When a newborn baby has snot running from his nose, which is why he is capricious, becomes restless and sleeps poorly, and refuses to eat, this always causes great anxiety among parents.
Need help urgently, but how? What is the cause of a runny nose? How to quickly cure a baby so as not to harm his health? First of all, calm down and don’t panic; a runny nose in babies is not always a consequence of an infectious respiratory disease.
It may well occur in the first months after birth due to the adaptation of the nasal mucosa to new and unusual environmental conditions. But first things first, let’s first consider what types of runny nose occur in small infants.
Types of runny nose in babies
According to the species, the runny nose is initially classified into infectious and non-infectious types. As you can understand, the first type of pathological condition in infants occurs due to the penetration of an infection or virus into the child’s airways. The second type is associated with a physiological or allergic factor.
Physiological runny nose
Since a small child, still a few days old, is born with the intranasal mucous membranes not fully formed in terms of their absolute functionality, the reaction of mucus secretion from the nasal cavity is considered a completely normal phenomenon.
In a similar way, the body adapts to external conditions - a new way of breathing in an environment unfamiliar before birth.
After about 4 months, the adaptation stage ends, and the nasal mucosa begins to function normally, so physiological runny nose is characteristic of babies only in the first months of life.
How do you know if a runny nose is physiological?
It is important to accurately determine that mucous discharge from the nose is associated specifically with the physiological characteristics of the newborn organism, since this process is not a pathology and does not require the use of nasal medications. If you use vasoconstrictor and bactericidal nasal drops during the period of the body’s adjustment to exogenous conditions, this will dry out the nasal passages and disrupt the microflora of the airways, which will extremely interfere with the natural formation and normal functioning of the nasal mucous membranes.
A local pediatrician will help you understand the etiology of snot, but every parent should know what distinctive signs can be used to suggest that a physiological factor is at play:
- body temperature is not elevated;
- appetite is not impaired, the nose is not stuffy;
- the child does not look sick;
- no cough, frequent sneezing;
- nasal discharge is thin and clear.
How to treat physiological runny nose?
No special treatment is required for a physiological runny nose; the only thing that needs to be provided to the baby is air in the children’s room that is comfortable for this condition. This condition must be observed to prevent dry nose and promote rapid adaptation of the respiratory organs to the environment.
The air temperature should not exceed 20 degrees, ideally it will be maintained within 18 degrees. Humidity indicator - 50-65%.
Pediatricians recommend purchasing special humidifiers or using containers filled with water and placed in the baby’s room to create optimally humid air.
As for treating the baby's nasal mucosa, it is enough to carefully remove mucus from the nasal cavity, if a lot of it has accumulated, using a small syringe or a special aspirator, which can be bought at a pharmacy.
Cleansing instillations with a saline solution in a concentration special for the baby will be beneficial; they can be purchased at a pharmacy. They safely clean the nose, gently moisturize the nasal mucosa of a newborn baby, without having a negative effect on its biological environment, since they have a neutral pH. The best preparations are those with sea water, these are:
- Salin;
- Aqualor;
- Aquamaris;
- Saline sodium chloride solution.
No further measures are taken to care for an infant who has developed clear nasal discharge of physiological origin.
Infectious runny nose
The main symptoms of an infectious type of runny nose in infants
The clinical picture of ARVI, which caused the baby to develop a runny nose, is as follows:
- swelling of the nasal mucosa;
- repeated sneezing;
- secretion of copious mucus, which becomes thicker over time;
- increased body temperature (often, but not always);
- difficulty breathing through the nose;
- poor appetite, restless sleep;
- The child is whiny and inactive.
At the slightest suspicion of a viral or infectious runny nose in an infant, parents should immediately call a doctor at home. No self-medication! The baby should be examined by an experienced pediatrician who, after establishing the correct diagnosis, will prescribe appropriate therapy.
Treatment of infectious rhinitis
Vasoconstrictor drugs are used in extreme cases; they are harmful to infants, and can also cause addiction and degeneration of a runny nose into a chronic form. If the doctor deems it necessary, in the second stage of rhinitis, when the snot becomes highly viscous and turns green due to the appearance of secondary microorganisms from the class of bacteria, he will prescribe one of the most suitable bactericidal drugs for instillation into the nose.
The most important direction in the treatment of a runny nose in a small child of the first year of life remains maintaining cleanliness, normal temperature and humidity in the room where the sick baby is, and salt procedures with clearing the nose of snot. Plus, the rate of fluid consumption increases - water and herbal teas special for infants. The use of folk methods and aromatherapy at this age is strictly prohibited!
Allergic type of runny nose
A runny nose of allergic etiology during the infant period is very rare, and to be more precise, it is simply not typical for infants. For hypersensitivity of the respiratory organs to a potential allergen to develop, it takes a lot of time - several years, which, in principle, is no longer logical.
