Young parents are often in a panic, not knowing what to do with a runny nose. In babies, nasal discharge can be permanent, and even therapies do not have a therapeutic effect. Drops, sprays, folk methods may not be effective. What to do in this case, which doctor to contact? Effective treatment of the common cold in children always requires an integrated approach.
Causes of constant runny nose
Most often the main reason is an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane, nasal sinuses, nasopharynx. From birth to three years old, babies develop immunity and a way to respond to external threats to the immune system. Therefore, it is at this age that frequent runny nose in children becomes problem No. 1.
The problem usually gets worse when the child starts attending kindergarten. There are many kids in the nursery group from one to three. Everyone has an unformed immunity. Because a cold in such a team develops instantly - it’s worth getting sickalone, as other children immediately suffer. You can mitigate this process by taking special drugs - immunomodulators and interferons. An immunologist can prescribe the optimal drug. But this is a double-edged sword: if at such an early age to intervene in the child's immunity, reinforcing it pharmacologically, it will not get stronger enough. As a result, the child will be more susceptible to colds than their peers.
A separate place is occupied by allergic reactions: this is also a common cause of a common cold in a child. A special analysis should be carried out - tests for an allergen. In the conditions of modern laboratories, it is practically painless and does not take much time.
Classification of the common cold in children
Pediatrics distinguishes between two types of rhinitis in a child: acute and chronic. The first type can pass by itself and is most often the cause of either a cold or temporary intoxication with some allergen. With chronic rhinitis, everything is more difficult. There are five varieties of this pathology.
- Catarrhal rhinitis in a child occurs due to inflammation of the nasal mucosa and nasopharynx. In some cases, problems with the larynx can cause this form of pathology. Partially, vasoconstrictor drops help to solve the problem. But they are forbidden to use on an ongoing basis due to the development of addiction. The best way to treat catarrhal rhinitis in a child is folk methods of treatment and drugs that restore local immunity.
- Hypertrophic rhinitis is a serious pathology in which the nasal sinuses are palpable. Most often, this process is accompanied by pain. You should definitely contact an otolaryngologist and do not self-medicate.
- Atrophic type of rhinitis in a child is characterized by thinning of the mucosa. In some cases, this is a consequence of the catarrhal form in the absence of treatment. A runny nose in a child does not go away for a long time, pain in the bridge of the nose, migraine - all these are symptoms of an atrophic type of pathology. You should definitely show the baby to the otolaryngologist. Independent use of vasoconstrictor drops in most cases only exacerbates the pathology.
- Allergic type of rhinitis in a child is provoked by exposure to antigens and should be treated with general and local antihistamines.
- The vasomotor type is in no way associated with the inflammatory process of the nasopharynx, mucosa or sinuses. This is an injury to the ENT organs or a mechanical obstruction to normal breathing. Vasomotor runny nose usually occurs due to objects that the child imperceptibly puts into his nostrils. Parents should carefully monitor their child and prevent such incidents.
Symptoms of a constant runny nose
Frequent runny nose in children is accompanied not only by discharge from the nostrils, but also by the following symptoms:
- subfebrile temperature;
- poor sleep - difficult falling asleep and frequent awakenings in the middle of the night;
- pain in the areabridge of nose;
- migraines with and without classic aura;
- sore throat;
- hoarse voice;
- violations of diction;
- pain when swallowing;
- teary.
Depending on the characteristics of chronic rhinitis, these symptoms may vary. For example, if the cause of the problem is inflammation of the nasopharynx, pain in the throat and when swallowing should be expected. If the cause is problems with the mucosa (its moisture and microflora), migraines, pain in the bridge of the nose and temples, dizziness are possible.
Consequences of an untreated runny nose in a child
Young parents are often worried about the question: the child often has a runny nose, what should I do? But experienced mothers often treat this problem carelessly: somehow it will pass by itself. Chronic runny nose is a rather serious symptom, which indicates a possible ill he alth and immunity.
Possible consequences of untreated rhinitis in children:
- sinusitis and rhinitis;
- impaired sense of smell;
- adenoids;
- decrease in attention;
- tonsillitis, pharyngitis;
- swelling in the Eustachian tubes;
- sinusitis, sinusitis.
Stages of a runny nose in a child
Depending on the degree of the problem, the methods of therapy will also differ:
- Reflex stage, the most initial. For a child under ten years old, it can take only a few hours. The blood vessels of the mucous membrane of the nose and nasopharynx narrow andexpand, microdamages are formed. At this stage, measures to increase local and general immunity are effective. The goal is to prevent possible viruses and infections from joining microtrauma and mucosal lesions.
- Lasts for a child on average for a maximum of a week. The most common cause is the influence of viruses and infections, in some cases allergens. The child cannot breathe through the nose, the nature of the discharge is thick, in some cases with blood and ichor (if the capillaries are weak and burst). At this stage, all the usual remedies for the common cold are effective - inhalations, drops, sprays, etc.
