In itself, a runny nose in a child is not a disease. But this unpleasant symptom often accompanies acute respiratory infections, SARS and influenza. Preschool children suffer from such ailments quite often, therefore, a runny nose is a constant "guest" in every home. If a child has a stuffy nose at night, then the whole family usually does not sleep well. Therefore, parents are looking for an effective and safe remedy that will help cope with the symptom. It is desirable that the improvement of the condition comes quickly, and the effect is long-lasting.
Why is it important to restore normal breathing
If the baby has a runny nose, then the baby's sleep will be restless, which in itself is not very pleasant. But this does not exhaust the reasons why action should be taken. A normal supply of oxygen is necessary for cheerfulness and a clear mind. Otherwise, the person wakes up sluggish andtired.
If a child has a stuffy nose at night, then he not only sniffs, he has to breathe through his mouth. This leads to the drying of the pharynx, the ingestion of harmful microorganisms on the tonsils. Ultimately, this greatly increases the risk of developing infections. And they, in turn, can lead to complications.
Causes of congestion
They can be quite a lot, but experts identify three main groups of factors that lead to the fact that a child has a stuffy nose at night:
- Swelling of mucous membranes. No wonder doctors prescribe antihistamines for flu and colds. They help relieve swelling and make breathing easier. The appearance of edema is inextricably linked with the inflammatory process. Here the following mechanism operates. Blood rushes to the site of inflammation, the vessels dilate, which leads to an increase in the volume of the mucous membrane. At the same time, the nasal passages are narrowed and the passage of air is very difficult.
- If a child has a stuffy nose at night, it is quite possible that it is just clogged. If the mucus is liquid, it flows freely. But when the secret is thick and viscous, it blocks the nasal passages.
- Mechanical obstructions may obstruct air movement. If there is a suspicion of the presence of polyps, then you need to seek advice from an ENT doctor.
Nuances
Among the many factors, it is worth mentioning infectious diseases in the first place. Sometimes parents are surprised by the fact that a child’s nose is very stuffy at night, but during the day he breathes normally. In fact, this phenomenon is quiteregular.
The nasopharynx constantly produces mucus that flows out and enters the throat. With inflammation, this process is further enhanced. During the day, the baby breathes quite freely. At night, he takes a horizontal position, and swallowing movements stop. If the mucus is thick and the mucous membranes are swollen, then breathing becomes almost impossible.
Dry air
The room temperature also needs to be taken into account. If in winter the central heating batteries are constantly working in the apartment, the air temperature rises to +29 ° C, and there is no air humidifier, then you need to be prepared for he alth problems to follow. If parents ask why the child has a stuffy nose at night, but the examination does not show any pathologies, then the doctor will most likely advise installing a humidifier. After that, the problem is usually solved.
Cleaning, especially wet, also needs attention. Dry, as well as dusty air leads to the formation of additional mucus in the nasopharynx. It dries up and makes breathing difficult.
Improve bedroom conditions
Free breathing at night is determined by the air quality in the nursery. It must be clean and cool. Temperature - about 20 degrees, and humidity - not less than 70%. Mucus is formed anyway, but does not accumulate and does not clog the passages. It flows out calmly and the baby will breathe, despite a slight leakage of the secret. Nozzles can be gently wiped several times a night or removed fromusing a small pear.
To ensure normal conditions for sleep, you need to do wet cleaning often. During the heating period, the air is very dry. You can wrap the batteries in wet towels and spray them frequently with water. For convenience, you can purchase a special device - the humidifier mentioned above. It would be nice if it is equipped with a hygrometer. In this case, you do not have to guess whether the air is humidified enough, or whether additional measures need to be taken.
Treatment
First of all, you need to be examined by a doctor. After all, a runny nose is just the tip of the iceberg, that is, a symptom of a specific disease. If you prescribe adequate treatment aimed at combating the cause, then rhinitis will pass without special therapy.
But if the nose is stuffed up and the child snores at night, then every mother wants to alleviate his condition. Treatment options:
- Symptomatic. That is, the restoration of nasal breathing.
- Etiological. Therapy is aimed at combating the disease itself, which causes nasal congestion.
- Auxiliary. The selected products facilitate the well-being of the child and speed up the recovery of the body.
