What to give your child at the first sign of a cold. What to give your child at the first signs of a cold

Colds often occur in childhood, and especially in early childhood. In the first months of life, many children retain the immunity received from the mother. However, they can also be affected even in the neonatal period. Most often, a cold in a child develops as a result of the spread of infectious viruses and a decrease in the body's defenses.

Colds in children.

Colds can lead to serious complications, so it is extremely important to carry out correct and timely treatment. Parents need to know how to treat a child at the first sign of a cold. The common cold often causes epidemic outbreaks in children's groups. The disease can occur throughout the year, but mainly in the cold months (autumn, winter, spring). The role of colds in childhood is extremely high. Together with the attached bacterial flora, they are the main cause and one of the conditions for the formation of chronic respiratory diseases. They also play an important role in the development of chronic tonsillitis(angina).

Common colds include:

SARS (acute respiratory viral infection).
ARI (acute respiratory disease).
Parainfluenza (the disease is caused by a parainfluenza virus, which is very similar to the common flu, but is less variable and does not mutate, so children who have been ill develop strong immunity to it (but it happens that weakened, sickly children can get parainfluenza several times a year).

Causes of a cold in a child. What to do?

The source of infections is a sick person or a virus carrier. The main method of transmission is airborne, which determines the rapid spread of the infection: with adenovirus, enterovirus, infections, in addition, fecal-oral transmission occurs. As a result of oppositely acquired immunity and the wide circulation of various viral varieties ORZ repeated many times over even a short period of life.

Respiratory viruses are often referred to as epidemic outbreaks in children's communities. Diseases can occur throughout the year, but mainly in the cold months (autumn, winter, spring). The role of catarrhal infections in the pathology of childhood is extremely high. In association with the secondary bacterial flora, they are the main cause and one of the conditions for the formation of chronic respiratory diseases; they aggravate the course of other diseases, contribute to their exacerbation and unfavorable course, obviously play a certain role in the formation of chronic tonsillitis.

Arising during preventive vaccinations, they (especially in severe and complicated cases) inhibit the processes of immunity formation and contribute to the development of complications after vaccinations. In a weakened body, they can cause allergic reactions. Respiratory viral infections and pathological processes that develop with their participation occupy an important place among the causes of death in young children.

The first signs of a cold in a child, what to do?

the incubation period is from 1-5 days.

—first sign of a cold in a child- Nasal congestion, runny nose. With the development of the inflammatory process in the nasopharynx, mucus begins to be actively produced, which disrupts nasal breathing. In such a situation, infants who are not yet able to switch to mouth breathing are especially affected. At the same time, there is a moderate reddening of the throat, more often only the palatine arches. Runny nose tends to be protracted, it can last up to two weeks.

sneezing, sore throat, drowsiness, lethargy, moodiness.

fever is observed in a child with a cold. Moderate rise in temperature, lasting in uncomplicated cases 2-5 days. Occasionally, after 1-2 days of normalization of temperature, there is a 2nd temperature wave, usually associated with the addition of a bacterial infection. In some sick children, the disease occurs at a temperature of 37.0-37.5 and even at normal body temperature.

a constant symptom is a persistent cough, which is a manifestation of tracheitis or tracheobronchitis, at the beginning it is dry, and then becomes wet. Occasionally, in young children, bronchitis becomes asthmatic.

typical of the common cold is laryngitis, manifested by a dry, rough cough and mild to moderate hoarseness.

Complication of a cold.

The most common complication in young children is pneumonia, which is usually focal and sometimes severe. the first days of the disease are normal, less often an increased amount leukocytes, (formed elements of the blood, the purpose of these white cells is to provide the body with protection from pathogenic bacteria and foreign proteins. Leukocytes have developed a special sensitivity to them, sometimes a small neutrophilia(this is one of the types of white blood cells that are involved in maintaining human immunity, and plays a key role in the fight against bacterial infections)). ESR(erythrocyte sedimentation rate) - a blood indicator that reflects a sign of an inflammatory process in the blood, which increases during inflammatory processes. Normal or slightly elevated.

How to treat a child at the first sign of a cold.

