How to quickly cure a runny nose in a child at home. Folk remedies, pharmaceutical preparations

Most often, snot in a child is the first sign that a respiratory infection has entered the body. The kid sneezes, sniffs his nose, eats poorly, sleeps lightly, becomes capricious and irritable.

And the ill-fated runny nose is to blame for everything! Children are too vulnerable to colds due to their weak immune systems. Therefore, a child with snot is a fairly common phenomenon, but it must be dealt with so that the runny nose does not become chronic and cause serious complications, such as sinusitis, otitis or purulent sinusitis.

Viral or infectious colds in most cases begin precisely with the appearance of mucous discharge from the nose and discomfort in the nose and throat. But, unfortunately, it happens that it seems that the baby’s neck has already passed, and the temperature has returned to normal, and the snot stubbornly annoys. Prolonged runny nose in such situations, which at first was transparent and thin in consistency, becomes highly viscous and acquires a yellowish or even green color. This symptom may indicate the presence of an increased concentration of bacteria on the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, and sometimes the development of purulent pathogenesis in the paranasal sinuses.

Many parents are convinced that snot, both in adults and in children, with or without treatment, will go away on its own in a maximum of a week. But this is a serious misconception, because the child's body is only at the stage of formation, and it is much more difficult for him to overcome the infection.

An incompletely cured rhinitis in a child threatens with the addition of a secondary bacterial infection and the development of a purulent-inflammatory focus, no matter what pathogen it was caused earlier - a virus, an infection or an allergen.

Therefore, any etiology of a runny nose needs immediate and proper treatment in order to stop pathogenesis in a timely manner and not allow it to give complications.

Watery and clear snot

The provocateurs of a runny nose in a child, characterized by watery and clear discharge from the nose, are various factors, consider them.

ARI and SARS. At first, the body reacts to infections and viruses that cause colds by forming thin and colorless mucus secretions in the nasal cavity, which contain a large amount of protective antibodies. Together with the appearance of liquid snot, the child's body temperature rises, the eyes water, frequent sneezing appears, and the nose and ears are blocked. Sometimes the nasal symptom subsides after 3 days, and after 5-7 days it completely disappears. But very often after a week, if the runny nose has not disappeared, it is complicated by bacterial pathogenesis. In this case, the snot becomes thick and viscous.

Allergy. If a child has hypersensitivity of the respiratory organs to certain substances that, when they get on the nasal mucosa, irritate it, watery, colorless snot appears. Along with abundant plexus, frequent sneezing, swelling and tickling in the nose, swelling of the face are observed. Often allergens are found right within the home, they can be house dust, feather pillows, mold, pet hair, fish food. In addition, snot often provokes certain flowering plants or poplar fluff in children. Despite the fact that this form of rhinitis is of allergic origin, it is extremely important to carry out treatment and prevention, since the progression of an allergic reaction can develop into bronchial asthma.

Features of the physiology of infants. In the first months of life, newborn babies may develop a runny nose, completely unrelated to a respiratory infection, it is called physiological. A newborn organism, having been born, thus undergoes adaptation to new conditions that are different from the humid intrauterine environment. Physiological snot does not need medical treatment, they will disappear after a short period of time. But, in order to be sure that a runny nose in a baby is not associated with colds, the baby must be examined by a children's doctor.

Nasal vasoconstrictor drugs. Pharmacy solutions for nasal use can cause the opposite effect, or side reaction. The risk of not curing a runny nose, but complicating the condition of the child's nasal mucosa, occurs mainly with long and uncontrolled instillation with such agents as Galazolin, Farmazolin, Naphthyzin. The side effect is manifested in sneezing, dryness, swelling in the nose, burning and increased secretion of nasal mucus.

Injury to the nasal mucosa. A watery secret from the nose can occur on the basis of thermal or mechanical lesions of the intranasal structures. Burns and hypothermia, as well as small foreign objects getting into the baby's nose, all this violates the integrity of the mucous membrane of the olfactory organ, causing it to swell and stimulate the production of liquid mucus.

In certain situations, a watery fluid discharged from the nose appears due to a head injury. Particular attention is required here from parents, since such discharge is a specific fluid of the cerebrospinal region that flows into the nose due to a head injury.

If this condition of the baby was preceded by a blow to the head, it is possible that the place is precisely the liquorrhea, and not rhinitis. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately show the child to the doctor to establish the true cause of this symptom. The biological composition of ordinary snot and cerebrospinal fluid is different.

Treatment of watery clear snot

Liquid snot should be treated for any disease, be it a cold or an allergy. A running process in both cases can provoke serious consequences: the addition of bacterial pathogenesis with the appearance of green mucus, the development of bronchial asthma, the spread of bacteria into the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, sinusitis) or into bronchopulmonary structures (bronchopneumonia). That is why it is so important to timely destroy the pathogenesis in its earliest manifestation.

