation in children.

An allergist can explain to parents how to quickly cure rhinitis. Using nasal drops with an antihistamine effect and taking antiallergic drugs orally helps. They have anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictor effects, relieve swelling of the mucous membrane and improve the child's sleep. Side effects treatment with drugs of this group: dry mouth, constipation, lethargy, drowsiness.

Allergic rhinitis is treated with nasal sprays that contain antihistamines. medicines for runny nose for children 3 years old. Combination drugs Vibrocil and Nazol (Baby and Kids) are used. When instilled into the nose, they have an antiallergic and vasoconstrictor effect, eliminating swelling of the mucous membrane. They are used for acute respiratory viral infections, colds, and allergic rhinitis to stimulate the immune system and facilitate breathing. Instill 1-2 drops into each nasal passage up to 5 times a day. Duration of use: 4–5 days.

Antihistamines in the form of drops and syrups are taken orally. For a runny nose in a 3-year-old child, doctors prescribe: Zyrtec, Zodak, Claritin, Xyzal, Loratadine, Parlazin, Fenistil, Cetirizine, Erius, Eslotin, Erolin.

Medicines for runny nose of infectious origin

Antimicrobial sprays and drops Protargol, Isofra, Pinasol act on bacterial infections in the nasal cavity. Protargol is prescribed by a doctor, and the specialist also selects the concentration of the medicine depending on the age of the child. Pinasol nasal drops contain essential oil components, thymol and vitamin E. Eucalyptus oil is included in the composition of Nazol for children.

If a runny nose does not go away for a long time, and its cause is a bacterial infection, then antiseptic and antimicrobial drops are used. Children aged 3 years can be treated with Miramistin solution and spray. The liquid has disinfectant and antiseptic properties.

Sign of a bacterial respiratory tract infection in a child: high fever, yellow-gray and greenish thick mucus in the nose.

For a runny nose and cough, inhalation is done with Miramistin solution in a nebulizer. Or use Miramistin spray, drop 2-3 drops of a diluted solution from a bottle into the nose with a pipette. This treatment helps with sore throat.

Immunomodulatory drugs contain recombinant interferon and its derivatives. Antiviral effect possess Derinat drops. These medications are prescribed by the pediatrician after examining the child.

Ointments for the treatment of runny nose

Oksolin belongs to antiviral drugs. An ointment with this active ingredient is applied to the nasal mucosa 3 times a day for prevention. viral diseases upper respiratory tract. Oxolinic ointment does not treat an existing runny nose, but it reduces the activity of viruses and makes it easier for the immune system to fight infection.

Viferon is an ointment intended for the treatment of viral diseases. Active ingredients means: interferon and vitamin E. For a 3-year-old child, lubricate the inside of the nose with a small amount of the drug. Apply 4 times a day.

What helps with a runny nose faster: ointment, drops or spray?

It is convenient to apply ointments using a cotton swab. The active substances gradually penetrate the mucosa and are slowly absorbed. Ointments for the common cold are often enriched with essential oils and extracts medicinal herbs, propolis. A runny nose during seasonal epidemics is treated with Zvezdochka balm, Pinosol, and Doctor Mom. The disadvantage of ointments is the Vaseline base.

The medication solution enters the child’s nasal passages when instilled with a pipette. Its end should be rounded. Before administering the drops, you need to clear the child’s nose of mucus and crusts. The advantages of instillation are the ability to use the nasal remedy from birth. However, large drops from a pipette flow faster outward or into the pharynx and do not always have time to affect the mucous membrane.

Spray is a solution in a plastic or glass bottle equipped with a small pump. The finely sprayed medicine settles on the mucous membrane of the nasal passages and practically does not penetrate into the pharynx and below. The spray can be used if the child is 2 years old. The bottle with a “children’s” dosage of the spray has a tip that is thinner and shorter than that of the drug for adults.

How to treat a runny nose in children aged 3 years, what medications to use updated: June 5, 2017 by: admin

A runny nose is the most common disease on the planet. Absolutely every person encounters this disease, more than once. To avoid unpleasant complications, it must be treated. This article will tell you why.

A runny nose, or rhinitis, is an inflammatory process of the nasal mucosa. The most common reasons for its appearance: virus entering the nasopharynx, pathogenic microorganisms and fungi. However, the disease can begin due to allergies or a stuck foreign body.

Komarovsky about children's runny nose

Famous children's doctor Evgeniy Komarovsky jokingly says that a runny nose is something that we have all lived with, are living with, and will continue to live with. Absolutely all children and adults suffer from a runny nose.

