The state when a child's nose is blocked leads to a deterioration in well-being, sleep and appetite disturbances, therefore, in this case, certain measures must be taken to eliminate such a nuisance. However, you should first determine the cause of this pathology, and then begin the necessary treatment. If a child has a stuffy nose, what should I do? Let's deal with this further.
Rhinitis is considered a commonplace problem that any parent can cure on their own. But in fact, it is very dangerous, because it can lead to suffocation and asphyxia of the brain when there is no oxygen supply to the brain. There are a lot of reasons for a runny nose - these are colds, and congenital anomalies of the nasal septum, and even the formation of a tumor. To find out the reason, you need to contact your pediatrician.
Factors provoking pathology
If snot and stuffy nose in a child, how to treat? First you need to determine the reasons. CausesThe occurrence of this pathology can be a variety of situations. For example, in newborns, various physiological nuances of the structure of the nose can lead to this. Dry crusts in the nose of a baby can form with increased dryness of the air or when a foreign body enters, as well as with curvature of the septum, when it comes to congenital anomalies.
It happens that a child has a stuffy nose and a cough at the same time. This is most likely due to physiology, as well as insufficient maturity of the immune system, and treatment is not needed. To eliminate this phenomenon, it is enough just to follow the rules of hygiene, which include:
- timely cleansing of the nose from mucus, which can be done with cotton swabs;
- maintaining normal room temperature and humidity;
- prevention of air drying out, especially during the heating period, when it is most likely;
- using sprays to humidify the air or special devices - humidifiers.
In the absence of a runny nose
It happens that the child's nose is blocked, but the release of a large amount of mucus (as with a cold) is not observed. The reasons in this case may be:
- injury to the nasal septum due to the ingress of a foreign object;
- anomalies in the structure of the nasopharyngeal cavity, which prevents normal breathing, as well as the outflow of excess mucus;
- formation of polyps that block the nasal passages.
When the nose is blocked andthe child does not have snot, mothers are often frightened. It is difficult to independently recognize the cause of this phenomenon. Therefore, in cases where a child has a stuffy nose without signs of a runny nose, it is necessary to show it to a specialist, since this condition in infants is the most dangerous. Lack of air can provoke asphyxia, suffocation, development of adenoids and polyps.
For colds
The most common factor that provokes a situation in which a stuffy nose in a child is acute respiratory diseases, and this symptom manifests itself in the very first place, sometimes even before other signs of a cold appear.
Main causes of nasal congestion in childhood:
- diseases of ENT organs (tonsillitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, etc.);
- allergic reactions;
- the formation of adenoids in the sinuses, which contribute to the development of swelling, sinusitis or allergic rhinitis (with a combination of allergies to dust particles, animal hair, plant pollen, etc.);
If the nose is stuffed up, and the child does not have snot, and this lasts more than two weeks, then we can talk about the chronic course of the disease. Reasons for this may be:
- long-term use of vasoconstrictor drugs for the common cold;
- growth of adenoids on the background of colds;
- development of concomitant infection of tissues in the nasal area, when certain purulent inflammations, such as otitis media or sinusitis, have developed in the absence of a runny nose.
First aid for difficulty in nasal breathing in a child
When a child has a very stuffy nose, there are some urgent measures that can be taken to eliminate the manifestation of the disease before going to the doctor. However, they are not a cure as they only help relieve the symptoms and free the breath.
When nasal crusts form, they must be removed. This can be done with a cotton swab or a gauze swab dipped in water. Irrigation of the nose with saline or special sprays based on sea water is also recommended. The main purpose of this event is to moisturize the nasal mucosa so that the child can breathe easier. This should be done in the evening so that during sleep he can breathe through his nose, and not through his mouth, because this is the main factor in the formation of adenoids. So, if a child has a stuffy nose, what should I do?
The following medical devices can be used for irrigation:
- Aqualar;
- Aquamaris;
- with persistent congestion lasting more than 2-3 days, you can use vasoconstrictor drugs, such as Xylen, Rinostop or Nazivin.
Today, in pharmacies there is a huge variety of drops in the nose from congestion, as well as all kinds of essential oils and patches. But the best thing to do would be to seek an appointment with a doctor.
If the cause of the child's badly stuffy nose is some serious illness, these treatments will only alleviate the condition, not deal with it.
Elimination of congestionnose in newborns
Heavy breathing and wheezing provoke increased capriciousness and refusal to eat in infants. Perhaps the child caught a cold, which could happen in kindergarten or on a walk. A tendency to frequent colds is observed in children in the following cases:
- during teething;
- with a tendency to allergic reactions;
- for congenital anomalies of the structure of the nose.
It's not nice when a child's nose gets stuffy at night. To quickly relieve symptoms, you can take the following actions:
- Rinse nose with saline solution (with dropper or syringe).
- Rinse with chamomile infusion.
- Irrigate with special preparations that can be bought at the pharmacy.
When a baby is a month old and has a stuffy nose, rinse his nose very carefully, laying the baby on his side, since injecting solutions into the nose can provoke a fright in him, or the child may accidentally choke. It is necessary to irrigate the nasal cavity often - up to 10 times a day, so that the mucous membrane is constantly in a hydrated state.