With a cold in a child, a doctor prescribes in addition to the main treatment of washing the nasal passages with saline. You can cook it yourself (0.5 tsp. salt per 1/2 liter of warm water) or purchase at a pharmacy saline sodium chloride. Salt rinsing of the nose will help neutralize pathogens, prevent inflammation and the appearance of bacteria, postpone the nose and speed up recovery. Washing in large portions is strictly prohibited, this is fraught with the ingress of a solution with mucus into the middle ear! For children, it is enough to instill a solution of half a milliliter into each nostril. After 1-2 minutes, the child needs to blow his nose.
Good products from the children's series, designed to clear the nasal passages of mucus, are pharmacy solutions with names such as Aqualor, salin, Snoop, Aquamaris. All of them are made on the basis of sea water. The principle of procedures is similar to point 1. Be sure to remove the snot from the nasal cavity after washing. If the baby is too small and still cannot blow his nose, you will need to “suck out” the mucous secretion through a baby syringe or a special graduate student Otrivin Baby. Cleansing measures will be especially beneficial for the condition of a child who has problems with adenoids.
With liquid snot, it is not necessary to use bactericidal nasal preparations; a pediatrician should warn about this. If the discharge is sparse and not colored green, then there is no bacterial environment in the nasal cavity, so it is pointless and risky to use solutions with antibiotics and antibacterial compounds. It is possible to cure such a runny nose using simple and safe methods for health.
Inhalation procedures are conveniently carried out using special devices that can be bought at any pharmacy. AT nebulizer or, for example, mechanical inhaler, add a therapeutic solution, the vapors of which the baby needs to breathe. As the main fillers, experts recommend using saline sodium chloride mixed with mineral water of the hydrocarbonate group (Essentuki) in a ratio of 1: 1. It is also useful to breathe decoctions with chamomile, sage, mint. It is strictly forbidden to add alcohol-based and oil-based herbal remedies to inhalation solutions! They can cause damage to the respiratory throat with bronchi.
With severe swelling of the nasal cavity, which prevents the child from breathing normally through the nose, it is allowed to drip or inject a drug with a vasoconstrictor property, but only on the recommendation of a pediatrician. Nasal solutions in the form of a spray or drops with a decongestant effect are often prescribed by pediatricians. Nazol Baby, Vibrocil, Tizin, Rinza, Xylen. Instillation is carried out exactly according to the indicated dosage. The duration of use of drops with vasoconstrictive properties should not exceed 3 days. Compounds containing naphazoline (Naphthyzinum) are harmful to the child's body, such drugs negatively affect the functioning of the heart and central nervous system.
The doctor may prescribe to the baby an injection into the nose of an immunostimulating active substance with fragments of bacterial lysis products. It stimulates local immunity on the nasopharyngeal mucosa and promotes the production of antibodies for intensive control and protection against pathogenic pathogens. Aerosol is considered good in pediatric practice. drug IRS-19. Its action is based not only on the treatment, but also on the prevention of respiratory ailments. The minimum course of therapy with this drug is 2 weeks.
With viral infectious etiology of snot it is also recommended drop-by-drop administration of a solution of human leukocyte interferon into the nasal cavity, which will increase the immune response to pathogenic antigens that attacked the mucous membranes of the airways. The effect produced will speed up the healing process, and the runny nose with watery mucus will be eliminated in a matter of days. Dissolved interferon can be enriched with saline sodium chloride in the inhalation method of treatment.
Snot in children, provoked by allergens, is treated with antihistamines, but only on the recommendation of a specialist. In order to prevent the sudden appearance of an allergic runny nose in the future, parents should find out what substance the child has hypersensitivity to and completely protect the child's body from contact with this irritant. If it is difficult to determine this on your own, the baby should undergo a simple test in the clinic, which will show the nature of the allergen.

Thick nasal discharge

Runny nose in children can be different in viscosity and even color. So, in addition to liquid snot, spontaneously pouring from the nose, mucus often has a thickened structure. Thick snot comes out of the nose more difficult, therefore, so that they do not clog the child's nasal passages and do not interfere with breathing, they must be liquefied. This will help to clean the nose as much as possible, both from the mucus itself and from pathogenic microorganisms.

The transparent color of the snot, as a rule, changes to a yellowish or green color during the advanced stage of rhinitis. If at the initial stage of a viral infectious disease, the discharge has no color, then with a prolonged runny nose, bacterial pathogenesis joins it, and therefore the snot becomes green or yellow.

Clear and white thick snot

The discharge is thick in consistency, having a transparent and cloudy white color, usually observed in respiratory pathology, if a runny nose could not be prevented in 5-7 days.

In addition, such a clinical picture often observed in children with hypertrophied nasal tonsils (adenoids). At the time of allergic rhinitis, if the air in the living room is dry, the snot can also turn from a watery consistency into a thick form. Treatment of a thick, colorless or white rhinitis is required without fail, so that a highly bacterial microflora is not created on the mucous membranes, and acute inflammation with a purulent course does not develop.

Snot of a high-viscosity structure clogs the nasal passages to the maximum, which adversely affects the child's breathing, oxygen supply to the brain, appetite and mood of the baby. And if an adult child can blow his nose on his own, then a newborn baby cannot perform cleansing actions yet. Therefore, the baby cannot do without the help of the mother at all, it is only possible to draw out the ill-fated mucus mechanically: by means of a small syringe or a special device for “suction” of snot - a children's aspirator.

Green snot thick consistency

The appearance of thick green snot is always preceded by a protracted common cold. If the parents found mucus pigmented in green in a child, this only means one thing - bacterial pathogenesis progresses in the nasal cavity. Pigmentation is caused by the activity of specific antibodies that fight bacteria in the nose. Waste proteins and bacterial remains give the snot a greenish color.

Such discharges require competent treatment, since a long pathogenic focus is dangerous by degeneration into a chronic condition. It is very important to remove green snot in a maximum of 10 days to avoid adverse effects. In rare situations, thick and green mucus occurs immediately after the child freezes or as a result of regular exposure to allergic substances on the susceptible mucous membrane of the olfactory organ.

Yellow thick mucus

The yellow color of thick discharge or yellow-green from the nasal passages is a common sign of an inflammatory and purulent process in the paranasal sinuses, which is characteristic of sinusitis. For no reason, this disease does not develop, but occurs as a result of prolonged rhinitis in a child. It should be noted that sinusitis is characterized by its own characteristics - heaviness in the frontal part, snot is yellow or yellow-green, often fetid, while they stand out from one nasal opening. To establish the exact origin of the nasal symptom, the child needs to examine the condition of the maxillary sinuses in the hospital by x-ray.