Komarovsky, contrary to popular belief, insists that every home medicine cabinet should have vasoconstrictor drops. This is the one emergency help, which is sometimes necessary for rhinitis in children. These drugs should be taken if:

  • acute otitis;
  • complete absence of nasal breathing;
  • partially difficult breathing through the nose and mouth;
  • partially difficult breathing through the nose, plus if there is a high temperature or extreme heat in the room.

During a runny nose, the respiratory system experiences enormous stress, and such drops will help relieve tension from the thoracic region.

Important: vasoconstrictor drugs should not be taken for more than 5 days. It is better to give them to children for no more than 3 days.

The pediatrician focuses special attention on proper treatment at the onset of the disease. The most important thing when the first symptoms appear is to give the child plenty of water and ventilate the room. This way, the snot will not thicken and will come out of the nose freely.

Causes of runny nose in children

A runny nose is a fairly common ailment that affects absolutely all children, but the reasons can be different.

Infectious causes of runny nose in children

A runny nose caused by infection is called rhinitis. Rhinitis can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungus. Appears as a result of acute respiratory viral infection, weakened immunity, contact with sick people, whooping cough, scarlet fever, influenza, etc. When an infection occurs, the body tries to cleanse itself, causing the nose to become abundantly moist. Green snot indicates that the immune system is fighting, sending a large number of white blood cells to defend itself.

Important: a runny nose is the body’s protective reaction to infection.

Non-infectious causes of runny nose in children

In newborn babies, the respiratory system is not yet sufficiently developed, the mucous membrane is delicate, the baby gets used to external environment. Therefore, clear discharge often occurs. Many doctors claim that such snot is not dangerous to health, you just need to keep your nose clean.

The greatest danger is posed by foreign bodies stuck in the nasopharynx. Little children, exploring the world, can put buttons, a coin, a seed, or a pen cap in their nose. This will immediately make your nose moisturize.

Important: if there is a foreign body in the nasal passage, you cannot remove it with tweezers, a needle, or scissors. There is only one way out - call a doctor at home!

Allergic rhinitis in children

Allergic rhinitis can appear at any age. If the doctor determines that the cause is an allergy, then it is necessary to eliminate its source. Quite often, snot occurs due to too dry air, especially in winter. In this case, an automatic humidifier is suitable.

It is also necessary to clean the apartment 1-2 times a day. During summer flowering it is worth using antihistamines, for example, Aqua-Maris drops for children (drop two drops four times a day). Essential oils, for example, eucalyptus, lavender, fir, and citrus, will also help.

Stages of development of a runny nose

There are usually three stages of development of a runny nose:

  1. The first stage is characterized by a feeling of dryness in the nose. There may also be a slight burning sensation, tickling, which turns into frequent sneezing.
  2. The second stage is expressed in the appearance clear liquid from the nose. Breathing through the nose becomes very difficult or stops completely. The sense of smell disappears.
  3. The third stage is the appearance of green snot. If not treated correctly, the third stage can last several weeks and develop into a serious illness.

Symptoms of a runny nose in a child

The symptoms of a runny nose in children are the same as in adults. It all starts with unpleasant sensations in the nose: itching appears, the nose itches, frequent sneezing. Then transparent discharge appears. The child diligently rubs his nose to remove moisture, causing him to noticeably blush upper lip and nostrils. Already at this stage the temperature can rise to 37°C.

The most obvious and noticeable symptom is the appearance of green snot. The child cannot cope with a large amount of thick liquid, and squelching begins. The baby may get tired quickly, lose appetite and sense of smell.

Complications of a runny nose in children

Many parents believe that a runny nose is only an accompanying symptom of a cold. That is why not everyone pays enough attention to a child’s nose. In fact, it is not always possible to notice clear discharge in time, so proper treatment is not provided in the first 3-4 days.

After about 4 days, plain or green. By this time, the child cannot breathe through his nose.

Prolonged green snot is dangerous for several reasons:

  1. There is a risk of getting sinusitis. It is just as difficult in children as in adults. The maxillary sinuses fill with fluid, which will certainly have to be removed. The child will be given nasal rinses, “cuckoo”, and injections. You can’t do without a large number of tablets, including antibiotics.
  2. A simple runny nose can develop into otitis media. Often, an untreated runny nose becomes the cause of otitis media. In this case, the person develops a high temperature and suppuration begins. The most dangerous thing is hearing loss.
  3. Frontal sinusitis, as a type of sinusitis, is expressed in the filling of the frontal sinuses with fluid. The disease causes fever and headaches. In the most dangerous situations surgical intervention is required.
  4. The most dangerous thing is meningitis, which can result in disability and death.

It is very important to notice a runny nose in a child in the first days. This is the only way to avoid further complications.