Therefore, many parents often mistake a common cold or physiological runny nose, which occurs without feverish symptoms, for a respiratory allergy.
As for food allergies, the situation is different here: the enzymatic functions of the baby’s digestive tract and liver have not yet matured to normally break down proteins and other food substances, as a result of which a rash occurs on the skin. But this is a completely different topic.
Symptoms of allergic rhinitis in young children
It would do well for parents to become familiar with the distinctive signs of a runny nose caused by allergens:
- an allergic rhinitis is never accompanied by an increase in temperature in a child , so if it rises above normal, therefore, the pathology was caused by a respiratory infection;
- mucus secreted from a child's nose has a watery, colorless and transparent consistency ;
- the baby sneezes repeatedly, the whites of the eyes turn red, there is a high secretion of tear fluid, itching in the eyes;
- There may be rashes on the body and swelling of the face.
Diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis
What are the differences between runny nose in adults and infants?
A runny nose in a baby and in an adult, according to general signs, is, in principle, identical. But newborn babies suffer the disease much more severely. What is the reason for this peculiarity of the runny nose during the infant period?
- The nasal mucosa of an infant is much more vulnerable to damaging factors (infections), and therefore swelling occurs in a more pronounced form. The swollen tissues almost completely block the airway in the olfactory organ, as a result of which breathing through the nose becomes extremely difficult.
- The size of the nasal cavity in newborn babies is too small than in adults, so even a slight swelling of the mucous membrane in infants immediately blocks the respiratory passages of the nose.
- An infant with a runny nose is more prone to the well-known complications that can be caused by an inflammatory disease in the nose. Its frequent consequences are sinusitis, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, adenoiditis, and pharyngitis. The fact is that the baby’s immune mechanism is not yet regulated and is too weak to properly fight off infection. Thus, infectious pathogenesis in an infant spreads through the respiratory canals and affects them at a higher rate than in an older child or adult.
- Infants are helpless and dependent on parental attention. They are unable to blow their nose like an adult does. Therefore, mucus, if not removed regularly, greatly interferes with the baby’s ability to breathe, sleep and eat properly. But that's not all. Mucous secretion that stagnates in the nasal cavity creates favorable conditions for the appearance of secondary microorganisms (bacteria) in the nose, which multiply just as rapidly as infections. Without proper care - rinsing the nasal passages with a salt-based solution and timely removal of snot - the pathogenesis can last for a long time and cause a chronic runny nose with serious consequences.
Complications of a runny nose
A prolonged runny nose in an infant can affect the following complications:
- acute otitis media is the most common complication in any childhood, caused by infection or bacteria entering the ear, resulting in inflammation and severe pain;
- the development of one of the types of sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses) - sinusitis, frontal sinusitis , ethmoiditis, sphenoiditis, which in turn are also dangerous with severe complications (eye neuritis, meningitis, etc.);
- inflammation of the lymphoid tissues of the pharynx ( pharyngitis, tonsillitis ) due to extensive and prolonged pathogenesis in the nasal cavity, which affected the pharyngeal tissues;
- the appearance of bronchopneumonia , as a consequence of a progressive bacterial focus in the nose, descending through the airways into the lower respiratory tract;
- the formation of painful ulcerations on the mucous membranes of the inner walls of the nose due to regular secretion of mucus or the use of vasoconstrictor drugs - such damage to the intranasal membrane is not a serious pathology, but requires treatment with moisturizers and emollients prescribed by the pediatrician.
It must be remembered that the mucus that is secreted in the child’s nose at the time of illness is produced by the nasal mucosa along with protective antibodies and serves to neutralize the infection and remove dead antigens from the airways. Therefore, therapeutic measures using nasal medications for mild runny nose in infants do not need to be carried out, so as not to disrupt the natural process of the immune system’s fight against pathogens.
At the initial stage of a cold, you just need to promptly clear the nasal passages of sniffles, rinse the nasal cavity with neutral saline solutions (2 drops of them are dripped into the nasal passages), monitor the comfortable environment in the children's room - such measures are usually enough to quickly eliminate the pathogenesis in the nose and prevent complications.
A severe and protracted runny nose in a newborn baby poses a serious threat to the development of unfavorable conditions for the above-mentioned consequences, therefore, in such cases, the baby should immediately be shown to a specialized specialist to clarify the diagnosis and receive qualified assistance regarding further therapy.
When do you need to see a doctor urgently?
Young children of any age should always be seen by a pediatrician if they have a respiratory illness.
The presence of a runny nose in infancy, as well as any health problems in a newborn, requires mandatory and correct therapy, the ideal regimen of which can only be drawn up by a doctor.