You should not immediately panic, especially if yellow snot appeared a few days after infection with a respiratory ailment. This often happens at the end of infectious pathogenesis, as a result of the struggle of immune cells with the bacterial environment formed in the nasal cavity during catarrhal rhinitis. A runny nose at this stage inevitably needs to continue treatment, but with an emphasis on cleansing the nasal passages by washing with saline and the use of bactericidal drops.

Treatment of thick snot

The method of treatment for the most part coincides with the methods of dealing with watery snot. It should be noted that only a pediatrician should prescribe any therapy measures.

A runny nose that does not go away for a long time, as well as the appearance of highly viscous mucus, the color of which is green or yellow, should alert parents and encourage them to immediately contact an ENT doctor! Prolonged discharge from the sinuses may indicate an incorrectly carried out treatment of a common infectious or allergic rhinitis, and, as you know, such a runny nose can lead to bad consequences.

It is worth emphasizing that it is very important to determine if the child has inflammation in the nose. If it is available, and a specialist will help to find out in this, then in no case should warming procedures be used in therapy, such as: inhalation with hot vapors, lubrication of the outer surfaces of the nose with warming balms and ointments, heating with salt or boiled eggs! Such actions will lead to a worsening of the disease and the progression of the inflammatory focus.

The general principle of dealing with a runny nose that occurs with increased formation of a thick mucous secretion is based on the following main therapeutic measures:

the use of drugs that have the properties of thinning viscous mucus, these include nasal remedies such as Rinofluimucil, Xymelin, Aquamaris;

instillation with solutions that produce a pronounced antibacterial effect: drops help to cope with congestive snot of a neglected bacterial genesis Protargol, Spray Isofra Framycetin, nasal Polydex spray with phenylephrine(their use is possible only with the permission of the doctor!);

in the event that local treatment with bactericidal drops does not cope well with an advanced form of bacterial rhinitis, a systemic antibiotic may be prescribed by a doctor (self-medication is dangerous for the baby's health!);

vasoconstrictor drugs are indicated in the presence of severe swelling in the nose, they are dripped for a limited period (3-5 days), clearly maintaining the dosage: an example of such drugs are Nazol Baby, Vibrocil, Otrivin, Adrianol, but pay attention, such drugs should be designed specifically for children according to the active composition (do not deviate from the instructions!);

washing the nasal passages with a physical solution based on sodium chloride, it is inexpensive, but is considered one of the best remedies when a child's nose is heavily clogged with thick snot; no less effective are a solution of sea or ordinary salt and a decoction of chamomile, prepared at home;

inhalation of vapors of sodium chloride substance (saline solution) through the nose will help cleanse the nasal cavity from high-viscosity accumulations of green and yellow mucus, restore normal microflora on the mucous tissues of the nose, prevent the spread of microbes along the connecting channels leading to the ears, throat, bronchi;

excellent results will be given by inhalations over decoctions of eucalyptus, sage, calendula, yarrow, you can drop 1 drop of fir or juniper essential oil into the used solution;

children who are worried about a runny nose need to create comfortable conditions in the nursery: maintain optimal air humidity for breathing and nasal mucosa - from 50% to 65%, and the temperature in the room should be within 18-22 degrees;

it is mandatory to carry out frequent airing and daily wet cleaning in an apartment or house, which will provide the child with a quick disposal of annoying snot;

such a phenomenon as the appearance of bloody streaks in the mucous secretion indicates damage to the capillary formations in the nasal passages, this is not scary and quite typical with frequent blowing your nose; to strengthen the walls of small vessels, it is advisable for a child to give vitamin C during an illness in the dosage prescribed for age;

infants need to treat a runny nose in gentle ways, such as instillation of pharmaceutical saline or drugs Aqualor, Aquamaris 2 drops in each nostril, followed by "suction" of snot with a syringe or aspirator; in severe cases, the doctor will select the safest bactericidal and anti-inflammatory topical agent for the baby.

The child has a runny nose: when should I see a doctor?

In fact, any changes in the child's well-being require an urgent call or independent visit to the doctor. A runny nose is not such a simple and harmless disease as many used to think. The variety of types of rhinitis and the complications that can follow a respiratory disease in the nasal cavity, with improperly organized treatment, completely proves the opposite.

It is better for caring mothers to play it safe once again and go to the doctor with a baby who has snot flowing from his nose. Unfortunately, this rule is often ignored, and only the appearance of otitis media, sinusitis, acute frontal sinusitis or bronchopneumonia, due to an untreated runny nose, makes parents seriously worried and run to the hospital for help.

If the child is not observed during the illness in the clinic, immediately call the doctor at home in such cases as:

mucous discharge from the nose from the very beginning of their manifestation has an unpleasant odor or a specific color - green or yellow;

treatment of a runny nose does not give results, and the snot in a child does not disappear for more than 7 days;

with signs of rhinitis, an increase in body temperature is observed, and if the temperature has reached 39 degrees, quickly call an ambulance;

colorless snot changed color - became yellowish, greenish, brown (dark-bright colors are a sign of severe bacterial or purulent inflammation);

against the background of a runny nose and nasal congestion, the child began to be disturbed by painful sensations in the ears, dizziness or headache;

along with snot or after a while there was a strong cough, wheezing in the chest, separation of purulent sputum;

discharge from the nose was preceded by a head injury - it may not be a runny nose at all, but liquorrhea (outflow of cerebral fluid), which is dangerous for dehydration of the brain, the development of rhinogenic meningitis.

The vigilance of parents, even with a runny nose in a child, should remain at a high level. A quick and correct treatment will save the baby from a runny nose in a maximum of a week, and is guaranteed to protect against the development of chronic pathogenesis with all its unpleasant complications.

And don't forget that the children's immune system is not as well-coordinated as that of an adult, it still needs time to finally form and grow stronger. Therefore, start treating colds in a timely manner, monitor the balance of nutrition, the daily routine of the child, temper it, go out into nature more often and just walk in the fresh air in the city park, then annoying snot will stop appearing in the nose of a little man.