Eliminating nasal congestion in older children
So, the child has a stuffy nose at night. If he already knows how to blow his nose, it is advisable to do this after such procedures in order to remove the mucus accumulated in the nasal passages and clear them.
You can use inhalation methods to combat breathing difficulties, such as inhalation with the addition of eucalyptus oil. It is also advisable to use nebulizers with a nozzle fornasal irrigation that can be used in the treatment of children even during sleep.
What should I do if my child has a stuffy nose and snot?
Medicated treatment
If there is severe nasal congestion and fever, in most cases this indicates infection with a viral infection. In this case, it is no longer possible to do without a medical solution to the problem. With SARS, specialists usually prescribe the following treatment:
- Antipyretic drugs such as Nurofen or Paracetamol syrups.
- Antivirals, such as Vifiron in the form of rectal suppositories, others in liquid form for oral administration.
- Drops from the common cold - "Nazivin", "Isofra", "Vibrocil", etc. They are needed to eliminate swelling of the nasal passages and a possible bacterial infection in this area.
- For irrigation of the mucous membrane and clearing the nose of mucus, "Aquamaris" is prescribed.
- In some cases, for example, with the development of complications of acute respiratory viral infections in the form of bronchitis or laryngitis, it is possible to use antibiotics, such as Amoxiclav, Amoxicillin, Sumamed, etc.
- Without exception, doctors recommend parents to observe the regimen of abundant feeding of the child, which is very important in such diseases. A large amount of fluid in the body washes out viruses and bacteria, and recovery occurs much faster.
How to treat when snot and stuffy nose in a child? Not all mothers know this.
Drugs for nasal congestion
Nose drops differ according to the algorithm of action and are hormonal, vasoconstrictive, moisturizing, antiallergic and antibacterial.
The most common group are vasoconstrictor drops, with which you can quickly remove congestion. They relieve swelling and narrow the vessels of the nasal passages, however, these drugs should not be used for longer than a few days, as they are addictive, after which an even more dangerous disease develops - drug-induced rhinitis.
How to treat when a child's nose is blocked? This can be checked with a doctor.
Vasoconstrictors
The bulk of these funds are based on xylometazoline, which quickly relieves the symptoms of nasal congestion and is not absorbed into the blood, which allows this substance to be widely used to treat pediatric patients. Medicines with this active ingredient include:
- "Galazolin";
- Otrivin;
- Xylo-Mepha;
- "Dlyanos";
- "Rinonorm";
- Xymelin;
- Farmazolin.
Drugs based on oxymetazoline:
- "Nazivin";
- Oxymetazoline;
- "Nafazoline";
- "Nazol";
- "Nazol";
- "Fazin";
- Advance.
Moisturizing drops
This type of medicine for the nose is intended to moisturize the mucous membrane, in the presence of factors of its drying. These drugs include:
- Aquamaris;
- "Physiomer";
- "Salin";
- Aqualor;
- Quicks;
- Marimer;
- Humer.
Medicines for allergic congestion
When a child has a stuffy nose from an allergy, how to treat it? In allergic rhinitis, antihistamine and vasoconstrictor agents are used. They effectively relieve swelling and facilitate nasal breathing.
The means of this variety include:
- "Vibrocil";
- "Rinofluimucil";
- "Sanorin-Analergin".
Hormonal drugs for congestion
In cases where all of the above drugs do not give the appropriate result, and the child has severe forms of vasomotor rhinitis, glucocorticosteroids may be prescribed to facilitate breathing. These medicines are produced most often in the form of sprays and are hormonal. The advantage of these funds is that they have only a local effect and are not able to be absorbed into the blood, which does not violate the general hormonal background in the body. But before using such medications, you need to learn about age restrictions and contraindications. Hormonal medications are:
- Nasonex;
- Avamys;
- Baconase;
- "Flixonase";
- Tafen;
- "Nasobek".
These drugs are usually not used for a variety of fungal and bacterial rhinitis, since their side effect is to reduce local immunity, they are able to stronglymake things worse.
Antibacterial drops
If a child has a stuffy nose and this condition does not respond to treatment for five days or more, in cases where the mucus in the nose has a yellow and green color characteristic of a bacterial infection, it is advisable to resort to topical therapy with antibacterial drugs. These drugs include:
- "Isofra" - a medicine based on the substance framycetin. It is possible to use this remedy in children older than a year.
- "Polydex" is a complex drug based on the substances polymyxin and neomycin. This medicine is also often used for allergic rhinitis.
- Albucid is an eye medicine, but it is often used to treat bacterial rhinitis in children. This medicine is used from birth.
Folk remedies for nasal congestion in a small child
Folk treatments for such pathologies are no less effective than medications. Beet or carrot juice can be instilled into the nose for children from one year old, as they contain antiseptic substances that inhibit the reproduction of infection.
For the same purpose, plant juice is used - aloe and Kalanchoe, which should be instilled into the child's nose after washing. Herbal infusions help well - chamomile, calendula and St. John's wort, which you can rinse or irrigate the nasal passages.
What to do when a child has a stuffy nose?Now we know it.