In certain situations, a manifestation such as persistent rhinorrhea may indicate the development of severe pathology.
Do not lose your vigilance; the child’s health in the future depends on the attention and care of parents during the baby’s illness. Always see a doctor if your baby has a runny nose, especially if it is accompanied by symptoms such as:
- body temperature has increased - this is a threat of infection with respiratory viruses and infections that are dangerous to the body;
- redness in the throat, cough, irregular breathing rhythm, change in voice timbre appeared - this may be an alarming signal of the appearance of such severe pathologies as tonsillitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis;
- lack of appetite, the child’s refusal to drink are frequent signs of a runny nose, which lead to dehydration of the newborn’s body, intoxication and weight loss;
- the secretion discharged from the nose has a very thick consistency and is colored yellow or green - this symptom indicates the addition of a secondary infection from the class of bacteria, so the baby may urgently need treatment with antibiotics, do not hesitate to visit a doctor;
- there are fragments of blood in the mucous secretions - this indicates a violation of the integrity of the intranasal vessels and capillaries due to drying out of the nasal mucosa or damage to the blood vessels due to inaccurate extraction of mucus with a nasal aspirator.
Should I go for a walk or not if my baby has a runny nose?
Fresh air itself is very useful when the nasal mucosa suffers from a runny nose; inhaling it has no worse bactericidal effect than antibiotic medications. It also helps to moisturize dry nasal passages and relieve swelling from the mucous membrane, which will only speed up the healing process. In addition, providing blood with oxygen will have a beneficial effect on the immune functions of the child’s body. Of course, in case of an acute viral infection that has caused a runny nose and also a fever, you should refrain from going outside until the baby’s general condition returns to normal.
Very often, increased secretion of mucus in a baby’s nose is not associated with colds at all, but is only part of normal physiology in the first months of a child’s life.
This condition does not require any special treatment or restriction from walking, so frequent exposure of the newborn to the fresh air will provide the body with disproportionate benefits, and the adaptive reactions of the respiratory department will take place quickly and safely.
Material prepared by: pediatric otolaryngologist Svetlana Vasilievna Mironova
Source: https://dedadi.ru/obshhestvo/nasmork-u-grudnichka.html
How to treat a runny nose in a baby at home - On the skin
The runny nose will disappear in a matter of days. Try this remedy...
Read more…
There is nothing difficult in fighting a runny nose in young children. To do this, you can use folk remedies and know some rules.
Many parents think that such measures may not be effective enough, but this opinion is wrong.
On the contrary, natural remedies, which have long been used to treat young children, give quick and lasting results, and also do not cause absolutely any harm to the child’s body.
Provoking factors
Before starting to use folk remedies, it is recommended to find out the cause of a runny nose: allergic, bacterial or viral in nature. Otherwise, the measures taken may be ineffective.
Despite the safety of natural remedies, preliminary consultation with a pediatrician is the key to a quick recovery.
That is why immediately take all the necessary tests and only then begin treating a runny nose in an infant.
If you believe the statistics, then most often rhinitis in infants develops against the background of infection through contact with infected people. At the same time, the use of folk remedies, as a rule, does not give the expected result. Rhinitis goes away only after the disease itself is cured.
In order to determine the infectious nature of a runny nose, it is recommended to take into account the following manifestations:
- Thick and greenish discharge from the nose.
- Loss of appetite and restless sleep.
- Reduced waking time.
- Constant whims and irritable behavior.
- Increase in body temperature to 37.0-37.5 degrees (not in all cases).
One should not miss their appearance and such a cause of excessive mucus production in the nose as dry air in the room. In this case, it is enough to provide a normal microclimate for the child and snot will stop forming without taking additional measures.
The main differences between allergic rhinitis
You can quickly cope with a runny nose in a baby using folk remedies. To do this, it is necessary to initially determine the nature of rhinitis. In case of allergic rhinitis, special measures should be taken, which will not be effective in case of infectious or bacterial disorders.
Pediatric specialists identify a number of predisposing factors that provoke the development of allergic rhinitis: certain foods, animal dander, pollen from flowering plants, house dust mites, etc. In order to determine the allergic nature of a runny nose, doctors recommend paying attention to additional symptoms:
- Redness of the conjunctiva of the eyes.
- Frequent sneezing and sore throat.
- In advanced cases, swelling of the face is noted.
In order to verify your assumptions, you should go to an appointment with an experienced specialist in order to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis and make a diagnosis. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable.
Principles of traditional therapy
When a newborn child has a runny nose, parents begin to panic, especially if it is a protracted process that has not been resolved for several weeks.