Material prepared: children's otolaryngologist Mironova Svetlana Vasilievna

Young children often have a runny nose. This is due to the structure of the nasal passages. The mucosa swells, it becomes difficult for the child to breathe, he is naughty, sleeps and eats poorly. It is important to start treating snot in babies on time. The infection can quickly descend to the lower respiratory tract, causing coughing and other illnesses.

With a runny nose in an infant at 2-3 months, the nasal mucosa quickly swells. This is due to the narrow and short nasal passages. It is difficult for a child to suckle milk. If left untreated, the edema quickly spreads to the larynx, trachea, and bronchi. Inflammation can also affect the ear mucosa.

At the age of 6 months, the salivary glands are actively working in infants. Much saliva flows from the nose and mouth. If the child feels well, there are no other signs of a cold, then you can calm down.

A runny nose in a child can occur for several reasons:

the entry of viruses or bacteria into the body (treatment is based on taking antiviral drugs or antibiotics);
allergic irritant (it is enough to eliminate the irritant);
dry air (moisten the nose and walk in the fresh air);
moment of teething;
entry into the nasal passage of a foreign body.

Treatment is necessary when:

the child refuses to feed, is naughty;
runny nose interferes with breathing, sleeping, eating;
the color of mucous secretions changes;
there is an increase in body temperature;
cough appears.

If the baby has transparent snot, breathing is not disturbed, there is no temperature, more often you need to apply it to your chest, moisten the air, ventilate the room, suck out the mucus. Additional treatment is not required.

How many days a runny nose will last in a child is influenced by many factors: the correct diagnosis, the time the treatment was started, and the establishment of the cause of its occurrence. How many days does a runny nose go away if treated correctly? Under favorable conditions, a runny nose can be cured after 5-7 days.

There are several stages in the development of the common cold:

There is itching and burning in the nose. The baby sneezes frequently. How long is this period? Similar symptoms are observed for about two days. Then there are mucous secretions, lacrimation.
The nasal mucosa swells, turns red, the vessels dilate, and it becomes difficult to breathe. The baby's sense of smell and hearing may be reduced. Duration - about three days.
The appearance of this stage is associated with the addition of a bacterial infection. Snot thick, plentiful. Most often, green snot appears in the baby. Body temperature may rise and coughing may begin. Such a runny nose should be urgently treated, you can not walk with the child at this time and bathe him.

In the event that a runny nose in a baby lasts more than 2 weeks, the likelihood of complications and transition to a chronic form increases.

Characteristics of a runny nose in babies

There are several types of snot that are typical for a child in the first months of life.

Transparent.
Yellow or green.
With streaks of blood.

Clear slime

Appears with physiological rhinitis. There is an adaptation of the nasopharynx to new conditions. This type of snot is typical for the first two months of a child's life. He does not need to be treated. It is enough to moisturize the nose and walk outside more often.
May occur with allergies (most often food). Before starting treatment, the allergen should be identified.
Observed during teething.
Often, clear snot occurs in the early stages of a viral infection. They need to be treated with antiviral drugs.

white snot

Occur at the initial stage of the common cold. There is swelling of the nasal cavity and fever. Washing with saline solutions and vasoconstrictors for the nose will help alleviate the condition. At the stage of recovery, white snot becomes a rich color.

Yellow or green discharge

May indicate that the snot passes (killed bacteria flow along with the mucus from the nose).
Spread of infection. If thick yellow or green snot flows 2 weeks after the disease, the condition indicates the development of an inflammatory process. Most often, sinusitis occurs. It is not recommended to walk on the street. You must adhere to bed rest.

When pathogenic microbes enter the body, green snot in the baby begins to go. The waste products of microbes stain the mucus in a different color. Thick yellow or white snot causes severe swelling of the mucosa and can lead to complete loss of breath through the nose.

Snot with blood

Sometimes adults can detect blood in the mucus.

This may indicate a violation of the work of blood vessels due to incorrect, uncontrolled use of drugs. Most often this applies to vasoconstrictor drugs. The nasal mucosa is very dry.
Blood in a child may appear during the inflammatory process. The capillaries become brittle and easily damaged.
Mechanical damage to the nasal passages.
Lack of vitamin C.
Very rarely, the cause is an increase in intracranial pressure.

Yellow, green or white snot with blood indicates the development of inflammation in the nasal passages. Often associated with high fever.

If the snot is thick, it becomes even more difficult for the child to get rid of them. Treatment should be aimed at thinning the mucus. Especially thick snot begins to disturb the baby in a horizontal position when he sleeps. Draining down the larynx, they envelop the mucous membrane, causing a cough.

If you change the color of snot, consistency and increase their intensity, you can not self-medicate.

Therapeutic measures

As soon as the child has the first symptoms of a runny nose, measures should be taken.

Do more wet cleaning in the room.
Monitor the temperature and humidity in the room.
If there is no temperature, then it is recommended to be outside. You can walk if the weather is calm, dry weather.
Be sure to rinse the child's nose with saline solutions.
A special aspirator should remove accumulated mucus.

If a runny nose in a child is accompanied by fever, cough and copious discharge from the nose, then you can’t walk on the street. Especially when frost, rain, wind. You can't bathe the baby.

When the baby eats well, is cheerful, there is no cough and the discharge is not intense, walking on the street is not only possible, but also necessary.

If there is a need to see a doctor, the following medicines can be prescribed:

antiviral local drops (Grippferon, Interferon);
vasoconstrictor drops (Nazivin, Otrivin) should not be dripped for more than three days;
immunity boosters (Derinat drops, Genferon suppositories);
antiseptic drugs (Miramistin, Albucid, Protargol);
local antibiotics (Isofra);
drops based on sea water (Aqua Maris, Aqualor);
antihistamine nasal drops (Vibrocil);
antipyretics.