What to do at the first sign of a cold in a child:

It is necessary to provide bed rest.
Plentiful warm drink (tea, compote, fruit drinks). Together with the liquid, viruses and toxins will be washed out.
Can't shoot down body temperature if it has not reached 38.5 (if the child does not have convulsions, if there is, then we begin to lower the temperature if it has reached 37.5-38.0). An increase in temperature is due to the fact that the body itself fights bacteria and viruses, producing its own interferon protein, which resists infection. The higher the temperature, the more.
However, if the body temperature has risen to high numbers, it must be reduced:

Paracetamol: tab. children 6 months (up to 7 kg.) -350 mg - daily dose.
up to a year (up to 10 kg.) -500 mg. - daily dose.
Up to 3 years (up to 15 kg.) - 750 mg. - daily dose.
Up to 6 years (up to 22 kg.) - 1 gr. - daily dose.
Up to 9 years (up to 30 kg.) - 1.5 gr. - daily dose.
In the form of a suspension: for children 6-12 years old - 10.0-20.0 (in 5.0-120 mg).
From 1 year to 6 years - 5 - 10.0;
From 3 to 12 months -2.5-5.0;
The dose from 1 to 3 months is individual.
Substitutes: Ibuprofen, Dolgit.
Dosage - used after meals, without chewing. With plenty of water, 200 mg per dose, but not more than 4 times / day.
Antibacterial therapy is not effective for viral diseases.
With nasal congestion in a child, vasoconstrictor drops are used: nazivin, snoop.
Before instillation of vasoconstrictor drops, it is necessary to carry out a nasal toilet (washing with saline solutions, Aqualor, Aquamaris, saline solution)
Take an antiviral drug: Anaferon, Kagocel, Kitovir.
With a dry cough, drugs are taken that will thin the sputum: mukaltin, tab. cough, licorice root, acc. With the help of coughing, the lungs and bronchi are cleared of mucus. Inhalations with saline are also recommended 2-3 times a day. With an already wet cough, drugs are taken:
The most popular syrups are gedelix, lazolvan, marshmallow syrup, herbion (contraindicated in infants), prospan (allowed in the first year of life).
How to treat a child at the first sign of a cold, folk remedies: Decoctions of medicinal herbs can be given to a child to drink (mother and stepmother, linden blossom, sage, chamomile).
Herbal teas are also effective for children with severe, lingering coughs that occur at night.
Rubbing children at night if the body temperature is normal. For the procedure, badger fat is used. Bouts of prolonged coughing do not bother children after rubbing. And fats do not cause allergic reactions. And can be used for one year olds.

Prevention of colds in children.

limit contact with sick people. It is advisable to avoid crowded places.
hands should be washed frequently.
after a walk, before and after kindergarten, rinse the nose with saline.
You can also recommend immunomodulators that reduce the risk of disease even when a child visits a kindergarten and crowded places. These include: Derinat, IRS 19, etc.
for the purpose of prevention and, it is recommended to take multivitamins according to the age of the child: Complivit, Vitamins, etc.
hardening.

Ekaterina Rakitina

Dr. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Klinikum, Germany

Reading time: 5 minutes

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Article last updated: 05/07/2019

The common cold is the most common illness among people of all ages. According to pediatricians, in children from birth to 3 years, up to 9 cases of colds per year are considered the norm. The body is able to independently cope with an acute respiratory viral infection in 5-7 days. But the disease can lead to complications or to a strong weakening of the immune system. Parents should help the baby cope with the disease, but this requires effective and safe means. Some mothers and fathers, when the baby is sick, begin to panic and buy drugs in the pharmacy that were previously seen in advertisements, or on the advice of a pharmacist, girlfriend, neighbor. If you treat a child with experimental methods, this can greatly undermine his health.

The difficulty in detecting the onset of a cold in newborns is that they cannot talk about what is bothering them. In addition, many diseases and even physiological changes in the body, which are the norm, have common symptoms. For example, teething can be confused with signs of a cold.

The most important thing is to surround the child with love and care. The warmth and comfort of mother's hands can soothe the baby, bring him relief.

The essence and causes of the appearance of a cold in children

All colds are caused by viruses. They have several varieties:

Rhinovirus - is embedded in the cells of the nasal mucosa, causing a runny nose.
Adenovirus - leads to the growth of tonsils and tonsils.
Parainfluenza - affects the mucous membrane of the larynx, causing laryngitis.
The RS virus causes bronchiolitis. As a rule, it infects children under one year old.

Regardless of the specific type of virus that infects a person, doctors usually make one general diagnosis - SARS, which is simply called a cold.

Most often, colds overtake with the onset of the cold season. A cold strong north wind can blow a baby, he can wet his legs in snow or a puddle. You can also get infected from peers on playgrounds or in children's rooms. But to a greater extent, the cause of a cold lies in the failure of the immune system. This may be due to:

General weakness of the immune system.
During or after the transfer of diseases, the consequences of taking antibiotics.
Lack of useful vitamins and minerals.
Bad ecology environment.
Inactive lifestyle.
Unbalanced diet, overeating.
Stressful situations (for example, frequent quarrels of parents, abrupt weaning).
Unfavorable microclimate in the house (stuffiness, dry and hot air, rarely carried out wet cleaning and ventilation).
Passive smoking (when someone in the household smokes with the baby).