Among the most common causes of a prolonged runny nose are:
- Failure to comply with treatment deadlines. Once the symptoms subside, all treatment is stopped. Parents think that the child is already healthy. This is unacceptable. Medication and even traditional treatment have certain deadlines. Therapy is prescribed for 5-7 days, which depends on the severity of signs of disorders occurring in the body. This rule should not be neglected.
- Incorrect dosing. In order for treatment with folk remedies to give a quick and lasting result, proportions must be observed. The preparations should be prepared strictly according to the recipe and dosage recommendations should not be neglected: a low dosage may not give results, and a high dosage may cause the development of adverse reactions.
One should not lose sight of the fact that infants have some physiological characteristics. Due to the fact that the nasal passages are quite narrow, sniffling is often heard at night. This should not be taken as a runny nose. This phenomenon is considered normal and does not require treatment.
No measures need to be taken if physiological rhinitis develops, in which children sleep with their mouths open and sniffle. This condition is normal and goes away on its own after some time (4-6 months).
To determine neurovegetative runny nose, you should pay attention to some features. In case of physiological disorders that do not require any measures, the child feels well, which is reflected in the absence of irritation, good appetite and restful sleep.
There are no manifestations of an infectious disease: no cough, normal stool, no vomiting, and body temperature is within acceptable limits. In this case, mucus discharge from the nasal passages occurs in moderate quantities. The snot is liquid, light or transparent.
There is no need to use additional tools.
What should you not do?
To treat a runny nose in a baby using folk remedies, doctors do not recommend using:
- Infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs. This can trigger the development of an allergic process, which will only worsen the situation. In the absence of an allergic predisposition, you can use this method of treatment.
- Washing. The liquid used to rinse the nasal passages can enter the lungs and cause the development of an inflammatory process.
- Mother's breast milk. Instilling it into the nasal passages is strictly prohibited. It provides a good breeding ground for pathogenic microorganisms and can therefore cause rapid bacterial growth.
That is why before starting treatment with folk remedies you should consult your doctor. An experienced specialist can determine the effectiveness and safety of a particular folk remedy.
What to do first
Before you start using folk remedies for the runny nose for infants, it is recommended to normalize the microclimate in the room where the child is most present.
To do this, do the following:
- Humidify the air to 65-75%. To do this, you can hang wet towels in the room or put a small bowl of water. If this is not enough, then you should purchase a special stationary humidifier.
- Maintain optimal air temperature: from 22 to 24 degrees.
- Carry out wet cleaning every day, remove woolen carpets from the room.
As a rule, these measures are enough to cure a runny nose in a baby without folk remedies and medications.
Treatment tactics depend on age
To find out the reason why snot appears in a baby and how to treat it with folk remedies, it is necessary to start from the physiological characteristics characteristic of newborns and infants. It all depends on the age of the child:
- From 0 to 1 month. A runny nose is rare because infants have a protective immunity that is passed on to them through their mother's breast milk. Bacteria and viruses are not dangerous in this case. Treatment: correct humidity and ventilation in the room. If the runny nose gets worse, it is important to find out the cause of the disturbances and take comprehensive measures. The resulting mucus must be removed using a special tool. The use of Aquamaris saline solution is omitted.
- From 2 to 3 months. Children are forced to lie down for a long time and cannot yet blow out the mucus as it accumulates. The accumulation of a large amount of snot can cause complications. It is imperative to use tools to remove mucus (aspirators). At this age, you can use saline solutions and preparations based on sea water to treat a runny nose.
- From 4 to 6 months. At this age, if it is possible to refuse the medication, then it is better to do so. As safe means, you can use saline solutions and the following folk recipes: Kalanchoe juice mixed in a 1:1 ratio with any vegetable oil.
- From 6 months and older. At this age, it is permissible to use more folk remedies. It is useful to do the “warming boots” procedure using paraffin or regular salt. To do this, put a thin sock on your feet, and a warm sock with filling on top. The procedure lasts up to 50 minutes. Closer to the age of one, you can do a contrast shower, which is simply irreplaceable for a runny nose. Gradually, the water temperature should be increased to 40 degrees.
Health Recipes
Many parents recommend giving the child a light massage before using vasoconstrictor drugs. The effect should be on the wings of the nose, ears and forehead. This helps eliminate congestion and alleviate the child’s condition with a runny nose.
An effective remedy for a runny nose that does not occur due to an allergy is lemon juice. It is mixed with honey and 1 drop is instilled into each nasal passage. For the same purposes, wild rosemary tincture diluted with vegetable oil is widely used.
A common question among parents is whether it is possible to bathe a child if he has a cold? Leading pediatric experts recommend taking water procedures daily if there is no high temperature or other signs of acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections.