Folk recipes to combat a runny nose in an infant

Treatment of a runny nose with breast milk must be carried out with caution. Milk creates a favorable environment for the development of bacteria and can lead to drying of the nasal mucosa.

Treating a runny nose using folk remedies should be done with caution in children under 6 months of age.

Consequences of a cold in young children

If you do not treat a runny nose or choose the wrong means to combat it, complications may occur. The child of the first months of life ceases to gain weight, to develop physically, and there will be a weakening of the immune system.

Prolonged runny nose can lead to such serious diseases as:

laryngitis;
otitis;
tracheitis;
bronchitis;
bacterial conjunctivitis;
pneumonia.

Swelling of the nose leads to the fact that the child receives less oxygen. As a result, there are violations in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. With chronic diseases of the nose, the child looks tired, drowsy, absent-minded. The cognitive sphere is disturbed: memory, attention, thinking.

Preventive measures

Sometimes improper treatment can lead to complications. Note to parents, what not to do when the baby is sick:

Hygiene rules to help avoid colds.

Avoid crowded places.
Proper balanced nutrition.
Take frequent walks outdoors.
Do gymnastic exercises with your child.
Air baths (leave the child without clothes for several minutes).

When a child begins to get sick, he requires even more attention. Excessive anxiety of the mother is transmitted to the baby, and the symptoms of the disease will be more pronounced. Therefore, it must be surrounded by attention and care. Spend more time with him, pick him up, talk, hug him.

No matter how parents care about the health and well-being of their baby, sooner or later snot may appear.

Snot is the mucus that forms and exudes from a person's nose. Usually mucus begins as a protective manifestation of some external stimuli. If certain causes of a cold, allergic and other nature occur, the secretion of mucous masses can increase significantly. The abundant appearance of mucus from the nose is called a runny nose (rhinitis).

Snot is produced by the nasal mucosa, moisturizes the inhaled air and is a kind of filter that traps inhaled dust. Depending on external environmental factors, the amount of such a component of mucus as mucin increases, and this substance fights the penetration of infections, viruses, or simply dust into the nose. If abundant mucus is not accompanied by fever, painful manifestations, interspersed with blood or pus, then the snot in most cases goes away on its own and does not need to be treated.

Nose problems are common in children. There are many reasons for this. Snot can deliver many unpleasant minutes not only to the baby, but also to his parents. The child can be naughty, cry, snot prevents the baby from sleeping peacefully, eating, causing irritation of the skin near the nose and on the upper lip.

How to get rid of children's snot is a question that parents of infants often ask pediatricians.

For example, Dr. Komarovsky explains that not all situations of discharge from the nose of a newborn should worry parents and require treatment for a runny nose. There are many situations when it is not necessary to intervene during childhood rhinitis.

The most important thing that Komarovsky advises to do to the worried parents of the child is to establish the nature of the origin of the mucus secretions. Based on the cause found, you can either find out the type of disease, or determine other physiological features of the baby's respiratory system.

Circumstances affecting the appearance of discharge from the nose

Dr. Komarovsky identifies several factors that traditionally cause snot in a newborn:

Almost immediately after birth, a small amount of mucus from the nose is physiological in nature and is normal. If there are no signs of a cold, and the discharge is small and transparent, then they do not need to be treated. They will go away on their own in about 2 months. Such snot speaks of the restructuring of the respiratory system of a newly born child and adaptation to new living conditions.
Causes of an infectious nature. Often the appearance of snot occurs after a viral infection enters the baby's body, which is usually transmitted by airborne droplets. In infants, infection with a viral infection occurs very rapidly, its symptoms are pronounced. But you should not worry much - the protective properties of the body and the immunity of the newborn are still very high, and therefore the viruses and bacteria that have entered the child's body die almost immediately. But still, due to age, the viral causes of mucus require an appeal to a pediatrician.
allergic reasons. In infants with nasal breathing, there are often manifestations in the form of a runny nose for household allergens (dust, pet hair, flowering of some plants). Allergic rhinitis always requires a search for the cause of its appearance, that is, the allergen.
The reason for the appearance of snot may be the reaction of the vessels of the nasal mucosa to any external stimuli, for example, a strong irritating odor, dry air in the room, that is, individual environmental circumstances become an obstacle. Usually they provoke bouts of sneezing, congestion and abundant mucus from the nose. Allocations stop if the provoking factor is eliminated.
Snot and nasal congestion in a child can cause enlarged adenoids. As children's otolaryngologists explain, soon after the birth of a child (due to his physiological development), his adenoids begin to increase rapidly, which also sometimes becomes a provocative moment for the appearance of discharge.
Often, the snot of a child is associated with the time of eruption of the first teeth.

Komarovsky about children's snot of an infectious nature

According to Dr. Komarovsky, young inexperienced parents of a child under 1 year of age often create the conditions under which children often get sick. Small children are too wrapped up, they are irregularly with them in the fresh air, they rarely carry out wet cleaning in the nursery. These reasons most often lead to the appearance of rhinitis in a child.

Komarovsky constantly reminds that children's snot can be left untreated, they will disappear on their own when the cause that provoked them is eliminated.

In addition to eliminating the cause of a runny nose, a newborn should be provided with comfortable conditions for normal breathing and restful sleep. According to Komarovsky, comfortable conditions for the baby are:

The temperature in the room should be no more than 18-20 degrees Celsius.
The optimum humidity in the nursery should be 50-70%.
It is recommended to ventilate the room daily and carry out the air humidification procedure.

Swelling of the nose and discharge from it, not associated with a cold, in most cases occur due to dry air when the central heating is turned on.

For the treatment of viral rhinitis, simply creating comfortable conditions for the child is not enough. As Dr. Komarovsky explains, viral snot in infants occurs as protection against the penetration of the virus: the nasal mucosa tries to keep the infection out of the nasopharynx and bronchi. And for this purpose, it produces a mucous mass designed to destroy viruses and bacteria.

