In children and adults, a runny nose is a characteristic symptom of acute respiratory diseases that are seasonal. In autumn and spring, with a decrease in immunity, susceptibility to various infections increases. The risk group are children attending educational institutions. In the first days after infection, liquid and transparent discharge from the nose begins. If the necessary measures are not taken immediately, then all conditions are created for the development of bacterial microflora. Most often, these are streptococci and staphylococci.
There can be many causes of a runny nose in a child, from banal allergies to dangerous and rare infections. It is good if the condition of the crumbs improves after the use of common and familiar remedies for the treatment of the common cold. But what to do if the snot in a child does not go away for a long time and even antibiotics do not help? In no casedon't let things take their course!
How long should a common runny nose take?
Nasal congestion, with proper diagnosis and treatment, lasts no more than two weeks. On average, a runny nose goes away in 7-10 days. Only an ENT doctor can correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment for long-lasting snot in a child. Parents who try to heal their baby on their own run the risk of "healing" the disease.
Rhinitis, lasting more than two weeks, passes into the chronic stage. Treatment of chronic rhinitis can last several months. If the snot in a child does not pass for a very long time, then the physical and emotional state of the baby will suffer. Prolonged runny nose can cause complications and serious he alth consequences.
Doctor's fault
There are situations when, after proper treatment and observation by a specialist, the child still does not get snot. The disease passes into the chronic stage. Parents do not want to understand the problem and start blaming doctors.
Complications primarily develop against the background of a viral disease, with which the child's immunity has not been able to cope. With a decrease in the protective functions of the body, bacterial infection can occur, which contributes to the development of chronic rhinitis. Immunity could decrease even before the illness due to lack of vitamins, malnutrition and stress. The disease only makes matters worse. In the event of chronic rhinitis due to reduced immunity, treatment should begin with the use of complexactivities containing essential oils. As a rule, these are nasal drops with natural ingredients. In addition to aseptic action, these drugs contribute to the normalization of nasal breathing. If after such treatment the child does not get snot for a long time, then in combination with these drugs, physiotherapy and inhalations from herbs containing useful essential oils - tea tree, thyme, juniper are used. Washing the nasal cavity with saline solutions is the most effective and popular type of treatment. It has no contraindications and is not addictive. Aspirators have proven themselves well. They are used when the child cannot blow his nose on his own.
White
Mucus discharge from the nose is only a symptom of some disease or the result of an allergen entering the bloodstream. If white snot does not pass for a long time in a child, this is either the beginning of the disease, or its complications.
Most often, white snot occurs in the autumn-winter period as a result of the interaction of viruses with the nasal mucosa. This can happen with a weakened immune system. With an infectious or viral etiology, an elevated body temperature is observed. Children with strong protective functions of the body practically do not react to such attacks. Even white snot can be the result of hypothermia or overheating, when the functioning of the mucous membrane is impaired.
There are a number of diseases in which nasal discharge becomes white: adenoiditis, sinusitis, sinusitis, complications from influenza and measles,ethmoiditis, polyps.
In the neonatal period, white snot indicates poor adaptation. They may occur due to complications in childbirth.
If a child does not have transparent snot for a long time, while the process of teething occurs, you should not worry. More than half of children experience nasal discharge during this period.
If the baby is a year old and the snot does not go away, you need to know that white snot may appear during the replacement of breastfeeding with artificial.
With the vasomotor type of discharge, the cause is dry air, inhalation of toxic substances such as paints or tobacco smoke, a stressful situation.
Medicated rhinitis is also characterized by light snot.
Yellow
Such snot occurs before recovery and can be released within a week. They soon pass, and recovery occurs. But you have to be on the lookout. If the yellow snot in a child does not pass for a long time, they may indicate the development of sinusitis. You can recognize it by other symptoms of the disease - headaches and fever.
When inflammation of the tonsils in the nasopharynx, bacteria can penetrate into the sinuses, middle ear and even bronchi. If yellow snot is accompanied by a constantly open mouth and snoring in a dream, you need to check the tonsils.