Among the main factors that worsen the health of newborn children are contaminated skin, high temperatures and dry air in the room, and the lack of regular walks in the air. A dangerous condition is overheating of the body.
This is what can cause a runny nose.
Safe ways to treat runny nose in newborns:
- Saline solution. Dissolve 0.5 tsp. coarse table salt in 100 ml of warm boiled water. Used to rinse the nasal passages before instilling the main medication.
- Onion and garlic. To combat the bacterial nature of the runny nose, juice prepared from onions and garlic, which contain flavonoids, is widely used. To prepare the drops, simply squeeze out 1-2 drops of the product into 1 tsp. boiled water.
- Kalanchoe and aloe. Medicinal plants are available on the windowsills of almost all houses and apartments. To prepare the drops, wash the leaves of the plant, pour boiling water over them and squeeze out the juice. It must be diluted with boiled water in a 1:1 ratio and used for its intended purpose.
Any folk remedy for the common cold in infants should be used with caution. You should definitely consult your doctor first. Only by comprehensively addressing the problem can you quickly cure a runny nose and prevent its occurrence in the future.
Source:
How to cure a runny nose in an infant - a list of effective drugs
Content
Source: https://mc-expert.ru/prochee/chem-lechit-nasmork-u-grudnichka-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html
Treatment of a runny nose in an infant
The body of children under 1 year of age (infancy) is more susceptible to various diseases than older children, and very often parents are faced with the problem of a runny nose in their child. The nasal mucosa of infants is very sensitive, so respiratory diseases are almost inevitable.
The main causes of runny nose in newborns are viruses, allergies, and inflammatory processes. But, at the same time, in children under 2.5 months of age, the presence of sniffles does not at all indicate the child’s illness.
Immediately after birth, the inner cavity of the nose is first very “dry”, then becomes too “wet” - this is a normal process of adaptation of the body to external conditions, this is a physiological runny nose . In infants, full-fledged work of the mucous membrane begins after 10 weeks of life, so phlegm in the nose is a physiological and natural process.
There is no need to treat it. It is important to recognize it and you just need to provide comfortable air in the newborn’s room. Let's take a closer look at the types of runny nose and how to help your child breathe normally.
Types and causes of runny nose
A runny nose for an infant is very tiring, because the baby does not yet know how to breathe through the mouth, the nasal passages are narrow, and the swollen nasal mucosa makes it very difficult to breathe properly.
When a child has a clogged nose, he eats poorly, sleeps poorly, and is capricious. In the first days, a runny nose is accompanied by copious watery discharge from the nose, an increase in temperature (mainly due to a cold or hypothermia) and lasts up to 2 weeks.
If you have a severe runny nose, there may be swelling and irritation around your nose and upper lip.
Symptoms:
The main symptoms are snot????
- Copious watery discharge from the nose.
- Deterioration of the child’s general condition, possible appearance of a temperature of 37ºC.
- When nasal congestion or a runny nose appears, the baby refuses the breast (bottle) and begins to take frequent breaks while sucking.
- Shortness of breath appears and normal breathing is disrupted.
- If the runny nose is of an allergic nature, in addition to watery discharge, there are attacks of sneezing, itching in the nose, and redness of the eyes.
- Infants involuntarily pull their hands to their nose, rubbing it.
- The child’s rhythm of life (sleep, wakefulness and eating patterns) is disrupted.
A runny nose can be:
- Physiological. At the beginning of the article they said that this is a natural process of the body.
- Infectious or viral. The causes of the disease are bacterial or viral infections. Sniffles are the body’s protective reaction to a viral infection.
- Allergic. It is caused by various allergen substances (dust, foods (if the child is breastfeeding, then everything that the mother eats is received with milk by the child), flowering plants, household chemicals, etc.). In this case, there is not only a runny nose, but also watery eyes.
- Vasomotor. It occurs due to problems with the vessels of the nasal mucosa (it occurs quite rarely in infants).
How and with what to treat a runny nose in infants
Use medications for infants only on the recommendation of a doctor!
We treat physiological and infectious (viral) runny nose
- As was already said at the beginning of the article, a physiological runny nose in an infant does not require special treatment. A viral runny nose is a natural reaction of the body that helps the nasopharynx cope with a virus or bacteria. The main treatment is to prevent the mucus from drying out.
To do this, you need to maintain the optimal temperature and air humidity in the room of no more than 22 degrees (you can maintain the humidity using ordinary cups of water, spray it from a spray bottle, use special humidifiers, or set up an aquarium).
- Moisten the nasal mucosa with ordinary saline solution (or ordinary saline): at the rate of 1 teaspoon of salt (preferably sea salt. If sea salt is not available, use regular table salt) per 1 liter of warm boiled water. Place 1 drop in each nostril. ( CHECK OUT THE ARTICLE: how to properly bury a child's nose).