Komarovsky emphasizes that in addition to the medication prescribed by the pediatrician, parents should not allow the child's mucous membrane to dry out when he begins to breathe through his mouth. After all, the mucus formed during this thickens and easily moves into the bronchi and lungs, which causes the development of bronchitis and pneumonia.

So that the nasal mucosa in children does not dry out, Dr. Komarovsky recommends giving them plenty to drink (water, dried fruit compote, tea with lemon) and providing clean and humid air in the room for normal breathing.
Komarovsky also suggests moistening the nasal passages of a newborn with the help of special products that thin the mucous masses and facilitate their evacuation from the nose. Most often, saline or isotonic sodium chloride solution is used for these purposes, which are freely sold in all pharmacies.

Dr. Komarovsky advises to drip 3-4 drops of the above drugs into both passages every 40-60 minutes.

Among medicines for babies, Ekteritsid has proven itself well. It is based on an oily liquid that perfectly lubricates the nasal mucosa of the child and prevents it from drying out.

Also, Dr. Komarovsky suggests using any therapeutic oils (tea, vaseline, olive) or oil solutions of vitamins E and A.

Features of the course of rhinitis in infants up to 1 year

Treatment of rhinitis in infants has a number of anatomical features:

babies of this age have very narrow nasal passages;
children themselves do not know how to free their nose from mucus;
in infants, it is difficult to breathe through the mouth, which causes a lot of trouble during feeding and sleeping.

If appropriate treatment and preventive measures are not carried out to remove mucus from the nose of infants, then the anatomical structure of the nasopharynx can cause such serious complications as otitis media, sinusitis, pharyngitis.

What should be done to cleanse the nasal cavity of a child

Depending on the type of discharge from the nose (their color, consistency), as well as the discomfort delivered to the baby, the treatment and assistance of adults to alleviate the child's condition depends. It is good to remove thick secretions with the help of nasal aspirators, dried crusts on the walls of the nose must be treated with softening ointments. Frequent instillation with saline or sea salt solution will be like rinsing a baby's nose.

Preventive measures to help prevent mucus

regularly maintain the correct daily routine;
provide the child with a healthy diet;
do gymnastics with the child taking air baths;
try to be outdoors more often;
if possible, carry out wet rubdowns.

Treating rhinitis in children is much more difficult than in adults, so parents should be patient. Let the baby's nose breathe freely, and parents and the baby feel calm together.

Watch the video - Dr. Komarovsky advises how to treat a runny nose for a child:

Children's runny nose is one of the most common reasons for visiting a doctor. This symptom can accompany many diseases of an infectious, allergic or vegetative nature. Do not think that a runny nose in children 2 years old is completely safe. Of course, in most cases, this ailment goes away on its own and does not leave behind any consequences. But still, sometimes there are complications caused precisely by the accumulation of mucous masses in a small nose.

Children's runny nose

Before treating a runny nose in children 2 years old, you should consult a doctor. Only a specialist can reliably determine the cause of the pathology. As you know, mucus in the nose is just a symptom, not an independent disease. Therefore, to achieve the desired result, it is necessary to act on the source of infection. Please note that a runny nose can have two forms: acute and chronic. The latter is more difficult, as it is practically not amenable to treatment. Acute rhinitis, in turn, has three phases:

Initial or catarrhal (manifested by dry mucous membranes, itching, the baby may sneeze).
The period of the main manifestations (abundant liquid mucus is released from the child's nose, other symptoms may be added, such as morning cough, congestion).
Recovery (at this stage, liquid nozzles gradually thicken and become cloudy, and then completely disappear).

It should be noted that not always the third phase is characterized by recovery. If a complication occurs, then at this stage the runny nose becomes protracted or becomes chronic.

What to do if the child has snot?

Imagine that you have discovered the first signs of illness in your child. How to treat a runny nose for a child (2 years old)? Komarovsky (a well-known pediatrician) tells in his blogs that first you need to create comfortable conditions for the baby. They consist in the maintenance of the regime and the organization of daytime. Perhaps this will be enough for the little patient to get better.

Walk with the baby at least twice a day (provided that he does not have a temperature).
Frequently ventilate the room in which there is a child with a runny nose.
Set the room temperature to no more than 22 degrees. Optimum humidity - 60%.
If the sick person refuses to eat, do not force feed him. It is much more important to provide him with plenty of fluids.

After the priority recommendations are taken into account, you need to show the baby to the doctor. How to treat a runny nose in children 2 years or older? It depends entirely on the clinical picture of the disease. All therapeutic methods are divided into two large groups: drug and non-drug. Let us consider in more detail how and how to treat a runny nose in children. What medicines can be used independently?

Regular washing is the key to a quick recovery

If you are interested in how to treat a runny nose in children 2 years old, and doing it safely, then pay attention to saline solutions. You can use them even without a doctor's prescription. They will not harm the child in any way. Salt solutions contain a sterile concentrate of sea or ocean water. In a pharmacy, you can buy products such as Rinostop, Solin, Aquamaris, Aqualor, Dolphin and many others. Always pay attention to age restrictions, as some drugs can be used from birth, while others - only from 3 years.

Salt solutions are necessary to perform two important functions: cleansing and moisturizing. When used correctly, they irrigate the nasal mucosa, removing pathogens from it. At the same time, the preparations do not allow the mucous secretions to dry out and prevent the formation of crusts. An alternative to these medicines can be the most common sodium chloride solution or self-prepared sterile water with the addition of sea salt. Never rinse your child's nose if the baby complains of ear pain.

Antiseptics help fight infection

How else to treat a runny nose in children 2 years old? Preparations with antiseptic properties can be used on their own, but it is important to use them correctly. The medicines Miramistin, Protargol, Collargol, Sialor will help to eliminate the infection, clear the nasal passages and dry the mucous membrane.