Some parents, trying by all means to protect the child from hypothermia, dress him inappropriately for the weather, too warmly, wrapping him in numerous layers of clothing. As a result, the child sweats, and at the moment of removing clothes, cooling occurs, and the baby can instantly catch a cold.

The first symptoms of a cold in children

Usually, babies get sick sharply, often at night the temperature rises. Overt manifestations of a cold in newborns are preceded by primary symptoms that may go unnoticed. They demonstrate the deterioration of the general condition of the child. The kid becomes capricious and restless, his appetite deteriorates, he begins to rub his eyes, get tired quickly, lose interest in his favorite toys, he experiences sudden mood swings. This is the incubation period.

2-7 days after the virus enters the body in children, its first symptoms appear:

Runny nose, redness and stuffy nose.
Coughing, sneezing.
Redness of the tonsils and mucous membrane of the larynx.
Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, neck, armpits.
Temperature rise.
The appearance of acne (herpes rash) in the area of the lips.
Shortness of breath, heavy breathing.
Change in skin color.

In children under one year old, due to the virus, there may be diarrhea, increased gas formation. Newborns (up to 1 month old) usually do not have problems with colds: they have passive immunity received from their mother during pregnancy.

What to do at the first symptoms of a cold in children

You should not immediately grab onto medicines; in general, in relation to the baby, they should be used only really in necessary cases. It is possible to alleviate the well-being of the child by creating all the conditions necessary for recovery.

The house creates a quiet, calm atmosphere, without nerves, screams and stressful situations. If the mother starts to get nervous, then the baby feels it well and also shows concern.

It is necessary to monitor the cleanliness of the air in the baby's room: do wet cleaning every day, install air humidifiers. Some parents, afraid of drafts and hypothermia, do not ventilate the patient's room. This is wrong, because it is in a hot and stuffy room that microbes and viruses develop much faster. The room must have fresh air.

A sick child needs rest and bed rest. If the baby refuses to lie in the crib, then they play quiet and calm games with him: they read books, look at pictures in them, collect cubes, etc.

To prevent dehydration, you need to offer plenty of fluids. Depending on the age, the child is often offered breast milk, boiled or specially purified water, juices, teas, fruit drinks, compotes. If the child does not want to eat, you do not need to force feed him. But if he has an appetite, it is worth giving food with fermented milk products, which help get rid of viruses.

Aromatherapy with essential oils of rose, lavender, chamomile, eucalyptus, fir, bergamot, tea tree will be useful during the cold period. You can use a special aroma lamp or just containers with water. 1-2 drops of oil are dripped into them, then they are placed around the room.

If the baby has a stuffy nose, snot has appeared, it is important to moisten its mucous membrane and, if possible, clear it of secretions. To do this, you can prepare a saline solution yourself or buy drops in sea water at a pharmacy (for example, Aquamaris). Saline solution is also suitable (a couple of drops in each nostril). To cleanse the nose, an aspirator is purchased or a regular syringe is taken. The main thing is not to stick the tip deep so as not to damage anything.

If it is difficult for the baby to breathe due to nasal congestion, you can use vasoconstrictor drops (Nazivin), but this is best done only in extreme cases so that the body does not get used to them, and the mucous membrane does not dry out.

In case of a cold in the crib, a pillow (rolled up towel) is placed under the child’s head or under the mattress so that during sleep the head is higher than the rest of the body and the snot does not flow into the throat, but flows out of the nose.

When the infant's immune system begins to actively fight microbes, the overall body temperature begins to rise. If it does not exceed 37.9 degrees, it is not shot down. If the thermometer shows a temperature above 38 degrees, you need to give an antipyretic, preferably in the form of rectal suppositories. It is worth knowing that a sharp change in temperature increases the load on the heart and blood vessels.

If the child does not have a high temperature, then you definitely need to walk with him on the street. Clean air is healing for him. It normalizes and deepens breathing. In addition, most newborns quickly fall asleep on the street.

To strengthen immunity in children, antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs (Aflubin, Viferon, Grippferon) are sometimes prescribed.

Parents of children who are already 6 months old can treat their cough with syrups (Dr. Theiss, Dr. MOM, Bronchikul). These syrups are mucolytics, that is, they contribute to the thinning of sputum. In no case should these drugs be combined with drugs that suppress cough: mucus stagnation may occur, followed by complications.

Parents should be alerted if the temperature is 37.1-37.9 for more than three days. This may be a sign of the development of an inflammatory process - tonsillitis, otitis media, pneumonia, pyelonephritis. These symptoms can lead to a situation where you have to take antibiotics.