Treatment of runny nose in children

Adults know very well that it is very difficult to live with nasal congestion. The main task of parents is to quickly alleviate the child’s condition. A runny nose usually lasts more than a week, but if you know how to cure runny nose, the illness will go away in 3-4 days.

Rinse solutions are an effective rescue. Most often they only contain sea ​​water, containing useful microminerals. The washing scheme is very simple: 4-6 times a day, when the condition improves - 1-3:

  1. Aqua-Maris Baby – suitable for babies from 3 months.
  2. Physiomer - for children from 2 weeks.
  3. Aqualor Baby - in the form of a spray (has a nozzle with a restriction that prevents damage to the mucous membrane).
  4. RhinoStop - from the first days of life.

Wipe your nose before rinsing. Then use seawater spray/drops. When the crust and liquid begin to come out on their own (after 2-3 minutes), the discharge must be removed using an aspirator or bulb.

You can make your own rinsing solution. For a glass of warm, boiled water, take half a teaspoon of table or sea salt. Washing should occur quite often: 2-5 times a day.

Nasal drops

Drops should have the most natural composition possible. Try to avoid vasoconstrictor medications to prevent addiction. If you can’t do without them, then use:

  1. RinoStop - for children from the first days of life to 1 year (the main substance is xylometazoline).
  2. Vibrocil (active ingredients: phenylephrine, lavender oil).
  3. Nazol baby – for children from 2 months.
  4. Rinazolin, Nazivin, Xylene are quite aggressive drugs, addictive, but good at relieving puffiness.

Before using medications, you must read the instructions and check the expiration date.

Moisturizing drops

Dry nose also needs to be treated. Unpleasant sensations can occur for several reasons. The most common is the side effect of vasoconstrictor drugs. Dryness may also appear after rinsing the nose with an overly concentrated saline solution. Examples of moisturizing drops:

  1. Aqua-Maris (transparent drops with sea water).
  2. Aqualor (drops).
  3. Pinosol.

It is best to moisturize your nose with natural essential oils, for example, sea buckthorn, peach, eucalyptus, and tea tree.

Homeopathic remedies

Homeopathic medicines should only be used for initial stage. If there is no improvement, you should use a more powerful type of drug.

Attention: homeopathic medicines are made from natural ingredients, which can lead to a severe allergic reaction!

How homeopathic remedies help: relieve swelling, ease breathing, reduce inflammation, fight infection.

When you have a runny nose you can take:

  1. Apis is a beekeeping product.
  2. Chamomile flowers in the form of tea bags - brew and drink 1-2 times a day.
  3. Aflubin, which includes gentian, aconite (suitable for children from 1 year).
  4. Cinnabsin is suitable for children aged 2 years and older.
  5. Aconite tincture has an antipyretic effect and makes breathing easier.

Combined antibacterial agents

Most often, combination drugs combine several functions at once: snot stops flowing, the nose is moistened, inflammation is relieved, and blood vessels constrict.

The most common combination drugs:

  1. Pinosol - essential oils help you breathe freely, lubricate the nasopharynx, and relieve allergies.
  2. Eucasept fights germs and inflammation, suitable for children from 2 years old.
  3. Otrivin with menthol relieves swelling and kills germs.
  4. Vibrocil, thanks to the lavender oil included in its composition, has not only a vasoconstrictor effect, but also an antiallergic one.
  5. Sanorin-Analergin – against swelling and allergies.

Many combination drugs effectively fight not only the runny nose, but also strengthen the immune system and alleviate the general condition.

Antiviral or immunomodulatory drops for the common cold

Immunomodulatory drugs not only relieve the main symptoms of swelling and nasal congestion, but also strengthen the immune system and treat colds.

The most popular:

  1. Grippferon.
  2. Interferon (available in powder form, which must be mixed with distilled water).
  3. Derinat.
  4. Ingaron.

Before using these drugs, consult a doctor!

Tablets for runny nose

The following tablets can be given:

  1. Cinnabsin - from 3 years old.
  2. Sinupret - from 6 years old.
  3. Claritin – fights allergies and swelling, for children from 3 years old.
  4. Corizalia – from 2 years;

As can be seen from the list, tablets for the common cold cannot be given to very little children. Children may choke on them. Plus, many drugs have a powerful effect on a fragile child’s body.

Snot in a newborn: what to do

Are pretty dangerous condition. If the nose is stuffy, the baby will sleep poorly, sleep and routine will be disrupted. You will also lose your appetite, because the milk no longer smells. As a result, the baby will start crying a lot, become capricious and tired.

Any parent will agree that snot in a newborn is more difficult to treat: the child does not yet know how to blow his nose, and it is very difficult to administer nasal drops. If you notice discharge from your nose, you need to act immediately.