If the allergic rhinitis was not cured in time, then the discharge from the nose may also turn yellow.
Deviated septum causes constant runny nose and yellow snot.
Foreign objects in the nasalcavities cause yellow suppuration.
Yellow tint of mucus appears in young children as a result of being in a room with too dry air.
The snot in a child becomes yellow-brown with frequent nosebleeds.
Greens
This color of mucous secretions is associated with an enzyme contained in white blood cells that destroy bacteria. After the breakdown of pathogenic microflora, neutrophils (leukocytes) also die, the enzyme is released and stains the discharge. The brighter the green, the more bacteria the body contains and the more inflammation.
Green snot in a child does not go away for a long time if there is a complication after the flu and other infectious diseases. Another such color will indicate ethmoiditis, sinusitis and frontal sinusitis.
Only sometimes greens from the nose can occur as a complication of an allergic rhinitis.
Rhinitis cold
Liquid discharge from the nasal cavity, sneezing, difficulty breathing can occur after hypothermia. In this case, the doctor diagnoses SARS and prescribes symptomatic treatment. Do not think that the common cold will go away on its own. If the child's snot is green and does not go away for a long time, then there is a complication of a cold.
Allergic etiology
Determining the nature of a runny nose can be very difficult. Both allergies and colds start with a stuffy nose, discharge from the eyes, and a sore throat. It is important to identify allergic rhinitis at an early stage. Mistake in treatment may endserious complications such as angioedema, anaphylactic shock or even coma.
Manifestations of allergies are the reaction of the body with increased immune functions. If the child's snot does not go away, this may mean that the pathogen is nearby. After the diagnosis is made by a specialist, parents must comply with certain requirements for the organization of the regimen and nutrition of the patient. For a speedy recovery, it is necessary to carry out daily wet cleaning in the house, ventilate the children's room and review the usual diet. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe antihistamines. Rinsing the nose with saline is also indicated for allergic rhinitis.
Bacterial etiology
Unlike the allergic rhinitis caused by increased immunity of the child, chronic rhinitis is characterized by reduced protective functions of the body. To strengthen the immune system, the doctor may prescribe multivitamins and immunostimulants. They will have an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect on the child's body. Hardening procedures and daily walks will not be superfluous, but only if the patient does not have a high temperature. Do not be afraid that such measures will harm the child. Everything that helps to strengthen the immune system will be useful. It is not necessary to lock the child in four walls with the window closed tightly. This can contribute to the rapid development of complications.
Medication runny nose
Chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa occurs after prolonged usevasoconstrictor drugs. An allergy to the components of the drug may also develop. In this case, the sensitivity to the drug action gradually decreases, and then finally disappears. There is a drug dependence of the body. In order not to get atrophy of the nasal mucosa, it is necessary to use drugs strictly according to the instructions and on the advice of a doctor. Uncontrolled intake of nasal drops causes swelling of the mucosa and its hyperemia. The mucous membrane dries out, and polyps form on it. They cause discomfort and make breathing difficult. Removing polyps is a rather painful procedure. After the operation, they can form again, and the treatment is delayed for many years.
Medical rhinitis is observed by ENT doctors. Treatment is carried out with the help of conservative and surgical therapy with a complete rejection of the drugs against which it arose.
Children's doctor Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky about prolonged runny nose in children
According to the doctor, you can recognize a prolonged runny nose by the following signs:
- Unilateral nasal congestion.
- Nose discharge may be watery or thick.
- Permanently open mouth.
- Swelling of the nasal mucosa.
- Nasal speech.
- Lack of sensitivity to smells and tastes of food.
- Snoring.
- Headaches.
- Intestinal disorders in the form of diarrhea and vomiting. If nasal breathing is difficult, then this is due to the entry of a large amount of air into the stomach when swallowing food.
- Change in emotional state. The child becomes whiny andirritable.
- Weight loss is due to lack of appetite.