If the baby suddenly screamed sharply, turned pale, threw him into a cold sweat or lethargy appeared, the temperature dropped, a rash appeared, diarrhea more than 5 times a day, vomiting. Such symptoms require an immediate call for an ambulance.

To reduce the risk of a cold, it is required to complete all routine vaccinations, each of which should be done at least 5 days after full recovery and after a thorough examination by a pediatrician.

How not to treat children

Some parents, after listening to the advice of grandmothers, neighbors and friends, try to treat their child with ineffective and even dangerous methods. This is facilitated by the fact that antibiotics and other heavy drugs are dispensed in pharmacies without prescriptions. In addition, a pharmacist interested in selling expensive products may recommend the wrong medicine. Not only is it so difficult for the baby’s body to fight a cold, it also has to deal with the consequences of such a “treatment”.

The most common parenting mistakes include:

Knocking down a low temperature, which is evidence of the body's struggle with the disease. If it is reduced, the production of interferons, protective proteins, will slow down.
Unreasonable use of antibiotics. This type of medicine copes only with infections, it is powerless against viruses. In addition, its use harms the microflora of the body.
Hot baths at temperature. They only increase the load on the immune system.
Instillation into the nose of the juices of onions, garlic, carrots and other vegetables. This is fraught with the occurrence of allergies or mucosal burns.

In order not to make unforgivable mistakes in the treatment that affect the development of the crumbs, at the first symptoms of a cold, you need to go to the doctor. A properly selected course will help to cure the disease at an early stage.

Has the child caught a cold? Don't worry! Natural herbal remedies will relieve fever, ease breathing and improve overall well-being.

The child's temperature

Fever is one of the first symptoms of a cold. It indicates that the body is trying to overcome the disease. First, take your child's temperature. Dry the skin under the armpit well, put a thermometer and firmly press the child's hand to the body for 3-5 minutes. If the temperature really rises, give the child an antipyretic - herbal or fruit tea.

First aid for a cold in a child

At the first symptoms of a cold in a child, call a doctor.

1. Plentiful drinking (herbal tea, fruit drink, compote) will help to avoid dehydration of the body, especially with vomiting, diarrhea or fever.
2. Normalizes the work of the gastrointestinal tract during a cold rice-carrot broth HiPP (from the 4th month). It replaces the lost fluid and mineral salts, thereby preventing the loss of moisture in the body and circulatory disorders.
3. If the child is not allergic to protein, instill interferon into his nose (from the 1st month). This will stimulate his own infection defense system.
Clean your child's nose regularly with a cotton swab. Young children who cannot breathe through their nose often develop otitis media.
4. A temperature above 38.5 ° C is dangerous because it can provoke convulsions, therefore, without delay, call an ambulance.

Folk remedies for colds in children

With fever, cough and runny nose in a child, do not rush to give synthetic drugs. In the early days of a cold, medicinal plants are very effective. But do not forget to consult a pediatrician, treat the child only under his constant supervision.

Raspberry, currant, viburnum, chamomile, linden, mint, lemon balm and nettle have a diaphoretic and anti-inflammatory effect. Homemade preparations, for example, raspberries or viburnum, rubbed with sugar, are best not used for treatment. Dried or frozen fruits are much healthier. Prepare herbal infusions from mint, lemon balm or nettle. One daily serving of antipyretic tea for a baby under 5 years old is brewed at the rate of: 1 coffee spoon of berries or herbs per 200 ml of water. Pour fruits or herbs with water, boil, leave for a few minutes, then strain and cool. Decoction (it should be at room temperature, not hot) let the child drink a little during the day before and after meals.

For a child aged 1 year, in addition to herbal tea, you can cook jelly

and compotes from fruits rich in vitamin C. If necessary, supplement the action of natural remedies with antipyretic drugs - special syrups, tablets or suppositories with paracetamol. To help the intestines, which work worse at high temperatures, give your child baked apples. The pectin contained in them enhances peristalsis.

How to cure a runny nose in a child

Children under one year are not recommended to treat a runny nose with drops. Rinse your child's nose with a decoction of chamomile, salted water, or saline solution, which is sold in a pharmacy, to make breathing easier. After a year, use vasodilator drops. Never try to treat a child's runny nose with oil-based drops. They increase nasal congestion, which in the future can provoke chronic rhinitis. If the baby is breastfeeding, put some of your milk in your nose. Breast milk is such a valuable product that it even helps to get rid of a runny nose.

Inhalation for colds in children

Inhalation is an excellent remedy in the fight against colds, but it is only suitable for children older than a year. Get a steam inhaler, do not force the child to breathe over a pot of hot liquid. First, it can scald. And secondly, it is not efficient. Pour an alcohol tincture of eucalyptus or calendula diluted with water into the inhaler. Let the baby inhale the vapors saturated with essential oils for 5-10 minutes, repeat the procedure 3-4 times a day. Inhalation relieves inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, and also makes breathing easier.