How to relieve swelling
Now let's look at what to do, the child has a stuffy nose at night. An emergency and trouble-free remedy are vasoconstrictor nasal drops and sprays: "Otrivin", "Vibrocil", "Nazivin", "Nazol Baby", "Knoxprey for children", etc. They act directlyon the smooth muscles of the blood vessels and cause them to contract. As a result, there is a mechanical decrease in the volume of the mucous membrane. The nasal passages open and the movement of air through them is facilitated.
These are very effective remedies, but they should be used only in emergency cases, according to the instructions. There are a number of rules that the doctor should introduce when prescribing the drug:
- The maximum course of treatment is 5-7 days.
- Instill frequency no more than 4 hours.
- Possible side effects. Most often this is limited to a slight burning sensation or a feeling of dryness. If you notice indigestion, you need to stop the drug.
- Increasing the recommended dosage can lead to serious consequences.
Breathe easier
It is not necessary to use drops that constrict blood vessels. Moreover, pediatricians recommend using them extremely rarely, when absolutely necessary. The rest of the time, it is better to alleviate the baby's condition with the help of other means:
- Saline solution. This is a simple 0.9% s alt solution. It is instilled into the nose with a regular pipette. There is no harm from such a tool, you can use it at your discretion.
- Pharmacy drops and sprays. They are great help if the child has a stuffy nose at night. There is no snot or you clearly see their flow - this is not so important. But if the child is breathing heavily, sleeps with his mouth open and often wakes up, you need to take action. The famous will help"Aquamaris" and its analogues. In fact, this is the same saline solution, only with a convenient sprayer.
- Oil drops for the nose. What they are good for is their natural composition. Vegetable oils prevent drying of the mucous membranes, reduce swelling and inhibit the growth of bacteria. Such drops help with viral and bacterial rhinitis. Do not forget that the essential oils they contain can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, before using, consult your doctor. The most famous example is Pinosol.
- Allergic rhinitis is another reason. The child has a stuffy nose at night, he does not sleep well, and only antihistamines give relief. They block the production of substances that cause swelling and mucus formation. The most gentle remedy can be considered "Fenistil".
- Combined drugs. An example is Sanorin. A great option if you don't know exactly what's causing your runny nose.
Auxiliary procedures
If the runny nose is not too strong, then sometimes you can do without special medicines. In any case, every parent should know how to help the child if the nose is stuffy at night and there is nothing at hand. To alleviate the condition, various procedures are also well suited:
- Massage. You can see for yourself that a light massage of the wings of the nose allows you to speed up the outflow of mucus.
- If there is an aroma lamp at home, be sure to light it. Inhalation of pine, fir and eucalyptus vapors allows you to quicklyimprove condition.
- Drinking plenty of water helps to cleanse the body and makes the mucus thinner.
- Inhalations.
- Rubbing with warming ointment. Usually the effect is to evaporate them.
Very often, parents use a warm compress on the bridge of their nose. It can be s alt heated in a bag or something else. But remember that it is vasoconstrictors that bring relief. And warming leads to increased swelling. And of course, you need to consult a doctor.
Once again about the main thing
Of course, if the baby has a stuffy nose, then you need to help restore normal breathing. Otherwise, he will not sleep well at night and be capricious during the day. But getting rid of the common cold should not be the ultimate goal. After all, there is a root cause that causes its appearance. She needs to be fought. Take the rest only as necessary, auxiliary measures to alleviate the condition.
It's not enough just to put vasoconstrictors down your nose. They work well in combination with the main treatment, make it possible to facilitate the recovery period. But they don't heal on their own. Therefore, first go to the pediatrician, and then to the pharmacy.
What not to do
Breastfed babies have the hardest time, because congestion prevents food intake. First of all, forget about such folk remedies as instillation of breast milk into the nose, fresh urine or onion juice. The baby's nose is a very delicate system. Anything you put in there may end up in the middle ear, and this will lead to the developmentotitis. Such a complication is fraught with a long course of antibiotics.
It is highly undesirable to stop lactation now. Yes, it is difficult for a baby to suck when his nose is not breathing. Therefore, apply to the chest as often as possible, albeit for a short period of time. This will replace fluid loss and also allow you to share antibodies with your baby. After all, most often you get sick together, it's just that an adult has stronger immunity, so he does not feel the symptoms of the disease.