IMPORTANT! use saline solution (store-bought or homemade) only as drops; it cannot be used as a rinse!
- Calendula or yarrow herbs: steam 1 teaspoon per glass of water in a water bath. Let it cool and drop half a pipette into each nostril for the baby.
- If the runny nose is severe, then clean the child’s nose of crusts and thick mucus with a special small enema for removing sniffles (sold at any pharmacy.) You can use a regular “pear”. There are special nasal aspirators (nozzle ejectors). Or very carefully remove the mucus with baby cotton swabs.
(See the article on how to clean a newborn baby’s nose in different ways)
- Drop in breast milk. Breast milk contains substances that will help protect the baby’s mucous membranes from “harmful” microbes.
- You can drip drops of Aquamaris (based on sea water).
- Chamomile decoction helps (if the child is not allergic to it).
- Bathe your newborn in medicinal herbs. Bath with calendula, sage and yarrow. Take 25 g of herbs, brew and leave in a thermos for 2 hours. Pour the resulting broth into a bath with a water temperature of no more than 37 degrees.
- The most common folk remedy for treating a runny nose in infants is to drip freshly squeezed beet or carrot juice, half diluted with water or olive or vegetable sunflower oil, into the nose.
- Another folk remedy is to drip sea buckthorn oil into your nose.
- You can drip aloe or Kalanchoe juice.
The juice must be diluted with boiled water, 1 part juice to 10 parts water. Instill 5 times a day.
- Breathe in eucalyptus oil. Pour water into the aroma lamp and add 5-10 drops of eucalyptus oil, heat it and leave it in the room for 15-20 minutes, the child will breathe in vapor.
- Apply baby cream to irritated areas.
Herbal decoctions must be used carefully, as they can cause allergies in infants.
NO! In case of physiological or viral runny nose, infants do not need to drip vasoconstrictor drops into the nose. These drops can only be used after a doctor's prescription in extreme cases (if the child cannot sleep or eat due to a clogged nose). The drops may cause swelling of the mucous membrane.
NO! We suck out the mucus with an enema or a bulb, but under no circumstances should the nose be rinsed! Fluid under pressure can enter the baby's eustachian tube (which connects the ear and nose) and cause otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear).
Allergic runny nose
With an allergic rhinitis, swelling of the nasal mucosa occurs and only a doctor can prescribe treatment!
Prevention for a runny nose caused by allergies - exclude contact of an infant with an allergen: do wet cleaning more often, you need to stop using household chemicals, such as carpet cleaners, polishes, cleaning powders and gels, air fresheners, wash clothes only with phosphate-free baby powders or simple soap (see how to wash children's clothes). To ensure clean and moist air in the room, use a humidifier, a vacuum cleaner with a water filter, a salt lamp, and an ionizer.
Cold remedies for little ones
We give names of drops and ointments for general information. Before use, it is better to consult your pediatrician!
- Nasal drops for babies from the first days of life : Aquamaris, Aqualor, Nazivin, Vibrocil, Doctor MOM, Salin and Pinasol.
- Warming ointments and tinctures: calendula ointment, St. John's wort, Vitaon, Pulmex-baby (lubricate the feet), Doctor MOM (lubricate the feet).
- Aromatherapy: thuja oil (2 drops per glass of boiling water, let evaporate in the room with the baby); Tea delevo oil (from 6 months, 1 drop on the pillow before bed).
What a baby should not do when treating a runny nose
- Do not rinse the nose with enemas, pears, or other pumping devices;
- Antibiotics should not be instilled;
- Do not suck out snot from the inner areas of the nose;
- Vasoconstrictor drugs only as prescribed by a doctor.
In some cases, medical attention may be needed if:
- The child's breathing became wheezing;
- With a runny nose, there is redness in the throat;
- The child refuses food and begins to lose weight;
- You suspect your child has headaches;
- Bloody discharge from the nose;
- A runny nose lasts longer than a week;
- If the baby is 3-6 months old. temperature below normal;
- If an infant's temperature is 40°C, it does not decrease, but continues to rise.
We treat a runny nose!
Video consultation: how to treat a runny nose in a baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fIBnajW_Fc
School of Dr. Komarovsky: Runny nose and medicines for the common cold
Actress Anastasia Basha turned to Dr. Komarovsky with questions about a runny nose - where it comes from, how and how it is treated, how dangerous it is... Obviously, it is impossible to avoid runny noses, but it is quite possible to make it so that a childhood that is constantly snotty becomes a childhood that is snotty occasionally, and these episodes will be short, mild, rare. Let's listen to the doctor's recommendations!