According to Dr. Komarovsky, snot does not go away for a long time in a child for various reasons, but the most important thing to remember is that several months of difficult nasal breathing can contribute to a delay in the development of a child. The reason for this will be oxygen starvation of the brain.
Abundant liquid discharge is absolutely not dangerous for the child. The main thing is to prevent them from drying out. The crusts contain enough protein to become a breeding ground for bacteria. Thick green mucus can indicate both a bacterial nature of occurrence, and a mixed one - viral-bacterial. Yellow-green snot indicates only a bacterial disease.
According to Komarovsky, it is not difficult to determine the real cause of a prolonged runny nose. If you take mucus for bakposev, then it can be used to identify which type of treatment to choose. With a large number of lymphocyte cells, a runny nose is of a viral nature. If there are many neutrophils, the nature of the disease is bacterial. If eosinophil cells predominate, the runny nose is allergic.
The appearance of the green color of the snot Evgeny Olegovich calls a good sign. This means that the protective cells are doing their job.
Interestingly, bacterial rhinitis can be recognized at an early stage by signs such as itching and sneezing. The difference from the allergic rhinitis is that sneezing lasts no more than 2-3 hours, after which it "runs" from the nose for 3-5 days. Then the mucus becomes thick,headaches begin, tears flow, appetite is disturbed, the nose is completely clogged. And only after all this, real green snot appears.
Bacterial cold can be treated without antibiotics if there are no complications yet. But still, parents should not independently diagnose and prescribe treatment. Only a doctor can determine why the child does not have snot for a long time. Similar symptoms occur in other diseases, such as tonsillitis or pharyngitis. Complications of bacterial rhinitis are otitis media and sinusitis.
Many parents do not see a dangerous disease in the common cold and bring sick children to kindergarten. And Evgeny Olegovich does not see anything good in this. Until the mucus returns to normal, it is better to stay at home. No one will wash the baby's nose during the day with saline so that he does not have complications. This can only be done by relatives and close people with all their care and love.
It is good if it is possible to create a humidity level of 50-70% in the baby's room. If there is no special humidifier, you can hang damp cloth on the heaters or put a container of water in the room. Even an aquarium with fish will be a humidifier.
High temperature at home also contributes to the faster development of the infection. For a speedy recovery, the room thermometer should show from +18 to +20 degrees.
What does Dr. Komarovsky recommend instead of antibiotics?
A lot of time in the fresh air will help the nasal mucosa to recover andresist pathogenic bacteria. Another helper is ordinary water. The more the child drinks, the thinner the mucus becomes. Such mucus comes out of the nasal passages more easily. Evgeny Olegovich recommends giving water corresponding to the child's body temperature. So the liquid is better absorbed into the intestines, which will give a positive result.
Dr. Komarovsky does not recommend
- If a child's snot does not go away for a long time, you should not use nasal drops with antibiotics. With viral and allergic rhinitis, they do not help. On the contrary, they can provoke an allergy. It is dangerous to become addicted to an antibiotic, and when it is needed, it will be powerless against a complex infection.
- It is not advisable to use vasoconstrictor drugs at the beginning of a viral disease. You can not fight with mucous secretions in the initial stage, as they are a natural protective reaction of the body to the penetration of viruses.
- If the green snot in a child does not go away, do not irrigate the nasal mucosa with vegetable juices or aloe. This leads to the rapid multiplication of pathogenic microflora.
- Don't put breast milk in your nose. This is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.
Prevention
Prevent inflammation of the nasal mucosa and avoid complications after SARS will help simple actions:
- It is better to dress a child according to the weather in order to prevent hypothermia.
- Personal hygiene and cleanliness in the baby's room help strengthen himhe alth and immunity.
- Hardening and a balanced diet also make the child resistant to colds.
- During seasonal epidemics, do not visit crowded places with children: entertainment complexes, cinemas and supermarkets.
- If a sick person appears in the family, it is better to isolate him from the child.