Stage 1 – liquefaction

To make the snot more liquid and help it come out on its own, you can make a saline solution. Take 300 ml of warm, boiled water and stir 1/4 tsp in it. salt. Place a few drops into each passage and wait a couple of minutes. You can also use natural Aqua-Maris drops to rinse your nose.

Stage 2 – removal

Since the discharge has become less thick, you can get rid of it. We take a special aspirator for sucking out snot (nozzle suction). It is believed that the Otrivin Baby aspirator is well suited for this. If nasal congestion takes you by surprise, then you can use the smallest enema. In this case, Otrivin Baby has a clear advantage - it has replaceable nozzles that allow you to remove snot more hygienically.

Stage 3 – treatment

Newborns should not be given vasoconstrictor drugs. They act aggressively on delicate mucous membranes and are addictive. It is better to use traditional methods: 1 drop of onion juice + 5 drops of petroleum jelly.

Drop the resulting mixture into your nose until full recovery. Plus, we must not forget about insulation. You can lubricate your feet with “Star” and wear warm socks that will keep you warm.

What not to do:

  1. Use antibiotics without a doctor's recommendation.
  2. Give vasoconstrictor drugs.
  3. Install mustard plasters.

Also be careful with traditional methods: some herbs can cause a severe allergic reaction.

How to treat snot in a baby?

Slightly different from therapy for newborns. During infancy, a wider selection of medications is suitable for babies.

Remember: if the cause is a cold, the first thing you should do is go to the doctor! Only a specialist can correctly diagnose and prescribe optimal treatment.

Many mothers fight the disease with breast milk. Indeed, it contains a large number of microorganisms that promote a speedy recovery. But there is also a downside - milk contains dangerous bacteria that disrupt the microflora of the nasopharynx.

Which medications worth purchasing:

  1. Vasoconstrictors: For Nos, Nazivin, Nazol (use for no more than 3 days).
  2. Protargol. It contains silver ions that actively fight microbes.
  3. Aqua-Maris Baby for daily rinsing and as a preventive measure.
  4. Pinosol - drops lubricate the nasopharynx with essential oils of coniferous trees.

Traditional methods:

  1. Instillation of aloe juice. To do this you will need one succulent leaf of the plant. Remove the skin, wrap the leaf in gauze or bandage and squeeze out the juice. Dilute the resulting liquid with water (1:1). Use drops 2-4 times a day.
  2. Brew a teaspoon of dried calendula and chamomile in boiling water and leave in a water bath for 15 minutes. Instill the decoction twice a day.
  3. Dilute carrot or beet juice with water (1:1) and instill 3-4 times a day. (Caution: may be allergy).

Baths are also suitable. You need to pour warm water into a bathing trough and add a pre-prepared chamomile infusion. You can drop a few drops of essential oil of eucalyptus, fir, and spruce into some water. This procedure will help to put off the nose.

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Is it possible to make mantu when you have a runny nose?

The topic of vaccinations always causes fierce debate. Moreover, neither doctors nor parents can come to an agreement. There are several pros and cons. Doctors often warn that vaccination can be done only if the baby is completely healthy. However, most doctors claim that Mantoux is not a vaccine.

For example, consider what is a flu shot? A small dose of infectious agents is introduced into the body. Our body encounters “enemy” organisms and fights them for several days. Bottom line: immunity is developed to a certain strain of influenza. If the body is weakened by a cold, then there is a risk that the infection will not be defeated and the person will get sick, or an allergic reaction will begin, bad feeling etc.

What is the Mantoux test? Children are injected with tuberculin under the skin once a year almost from birth until they reach adulthood. If a person suffers from tuberculosis, a reaction will follow in the form of enlargement and redness of the injection site. People who do not suffer from this disease usually have no reaction. We can say that the administered drug causes an allergic reaction in patients with tuberculosis. Therefore, it is impossible to get sick.

Attention: many doctors advise not to refuse the Mantoux test, because it is not a vaccination.

However, many doctors still do not recommend doing Mantu for a runny nose. If a person has a cold, the immune system is in constant voltage and in full readiness to attack all dangerous pathogens. When a Mantoux test is done, the immune system begins to fiercely fight tuberculin, which can distort the test result. As a result, the pediatrician has the right to prescribe another Mantu after some time. But once again it is worth noting that it is impossible to get tuberculosis after the Mantoux test!

A runny nose is an integral part of a child’s life. The parents’ task is to notice the child’s poor health in time and begin treatment. An untreated runny nose can cause serious illnesses. But it is better to carry out prevention through hardening, vaccinations, inhalations, and strengthening the immune system.

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