Child's cough

Treat dry cough in a child in the first days of a cold with steam inhalations and decoctions of medicinal herbs that have an antispasmodic effect (chamomile, mint, lemon balm). In addition, maintain optimal humidity in the apartment. Indeed, in winter, in rooms with central heating, the humidity does not exceed 25%, and 60% is considered the norm. Water containers placed around the apartment or a special spray bottle will humidify the air. With inflammation of the throat, gargling with herbal infusions will help. You can also use sea salt (boil and cool the salt solution before use). As a rule, after a couple of days, the cough becomes wet, and the airways are cleared of excess mucus. Give your child expectorants: licorice root syrup, pharmacy breast fees or tea containing thyme, mint, anise. The baby will feel much better and recover quickly.

Effective remedies for a cold in a child

Hipp cough tea, 200 g. From the 1st week

The extracts of thyme, mint and anise, which are part of the drink, relieve irritation that occurs when coughing, thin the mucus and normalize the temperature.

Chamomile flowers, 50 g. From the 1st month

Chamomile flowers have a wide range of activities. Chamomile tea helps reduce high fever, a gargle infusion relieves inflammation of the larynx, and washing the nose with a decoction of this plant makes breathing easier.

Nettle leaves, 50 g. From the 1st month

If the child is prone to allergies, replace raspberry or chamomile tea with nettle infusion. Herbal decoction normalizes the temperature, doing an excellent job

with heat. Give your baby a warm drink of 1 tbsp. spoon 30 minutes before meals. It is recommended to shake the infusion before use.

Linden flowers, 20 filter bags. From the 1st month

Linden tea is an excellent diaphoretic. Let the child drink it after meals. The tea can also be used to rinse the mouth, throat and nose.

Echinacea compositum C, 5 ampoules of 2.2 ml. From the 2nd month

Homeopathic remedy increases the body's defenses. Apply at the first sign of a cold.

Raspberry and rosehip tea Hipp, 200 from the 6th month

An instant drink made from berries and medicinal herbs has a tonic, antipyretic effect and increases the body's resistance to infections.

licorice root syrup 100 g From 1 year

Liquefies mucus, relieves inflammation and spasms. Has an expectorant effect. For a child under 2 years old, give 1 drop of syrup several times a day. Sweet syrup can be added to water or tea. From 2 years old, give half a teaspoon dissolved in a quarter cup of boiled water.

Eucalyptus tincture, 40 ml. From 2 years old.

Antiseptic and disinfectant used for steam inhalation. Has a calming effect. In combination with other natural preparations, it helps to cure a cold. For rinsing, dilute 10 drops of tincture in a glass of water at room temperature.

Tincture of calendula, 40 ml. From 2 years old

Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and bactericidal properties of calendula are useful for the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract.

peppermint leaves, 50 g. From 3 years old

The decoction is used as an anti-inflammatory and sedative. Warm mint tea should be drunk 15 minutes before meals 2-3 times a day.

The common cold is a common illness that occurs in adults and children. In babies, it can appear several times a year, while it has a severe course, and if it is not treated, dangerous complications may appear. But during it, children develop immunity, and the protective properties of the body increase.

Most importantly, parents should know what to give their child at the first sign of a cold, this will help prevent complications and unpleasant consequences. But it is first recommended to study the features of the course of colds, their signs and causes.

The reasons

Often, colds occur with the onset of the cold season. The child may experience hypothermia during prolonged exposure to the street, it may be blown by a cold wind, it may wet its feet in a puddle or snow. He can get infected from peers in kindergarten, on playgrounds.

But the main reason for contracting a cold is the constant failure of immunity. This may be due to the following factors:

decreased immune system;
the development of certain diseases and the period after them;
consequences of taking antibiotic drugs;
low levels of vitamins, trace elements;
poor environmental ecology;
inactive lifestyle;
unbalanced diet, overeating;
various stressful situations - for example, frequent quarrels of parents, abrupt weaning;
unfavorable microclimate in the house - increased dryness, stuffiness, heat, rare cleaning, lack of ventilation;
passive smoking - when someone smokes in front of a child.

Signs of a cold

What to understand how to treat a child at the first sign of a cold is to find out how this disease manifests itself. Usually there are no problems with its identification. It begins abruptly, at first the baby begins to have a severe runny nose, bouts of sneezing, he develops a fever. He becomes irritable and complains of headaches. Over time, he develops a cough, mucus discharge with a denser and darker structure appears from the nose.