These drugs have contraindications. If the child has an individual intolerance to the components, then it is better not to use them. Antiseptics cannot be used in unlimited quantities, unlike saline solutions. If you use them for a long time and a lot, then you can dry out the delicate mucous membrane of the nose and throat of the baby.

Popular drugs actively promoted by doctors

If you ask a doctor about how to treat a runny nose in children 2 years old, you can hear about drugs such as Interferon, Nazoferon, Grippferon, Genferon. These funds belong to immunomodulators and antiviral drugs. They act on the immune system, increasing the body's resistance to infections. At the same time, many sources speak of the ineffectiveness of such drugs. To give antiviral agents to your child or not - decide for yourself.

What are vasoconstrictor drugs for and how to use them correctly?

If a child constantly breathes through his mouth, a severe runny nose does not allow him to inhale with his nose, then what to do in such cases? As an emergency, vasoconstrictor drugs can be used. Among the drugs allowed for young children, one can single out Vibrocil, Nazivin, Snoop and others. They all work in much the same way: they relieve puffiness, reduce the amount of mucus secreted and make breathing easier. Such remedies can be recommended by a doctor as a prevention of otitis media, since often the inflammatory process in children passes to the ears.

It is important not to use vasoconstrictors without consulting a doctor for more than three days. If you do not adhere to the treatment method specified in the instructions, then the baby will quickly develop addiction to such a medicine.

When is antibiotics needed?

How to treat a runny nose in children 2 years old? Medicines based on antibacterial components are necessary under the following conditions:

Nasal mucus acquires a yellowish-green purulent hue.
Runny nose is present for more than 7-10 days.
Rhinitis is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, which lasts more than 4 days.
Added complication in the form of otitis media.
The infection affects the nasopharyngeal tonsils, causing adenoiditis.

Topical antibiotics approved for children are sold without a prescription. You can give preference to the preparations "Isofra" or "Polydex". The latter contains phenylephrine, a vasoconstrictor. Therefore, if you use this drug, then you can refuse all sorts of vasoconstrictor drugs.

To warm or not to warm?

Very often, older people recommend that young parents warm up their baby's nose to cure a runny nose. This can be done in different ways. But some of them can be quite dangerous. You should not warm the nose of a child if it is a bacterial infection. Does the baby have green snot and a high temperature? Think twice and be sure to consult your doctor before warming up.

Put a few tablespoons of coarse salt on a dry frying pan. Warm the product, then place in a sterile napkin. Apply to the nose of the baby for 10-15 minutes.
Boil the egg in a steep, wipe and wrap in a thick napkin. Apply for 2-3 minutes to each sinus.
Boil salt water. Place the baby in front of a bowl in which you place boiling water. Cover the child with a blanket and let him breathe like that.

Doctors do not recommend doing such procedures on their own. At best, they will not bring any benefit. During warming up, the child can get burned, and the high temperature will contribute to the expansion of blood vessels, which will lead to the spread of infection through the lymphoid tissue.

Proven Grandma's Recipes

Prepare a decoction of chamomile, calendula and sage. Every day, 3-4 times instill these funds into the child's nose. Herbs help relieve inflammation and accelerate the process of tissue regeneration.
Freshly squeezed carrot and beetroot juice, mixed in a 1:1 ratio, effectively eliminates a bacterial infection. You should use this remedy 2-3 times a day for 4-6 drops.
Garlic and onions are natural antibiotics. With their help, you can quite effectively get rid of germs in the nose. Unless your baby may not like this method. Squeeze out the juice of garlic and onion, add a couple of drops of olive oil and mix with saline, let it brew.
Mustard plasters are a proven remedy for the treatment of colds. They warm up the respiratory tract, help eliminate unpleasant symptoms. Doctors recommend very carefully handling this folk remedy for the treatment of the common cold. Children's delicate skin can be very easily injured.
Inhalations with mineral water are a good way to evenly irrigate the nasal passages. It is important to carry them out correctly, as sometimes they can provoke the infection to descend into the lower respiratory tract.

What to do if the nozzles do not allow you to live in peace? If the child is 2 years old, how to treat a severe runny nose? Prolonged rhinitis suggests that the disease has become chronic. You will not be able to cope with a runny nose on your own. In order for the treatment to give a good result, you need to see a doctor.

Show the child to the doctor on an emergency basis if, in addition to a runny nose, the following signs are present:

high body temperature;
fatigue and apathy, drowsiness;
pale skin;
headache;
vomiting and nausea, stool disorder;
coughing.

As you can see, a runny nose can be a symptom of many pathologies. Approach responsibly to its or his treatment.

With such a phenomenon, when a child has transparent snot, many parents often encounter. The appearance of transparent mucous nasal discharge indicates the presence of a number of diseases that must be treated correctly and in a timely manner. But first of all, you need to establish the exact cause of transparent snot in a child.

According to experts in the field of pediatrics, transparent snot in children can flow under the influence of the following factors:

diseases of infectious origin;
cold;
SARS;
respiratory diseases;
flu;

In newborn babies, clear mucous secretions are observed with physiological rhinitis, due to the underdevelopment of the nasal passages and nasal mucous membranes. In this case, the child sleeps and eats normally, he does not have additional alarming symptoms such as fever, cough. Provoke the appearance of transparent snot in infants can also be factors such as a long stay in the womb, in case of difficulty in the birth process.

Sometimes clear nasal discharge occurs in babies during teething. In addition, the baby may experience clinical signs such as fever, general restless behavior, and swelling of the gums. The reason for this is the inflammatory process in the gums. This kind of runny nose, like the physiological one, does not require special treatment and disappears after a while on its own.