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Runny nose in a baby
A runny nose in a baby is a real problem. He cannot blow his nose on his own, it is difficult for him to breathe, he sleeps and eats poorly, he quickly gets tired of this condition and suffers from it. He just needs help. But not everyone knows how to do this correctly and how to treat a runny nose in an infant.
What is a runny nose, its causes and symptoms
A runny nose, or rhinitis, occurs due to inflammation of the mucous tissue that lines the nasal cavity. Its cause may be:
- infections,
- viruses,
- allergic reactions.
The anatomical features of the structure of the nose in young children contribute to the fact that with the slightest swelling of the mucous membrane, the already narrow nasal passages are blocked, making breathing much more difficult.
The baby, in whom nature has implanted the reflex of breathing through the nose, does not yet know how to breathe through the mouth. Therefore, he becomes restless, eats poorly, sleeps little and is capricious. If a runny nose appears due to a cold, the temperature may rise.
All these symptoms indicate that you need to act!
Any disease that overcomes a baby causes anxiety among parents, and a runny nose is no exception. Since the newborn does not yet have the ability to independently get rid of mucus in the nose, feeding problems arise.
Against this background, he constantly feels hungry, so he is capricious. In this state, the baby may begin to lose weight. To help your child cope with the scourge, you should initially determine the reason why the runny nose appeared.
It also cannot be ruled out that it may be physiological.
How to determine a physiological runny nose?
The mucous membrane of the infant is not yet fully formed, so a runny nose may occur. Closer to 4 months, the mucous membranes acquire the necessary structure and can perform their functions normally.
If after the birth of your child you notice mucous discharge from the nose, do not panic and try all the commercially available medications for the common cold on him.
You just need to wait until the mucous membrane is fully formed and begins to work properly.
If you undergo treatment without a reason, serious health problems cannot be ruled out. Try not to disrupt your baby's natural developmental stage. The body is gradually improving its functioning, while the parents are engaged in the fight against mucous secretions. The more you remove them, the more mucus will be released.
When a child seems healthy, has a normal temperature, no cough, and no problems with appetite, this indicates physiological rhinitis.
To help your baby quickly adapt to his environment, you should maintain optimal humidity levels in the room where the newborn is.
This will prevent the mucous membrane from drying out or excessive secretion.
To achieve such conditions, you can acquire a special device. Humidifiers are able to maintain the required humidity in a room without additional intervention.
All you have to do is set a specific program and fill the tank with water, and the device will do the rest on its own. However, you can achieve a similar effect without a humidifier. Instead, you can place containers filled with water in the room.
If you have an aquarium with fish, you don’t need to think about humidifying the air at all.
A warm bath, or rather the steam that comes from the water, will help cope with the overdried mucous membrane. You need to go into the bathroom with your child and stay there for up to 30 minutes, inhaling the vapors.
To alleviate the baby's condition, you can use saline solution. It is sold at any pharmacy kiosk. You can also prepare it yourself. Add 1 tsp to a liter of purified or boiled water. table or sea salt. That's all, the solution is ready for use. It is enough to drop 1-2 drops of saline solution into each nasal passage of a child's nose.
Allergic runny nose
Often this type of runny nose occurs due to increased dust in the air, inhalation of plant pollen, and excessive use of household chemicals. Against this background, swelling develops in the nasal cavity. Treatment of a runny nose, which is caused by allergens, consists of performing the following tasks:
- regularly carry out wet cleaning;
- minimize the baby’s contact with the allergen;
- wash baby's clothes only using hypoallergenic powders;
- use vasoconstrictor drops, but only after the doctor’s approval;
- Minimize the use of household chemicals.
How and with what to treat a runny nose in a baby
If the baby is breastfed, and the mother also has a cold, she should under no circumstances stop breastfeeding him.
Since with breast milk the baby also receives antibodies against this disease, which are produced by the mother’s body. In this case, the baby’s recovery occurs very quickly.
A baby who is bottle-fed needs to drink plenty of fluids.
To free the nasal passages from mucus, you can rinse the nose with saline, cold drops or breast milk. To do this, you need to drop drops into the child’s nose with a pipette, and after a few minutes, use a rubber bulb to pull out the dissolved mucus from the nose.
Vasoconstrictor drops can be used to treat a runny nose in children under one year of age only with the permission of a doctor. You shouldn't abuse them.
To treat a runny nose in children, you can use inhalation with a nebulizer . The procedures are easy to do while the baby is sleeping. It is very convenient, and most importantly - effective.
An oil solution of chlorophyllipt is very helpful in treating a runny nose in infants. It needs to be diluted with saline or breast milk and dropped into the nose. This will help moisturize the mucous membrane and relieve inflammation.