Approximately 2-7 days after the virus enters the child's body, in addition to the above signs, the following symptoms may occur:

increase in body temperature;
feeling of weakness, malaise;
sore throat;
pain when swallowing;
irritability;
urge to vomit;
diarrhea;
a significant deterioration in appetite, it may be completely absent;
tearing and redness of the eyes;
fast fatiguability.

Usually, with a cold, a child's temperature rises to 38 degrees and above, which can last for three days. And after it decreases, various unpleasant symptoms may appear - swelling of the nose, vomiting, headaches.

What to do at the first sign of a cold in children

How to treat a child at the first sign of a cold? Many parents often make a big mistake, they immediately begin to give various drugs that may be contraindicated for infants. In pharmacies, you can find drugs specifically for babies, but they should be used only in emergency cases.

At the first sign of a cold in a child, it is worth creating the necessary conditions that will help to greatly alleviate the condition of the baby, namely:

in the house it is necessary to create a quiet and calm stop, there should be no stress, quarrels, screams. If the mother is worried about something and is constantly nervous, then this is easily transmitted to the child, which negatively affects his condition;
it is important to monitor the cleanliness of the air in the baby's room. It is recommended to carry out wet cleaning every day, it is also required to install a humidifier in the room;
It is important to ventilate the child's room. Some parents think that drafts can cause hypothermia in the baby, which can eventually lead to a cold. But this is not so, on the contrary, in a too stuffy and hot room, microbes, viruses, and pathogenic bacteria accumulate. For this reason, the room should always have clean and fresh air;
with a cold, especially if it is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, dehydration can occur. To prevent this condition, the child must be given as much liquid as possible. So what to give a child at the first symptoms of a cold? Depending on age, he can drink breast milk, boiled water, fruit drinks, compotes, teas;
if the baby does not have an appetite, then you do not need to feed him through force. If he wants to eat, then he can be given fermented milk products, they contribute to the active elimination of viral organisms;
aromatherapy with the use of certain types of essential oils - roses, lavender, fir, chamomile, eucalyptus, bergamot, tea tree - has a positive effect. It is good if there is a special aroma lamp, but if this product is not available, then you can pour water into small containers and drop a few drops of essential oils into them. Then they are placed in the room;
a cold begins with a runny nose in a child, what a pediatrician can tell you what to do. Usually, in these cases, preparations containing sea water are prescribed, for example, Aqua Maris. You can also prepare a saline solution yourself and use a pipette to pour a few drops into each nostril;
treatment of a child at the first sign of a cold, especially if he has a severe runny nose that makes it difficult to breathe, may be accompanied by the use of drops with a vasodilating effect - Nazivin drops. But they should be used only in extreme cases, after consulting a doctor;
during a runny nose in the crib, an additional pillow can be placed under the baby's head, and a folded towel can also be placed under the mattress. This will prevent snot from flowing into the throat, they will enter from the nose;
with the active struggle of immunity with microbes and viruses, the baby has an increase in temperature. If it leaves no higher than 37.9 degrees, then it is not knocked down. But if it rises to 38.5 or more, then the child can be given an antipyretic, preferably in the form of rectal suppositories.

Drug treatment

Many parents sometimes panic at the first sign of a cold, they simply do not know what to take to the child, which medicines can be given to him and which not. Of course, it is better to consult a pediatrician, it is the specialist who will be able to prescribe the most suitable drugs that will not have a harmful effect on the child's body.

If the first signs of a cold appear in a child with a severe runny nose, then what to treat, you can ask the doctor, and you can safely use preparations based on sea salt. They are designed to wash the nasal cavity. Their use will have a softening effect on snot crusts and can be easily removed with a cotton swab.

So give your child at the first sign of a cold with a severe runny nose. The following are considered the most effective:

Morenasal;
Aquamaris;
But-salt;
saline sodium chloride;
Fluimarin.

If, in addition to a runny nose, other unpleasant symptoms appear, then stronger drugs can be additionally prescribed. They should be prescribed by a doctor depending on the age of the child, on his condition, the course of the disease.

If the onset of a cold in a child is accompanied by a deterioration in the condition, then how to treat it can be found in the following list of drugs:

Genferon. This is an antiviral agent. Shows high efficiency at the initial stage of the disease;
Pinosol. These are nose drops that should be used for purulent discharge. They have an antimicrobial effect. Do not use for more than 7 days;
various cough syrups - Geksoral, Dr. Mom, Gerbion. It should be used in small doses. These drugs have mucolytic, antitussive and anti-inflammatory effects;
if you don’t know what to do at the first sign of a cold with a wet cough in a child, then you can use special syrups and powders - Bromhexine, ACC, Ambroxol. They do not cause suppression of the cough reflex, they are highly effective due to the liquefaction of sputum;
to reduce the temperature, it is recommended to use Paracetamol, Nurofen, Ibufen, Ibuprofen, Panadol. It is worth bringing down the temperature when the mark on the thermometer reaches 38 or more;
Anaferon, Viferon can be used to strengthen immunity. Use these funds only after consulting a doctor.