Signs and treatment of clear snot with a cold

Children, due to a weak immune system, are very susceptible to colds, respiratory and infectious diseases, which are accompanied by the appearance of clear mucous nasal secretions. In this case, the following characteristic symptoms are observed in a small patient:

increase in body temperature;
headache;
swelling of the mucous membranes of the nose;
cough;
joint and muscle pain;
sleep disorders;
capriciousness;
general malaise;
lack of appetite;
redness of the larynx;
difficult nasal breathing.

For viral infections and colds, treatment should be aimed at eliminating the infection itself and improving the general condition of the small patient. Medicines for children should be prescribed exclusively by a qualified pediatrician after a thorough diagnosis.

In most cases, small patients are prescribed antipyretic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs. A good effect is the use of antiviral nasal drops, such as Grippferon or Nazoferon.

Transparent snot is not treated with antibiotics, since this kind of medication is effective only in diseases of bacterial etiology, which are accompanied by thick nasal purulent-mucous secretions of yellow or color.

A good effect is the use of nasal sprays and drops for children, made on the basis of sea water. This kind of drugs eliminate the inflammatory process and improve the condition of the mucous membranes of the baby's nasal membranes. Among the most effective medicines, pediatricians distinguish such drops as Aquamaris, Physiomer, Aqualor and others.

For young children who are not yet able to blow their nose on their own, it is important to regularly clear the nasal passages from the accumulation of mucous secretions. This can be done with hygienic cotton swabs dipped in warm water. Washing the nose with a saline solution (a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) has a very good antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect.

You can wash the nose of a child using decoctions of chamomile, St. John's wort, sage. Also, for the hygiene of the nasal passages in the smallest patients, you can use special nasal aspirators, which are freely sold at any pharmacy.

Good results are obtained by rubbing with beeswax or vegetable oil, with the addition of mint or lavender essential oils. This therapeutic procedure is characterized by the presence of anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties, actively prevents the accumulation of mucous secretions in the respiratory tract of the baby.

Since the development of infectious and catarrhal diseases, accompanied by the appearance of clear mucous nasal secretions, in most cases is associated with a weakened immune system, children are often prescribed vitamin-mineral complexes and immunomodulatory drugs. Rosehip decoction and infusion, lemon tea, ginseng tincture and other folk remedies will help to activate the defenses of a growing organism. For babies, the best way to strengthen the immune system is mother's milk.

Signs and therapy of transparent snot in allergic rhinitis

Liquid transparent snot in a child is often a sign of an allergy. In this case, in a small patient, in addition to mucous secretions, other clinical symptoms appear:

sneezing
cough;
swelling of the eyelids;
intense lacrimation;
swelling of the mucous membranes;
itchy skin rashes of an allergic nature.

With an allergic type of rhinitis, parents should consult with a pediatric allergist-immunologist. The doctor will conduct appropriate tests, determine the causes of allergic reactions and prescribe a therapeutic course for the baby. Treatment of allergic rhinitis is carried out with the help of antihistamines, which are prescribed by the attending physician on an individual basis. In most cases, small allergies are recommended the following medicines:

Loratadine;
Festinist;
Claritin;
Suprastin.

In addition, it is important to limit the child's contact with allergens that provoke rhinitis and mucous nasal discharge as much as possible. It is important to provide the baby with proper nutrition. During the period of exacerbation of allergic-type diseases, children are recommended to adhere to a hypoallergenic diet, which consists in the exclusion from the child's daily diet of any foods that can provoke the development of allergic reactions. Limit your child's intake of the following foods:

chocolate;
canned food;
seafood;
eggs;
citrus fruit;
smoked products.

Since allergic rhinitis in children often develops as a reaction to dust, hair and saliva of pets or pollen, care must be taken to provide a comfortable living environment for the little patient. Do regular wet cleaning in the house where the baby lives, ventilate the room, use special humidifiers to create an extremely favorable microclimate. You can reduce the penetration of dust and pollen into the room by curtaining the windows with a damp gauze cloth.

In especially difficult cases that are not amenable to antihistamine therapy, local hormonal preparations are prescribed for children. Among the most effective and safe hormonal sprays for small patients, experts distinguish such medicines as Nazomex and Avamys. These drugs should be used strictly as prescribed by the doctor and for a short time, since their long-term use invariably becomes addictive.

Treatment with folk remedies

With clear mucous nasal discharge in a child, you can use some very effective traditional medicine recipes.

Mustard warmings give a very good effect on colds, viral and infectious diseases. To carry out this therapeutic procedure, you need to pour a little mustard powder into the warm and dry socks of the baby, put them on the child and leave them overnight. This manipulation is recommended to be carried out for several days.

Regular rubbing with essential oils will help get rid of cold symptoms: fir, mint, coniferous or cypress. If we are talking about babies, then in this case, rubbing is not recommended. Instead, you can put a few drops of oil on a piece of clean cloth and hang it near the baby's crib.

Prevention measures

Treatment of transparent snot in a child, as well as the prevention of this phenomenon, involves the implementation of the following recommendations of pediatric specialists:

Teaching a child to winter sports;
hardening of the child;
Strengthening the baby's immune system;
Visiting the sea coast in the summer;
Inclusion in the child's diet of foods rich in vitamins of group C;
Regular wet cleaning in the room where the baby lives;
Conducting courses of vitamin therapy during the period of exacerbation of diseases of a cold and infectious nature.

It is important to provide the baby with the right living conditions and proper hygiene care. For young children, regularly clear the nasal passages of mucus with cotton swabs soaked in warm water or saline.

Transparent snot in a child is an occasion to seek advice from a qualified pediatrician who will establish the nature of this phenomenon and prescribe an appropriate treatment course.

In the absence of medical measures, a runny nose with abundant transparent mucous secretions is fraught with the development of such serious complications as sinusitis, sinusitis, bronchial asthma, or purulent otitis media.