- Bacterial inflammation develops. Rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis - all these serious diseases develop already in the third stage. For the treatment of a child, there are few usual remedies for a cold. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy is required. An otolaryngologist can prescribe the exact course of treatment.
Medicines
How to treat a prolonged runny nose in a child, so as not to provoke complications? The following medicines are used:
- vasoconstrictive sprays and drops;
- moisturizers;
- homeopathic remedies;
- antibacterial and antiviral are the most effective.
If your child's runny nose is caused by an allergy, you should get a prescription for the optimal antihistamine from your allergist or immunologist. This is a separate group of medications, and the medicine should be selected carefully: side effects are frequent.
"Protargol" for children
This is one of the most popular remedies for a runny nose in a child (it lasts a week or more - drops will help at any time). "Protargol" is a silver proteinate. It has a pronounced antimicrobial local activity. It is a solid tablet that must be dissolved in distilled water in a special vial, which is also supplied in the package with the drug.
Some parents avoid using this remedy as it has many side effects and can be addictive. However, if you skip the first and second stages of a runny nose in a child, Protargol is almost the only remedy that can help quickly and effectively.
"Polydex": instructions for use for children
A popular remedy, not inferior in effectiveness to Protargol. Instructions for use "Polydex" (for children it is often prescribed) reports that the main active ingredient of the drug is neomycin sulfate. The composition also includes auxiliary components: thiomersal, lithium chloride, dexamethasone methylsulfobenzoate, polymyxin sulfate.
"Polydex" can be used not only for the nose, but also for the ears. It has a local anti-inflammatory effect, slightly reduces pain, has a beneficial effect on the mucous membrane.
Vasoconstrictive drops for the treatment of rhinitis in children
Thisthe most common treatment for the common cold in children. Few parents know that they cannot be used on an ongoing basis. The vessels get used to the effects of the drug, and without it they simply refuse to function normally. This is how drug addiction develops.
Any vasoconstrictive drops, sprays, ointments for a child's nose ("Nafthyzin", "Otrivin", "Nazivin", etc.) should be taken no longer than four to five days. If a longer exposure is required, an otolaryngologist should be consulted about the appropriateness of therapy.
Rinse nose with saline solution
Folk treatment of the common cold in children is often more effective than pharmacological agents. In particular, regularly rinsing the nose and nasopharynx with a mild saline solution will help prevent the runny nose from progressing to the third stage.
You should prepare the weakest possible solution - half a teaspoon of fine s alt in a glass of clean distilled water. The child should draw it in through the nostrils and spit it out. This method is suitable only for older children, preferably from seven years. Toddlers may not understand the principle of flushing, and the solution will go into the lungs.
Using aloe to treat the common cold
Aloe juice has an excellent moisturizing and anti-inflammatory effect. You should collect the juice of fleshy leaves, put in a pipette and drip two or three drops into each nostril.
If the juice is not quite liquid, but clotted (this often happens in young aloe plants), you can do without a pipette. Take thick mucus from the leaf into a small spoon andplace in the nostril, very quickly (within a couple of minutes) the juice will dissolve all or partly. If any clots from the aloe leaf remain in the nostril, you can throw them away, as in two or three minutes the beneficial substances will have time to have a healing effect.
Nebulizer for runny nose in children
A nebulizer (inhaler) is a device that converts a drug into an aerosol. Thus, the metabolites of the active substance enter areas of the respiratory tract that are inaccessible to conventional drugs.
Such a device costs about a thousand rubles. There are also more expensive ones, but they are equipped with many unnecessary features. For example, a timer or audio tracks. The inhaler can be compression, ultrasonic or membrane. The cost of the device also depends on the principle of operation.
Solutions for inhalation for a child can be used in a variety of ways:
- mucolytics;
- bronchodilators;
- antibiotics, anti-inflammatory;
- antiallergic.
How to treat a prolonged runny nose in a child with a nebulizer? Usually, daily procedures for one week are enough to get rid of the symptoms of chronic rhinitis.
Therapy for runny nose caused by allergies
Allergy in a child is a complex condition, for the treatment of which it is necessary first of all to determine the antigen. What exactly causes a runny nose in a child? It can be plant pollen, poplar fluff, chemical flavoring, any food product. You can accurately determine the allergen after special tests in the laboratory.
Therapy is most often done with antihistamines. If for one reason or another the child cannot take them, you can get rid of local manifestations of allergies (lacrimation, runny nose) with the help of vasoconstrictor drops. Alas, it is impossible to use them on an ongoing basis due to possible addiction.
Prevention of the common cold in children
Most parents try to minimize their child's contact with peers in the first place. This is a common mistake. The sooner the baby develops local immunity, the better. If a child constantly catches a cold in kindergarten, it makes sense to visit an immunologist.
The basic principles of preventing a runny nose in a child are to protect him from hypothermia (especially his legs, head, neck, lower back), monitor nutrition and the amount of vitamins in the diet, and protect him from excessively long stays in the cold. If a runny nose nevertheless began, it is worth resorting to the methods of alternative or pharmacological therapy as soon as possible so that the pathology does not take on the appearance of a chronic one.