Treatment with folk remedies

What to do at the first sign of a cold in a child? Folk remedies have a good effect. They allow you to quickly suppress the activity of bacteria and accelerate the recovery process.

The most effective folk remedies include:

inhalation. To do this, pour hot water into a glass, add 1 teaspoon of baking soda or salt. The child should breathe the solution for several minutes. It can also be used for gargling and rinsing the nose;
foot baths with mustard. They are held for 10-15 minutes, the temperature should gradually rise to 40 degrees;
tea with raspberries, honey, decoction of lime blossom has a good effect.

Of course, only a doctor can accurately answer the question of what to do at the first sign of a cold in a child. He will examine the baby, identify the cause and select the most effective and appropriate remedies. But if you follow all the recommendations and rules at home, you can quickly eliminate all the unpleasant signs that often lead to complications.

A cold in a child is the most common ailment. They talk about it if the baby has contracted an acute respiratory disease. Children get colds equally often at 2, 3, 4 and 5 years. Only closer to the period of entering school - at 6-7 years old - their immune system becomes more resistant to viral agents.

Children are more likely to get colds

Parents should not perceive every illness of their child as a tragedy. Only by enduring ARVI, the baby's body learns to recognize viruses and fight back.

Understanding the nature of the disease

Conventionally, infections that affect the body of a child aged 2-7 years are classified by pediatricians into three groups:

viral;
fungal;
bacterial.

The first are the most common. With their development, the diagnosis "ARVI" is entered into the patient's card. If you treat viral diseases in children illiterately, serious complications can arise, already associated with a bacterial infection of the body. It is also possible that a fungal infection joins the children's cold.

Realizing this, responsible parents should take their sick child to a qualified doctor and strictly follow his recommendations. If the pediatrician says to take tests, swabs from the nose or throat, then this should be done.

Signs of a cold in children

The medicine for a cold in a child is selected taking into account the symptoms. Most often, the disease manifests itself:

elevated body temperature (but it may not be);
cough (dry or wet);
runny nose.

If a child of 2 or 3 years old falls ill, it is difficult for parents to find out what exactly worries him. Therefore, before contacting a pediatrician, it is advisable for him not to give any medication. You can only bring down the temperature if it is raised to 38.5 degrees.

Children aged 4 to 6-7 years old can already tell and show their mother what and where it hurts. In this regard, it is much easier to provide them with first aid before receiving medical advice.

Treatment of colds in children

If the child's immunity is strong, then a cold can pass by itself. To do this, it is necessary to give the patient only a lot of warm drink and provide him with bed rest. If the symptoms of a cold are severe, the baby is lethargic, there is a high risk of bacterial complications, urgent measures must be taken.

With a cold, body temperature may rise

High fever with a cold - should I give an antipyretic?

If the child tolerates temperature well, that is, he does not lie pale all day, but plays, eats, drinks, he does not have convulsions, there are no pronounced symptoms of intoxication, then the antipyretic can not be given. In general, pediatricians recommend abandoning its use if the thermometer shows below 38.5 degrees.

It is important to realize that high temperature is a protective reaction of the body. He deliberately raises it to the level at which viral agents begin to die and cannot multiply. If, out of inexperience, young parents give the baby an antipyretic, as soon as the thermometer shows 37-37.2 degrees, you can not count on a quick recovery - viruses will actively spread.

If a child has disturbances in the work of the central nervous system, he is prone to convulsions, then he is given fever medication at a temperature of 37.5-37.7 degrees.

The most mild effect on the children's body is Paracetamol and medicines based on it (Cefecon, Panadol). Ibuprofen lowers the temperature very well. If the temperature is very bad, parents can ask the pediatrician to write a prescription for Ibuklin. This is a combination drug containing both ibuprofen and paracetamol. It can be taken for colds in children over 3 years old.

Also, it would be useful for mothers to know about one little trick: if Ibuklin is not at home, and the fever persists, you can simultaneously give half a dose of Ibuprofen and half a dose of Paracetamol. If the arms and legs of the crumbs are icy (blood circulation is disturbed), you should add No-shpa and an antihistamine tablet to this antipyretic “mixture”, which is allowed to be used by age (for example, Suprastin).