How to treat a runny nose in a baby when it is caused by ARVI? I block the reproduction of the virus with interferon drugs. Grippferon can be used for the treatment and prevention of viral diseases from birth.
Under no circumstances should you use antibacterial drugs without a doctor’s prescription!
If the baby's temperature is not elevated, then he should be kept warm. During this period, the mother should wear a gauze bandage and, if possible, limit her contact with the child. Strict adherence to these recommendations will contribute to the speedy treatment of runny nose in infants.
How to use a nozzle ejector
There is a special device for pulling mucus out of a child's nose. But not everyone is equally suited to one or another nozzle ejector. In this case, the mother must adapt.
If the baby has too narrow or, on the contrary, wide nostrils, then you can use a rubber bulb. A large bulb will have even better traction than a standard nozzle pump.
Some mothers remove the tip from it and attach it to a large rubber bulb.
Place a little saline solution or salty drops into your nose, wait until the mucus dissolves, and then insert the tip of the nozzle suction into one nostril and gently press the other with your finger. The edge of the tip should not tightly touch the walls of the spout, otherwise it can only cause harm.
Should you treat a runny nose in a baby yourself or see a doctor?
If you notice that your child sniffles too loudly in his sleep or makes sounds similar to “grunting”, you do not need to immediately run to the doctor. The air in your home may be too dry. This happens during the heating season. In this case, a regular humidifier will help you quickly eliminate the symptoms.
Even if you are sure that you know how to treat a runny nose in a baby, but your baby has a fever, or the symptoms of the disease do not go away for more than a week, you need to seek help from a pediatrician. It is much more difficult to treat a persistent runny nose.
How long can a runny nose last?
If a baby has a runny nose for more than a week, this can negatively affect the condition of the respiratory organs. In case of untimely or incorrect treatment, the occurrence of otitis media, sinusitis, and tonsillitis cannot be ruled out. When the sputum begins to fill with bacteria, it can start the development of pneumonia.
It is quite difficult to predict how long a runny nose in a baby may last. First, the blood vessels narrow, and the mucous membranes turn pale and dry out too much. The baby is capricious due to a burning sensation in the nose. Mucus discharge can cause coughing attacks and throat discomfort. If a runny nose is noticed at the beginning of its development, then complications can still be avoided.
A rise in temperature, loss of appetite and a red throat should definitely be a reason to call a doctor. Normally, a runny nose does not last longer than 10 days. If you are faced with prolonged rhinitis, you need qualified medical help. Otherwise, the consequences will not be long in coming.
Folk remedies to help
- Add ½ tsp to ½ cup of boiled water. table salt. While the solution is warm, you need to put drops on your baby’s nose. It will be enough to drop 2 drops into each nasal passage. After this procedure, the baby may begin to sneeze. But gradually he will get used to this process, and will have a normal attitude towards therapeutic measures. Washing must be done every hour.
- Beetroot or onion juice has an excellent healing effect for a runny nose. The saline solution is diluted with onion juice in a ratio of 1:20 or beet juice - 1:5. Therapeutic measures for nasal instillation are carried out three times a day. But such agents must be handled with extreme caution, since their high concentration can harm already damaged mucous membranes.
- You can also drip vitamin A into your nose, which is sold in any pharmacy. For medicinal purposes, 1 drop in each nasal passage is sufficient. The procedure is carried out only once every knock. Sea buckthorn oil can be used instead, but not as nasal drops. This product is used to lubricate the nasal cavity.
- Garlic oil can relieve your baby of a runny nose. To prepare the medicine, you will need to chop 2 cloves of garlic and then add 50 grams to it. vegetable oil. After 24 hours, the product is used to lubricate the child’s nasal cavity three times a day.
Possible complications of a runny nose
It is worth understanding that it is undesirable to independently treat a runny nose in a baby, since this threatens the appearance of serious complications. The child’s body is not yet strong enough to withstand external factors. It is advisable, if any deviations from the norm appear, to contact your local pediatrician or ENT specialist. An improperly treated runny nose can cause the following problems:
- Otitis media. Due to the fact that the auditory tube is still too short, mucus can pass through it. As a result, the baby begins to grab his ear and cry loudly. At the same time, he turns his head and does not even allow him to touch his sore ear. This condition definitely requires specialist supervision.
- Sinusitis is an inflammation of the maxillary sinuses. If there is a high temperature and an increase in intoxication, then this is a serious reason to hospitalize the child in the hospital.
Treat runny noses in children in a timely manner. Since they lie most of the time and mucus with pathogenic microorganisms can flow into the auditory tube and contribute to ear inflammation. Parents who know what to do and how to treat a runny nose in a baby have every chance of raising a healthy and strong baby.
Source: http://nasmork-gaimorit.ru/nasmork-u-grudnichka