Ibuklin - an effective antipyretic

It is necessary to observe the intervals between taking antipyretics. Medicines do not act immediately - 1-2 hours should pass. Therefore, every hour to give the next dose is unacceptable. This can lead to a critical drop in body temperature when urgent medical attention is required.

Fighting a runny nose with a cold in a child

A runny nose is one of the most common symptoms of a cold in children 2-7 years old. At first, the discharge from the nose has a liquid consistency and is transparent. Gradually, the mucosa swells, breathing becomes difficult, the mucus thickens. There is a problem of inability to sleep at night due to lack of oxygen.

Some children cope with it easily - they simply begin to inhale air through their mouths. Others are capricious, for a long time they cannot fall asleep. Then parents have to think about how to treat the nose so that the baby's breathing is restored at least for a while.

Firstly, with a runny nose, you need to use saline solutions prepared on your own or bought at a pharmacy (Aqua Maris, Salin). They need to be instilled into the nose, and then the soaked mucus is sucked off using a special nasal aspirator. The procedure is painless, but unpleasant, so children always perceive it negatively. But, by regularly washing the nasal passages, mothers protect their babies from the development of sinusitis.

Also, with a runny nose during a cold, the nasal mucosa should be treated with antiviral compounds - Grippferon or Genferon. Derinat also proved himself well.

Isofra - first aid for advanced rhinitis

In advanced cases, otolaryngologists prescribe Polydex, Isofra to children. These drugs are strong, so parents should not buy them on their own to treat a child.

How to treat pain in grief with a cold in a child

Since a cold affects the respiratory system, it is rarely possible to avoid sore throats when swallowing. The list of drugs aimed at relieving the inflammatory process that children 2-3 years old can take is very limited. Most often, the pediatrician writes them an Ingalipt spray, treatment of the tonsils with Iodinol.

Older children can use Oracept, Lugol, lozenges for resorption in the treatment, gargle with solutions of Chlorophyllipt, Miramistin.

You can make warm compresses on a sore throat with honey, cottage cheese, boiled potatoes. Well proven and inhalation, carried out using a nebulizer. Rotokan solution should be used as a therapeutic composition. True, this method is only suitable for children who are already 4-5 years old.

Antiviral drugs for childhood colds

Today, antiviral drugs are actively used in pediatric practice. They are prescribed to prevent flu and colds, as well as to increase the immunity of a sick child.

The most popular in Russia are:

Viferon;
Anaferon;
Ergoferon;
Kipferon.

Even the smallest patients can use them. Also doing well:

Groprinosin;
Aflubin;
Oscillococcinum;
Cytovir;
Isoprinosine.

Parents should not treat antiviral pills and suppositories as safe vitamins. Preparations of this group have a strong influence on the functioning of the immune system, and it is not recommended to interfere with it without urgent need.

The pediatrician should select medicines for the child

When are antibiotics used to treat a cold in a child?

The common cold is a viral disease. Antibiotics are aimed at treating bacterial infections. Therefore, it is unacceptable to replace antiviral drugs with them.

Nevertheless, there are situations when a pediatrician prescribes an antibiotic for a cold child. Such a measure is necessary when a secondary infection is attached:

bronchitis;
sinusitis;
otitis;
sore throats.

Also, the need to use antibacterial agents may appear if the high temperature persists for five days or more, a blood test shows a strong increase in ESR.

What antibiotics are prescribed for a cold?

Methods for treating a cold in a child 2-7 years old using traditional medicine recipes

At the first sign of a cold, you can use folk recipes. So, you can reduce the high body temperature by wiping the body with a solution of vinegar or vodka. You can also give your child sauerkraut, cranberry juice.

Throughout the illness, natural antibiotics should be offered to the patient - onion, garlic, lemon juice - they are great to stimulate the immune system.

If the temperature is normal, you can put mustard plasters for coughing, soar your legs and arms. Accelerate the discharge of sputum inhalation over boiled potatoes. True, if the child is not yet 5 years old, it is not safe to make them - a fidget can knock over dishes with hot contents on themselves.

For sore throats, drink plenty of warm water.

If the baby is 2-3 years old and he still does not know how to gargle, he can be given a decoction of chamomile, sage to drink. But first you need to make sure that there is no allergy to these herbal remedies.

Before going to bed, the child should prepare warm milk with honey and butter, but, again, only in the absence of an allergic reaction to bee products.

How to avoid complications from a cold in a small child

To prevent a cold from becoming a cause of the development of a chronic disease, you need to:

follow medical recommendations;
adjust the child's diet (include easily digestible dishes in it - soups, broths, boiled meat);
regularly ventilate the room in which the patient is located, humidify the air.

It is impossible for a child with a cold to spend a lot of time on his feet. You need to offer him games that do not require active movement.