Runny nose in a child: how and how to treat it safely

Quite often, young children develop a runny nose. It may indicate that the baby has a respiratory disease or be the result of an allergy to something. The treatment method must be chosen depending on the cause that caused it.

Causes of runny nose in children

Various factors can lead to a runny nose in a child, but in general they can be divided into two large categories - infectious causes and non-infectious:

• Viruses, having entered the child’s nose, penetrate the cell membranes and begin to develop there for several more days. A runny nose appears during periods of sudden temperature changes. After all, at this time there is a high probability of hypothermia in the baby’s body, and the ability of microbes to become infected also increases. Especially often, a runny nose occurs due to hypothermia of the legs, since the feet are reflexively connected to the person’s nose.
• Non-infectious causes include all mechanical damage to the nasal mucosa and allergies to various environmental factors.

How to treat a runny nose in a child

In treating a runny nose, it is important to take into account its symptoms, stage and form of the disease. You need to focus your energy on fighting the cause of the runny nose, but at the same time do not forget about alleviating its symptoms.

The stage of a runny nose can be determined by the nature of nasal discharge:

• The initial stage is characterized by dry mucous membranes.
• During the main period of the disease, clear discharge can be observed.
• And at the recovery stage, the discharge becomes thick and scanty.

Each stage of the disease requires its own treatment method.

In the initial stage, the child feels a burning sensation and dryness in the nose, so it is important to moisturize the nasal mucosa. Various saline solutions and herbal decoctions are suitable for this. Give preference to saline solutions, such as Aquamaris or Salin - this is the safest for the child.

If you decide to use herbal infusions, then prepare them from herbs that have an antibacterial effect. These are sage, calendula, chamomile.

For the acute stage of a runny nose, choose drugs that have vasoconstrictor, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. You can use vasoconstrictor drugs only for 5 days to avoid an addictive effect. To suppress the activity of viruses, drugs such as Arbidol, Viferon, Remantadine are used. They come in the form of capsules, suppositories or solutions.

If a child’s runny nose is caused by an allergy, then first eliminate its cause and get rid of the allergen. Then treatment is carried out with antihistamines: Claritin, Zyrtec Telfast.

At the recovery stage, it is important to ensure the removal of crusts from the nasal cavity, suppress the action of microbes, restore the activity of the nasal mucosa and strengthen immunity child.

To remove crusts, the child’s nose should be washed with a 2% soda solution. Then the mucous membrane should be lubricated with antibacterial ointment.

Inhalations for a runny nose for children

Inhalation or inhalation of drugs has long been used to treat various diseases. This method is especially popular for treating the respiratory system.

To get the maximum result from the procedure, you need to carry it out correctly. The best time for the procedure is an hour and a half after eating. It is forbidden to give inhalations to children with a high temperature (over 37.5 degrees) and leave the premises after inhalation it is also not recommended. The water for inhalation should not be very hot so that the child does not get burned.

Inhalation is best done with herbal decoctions. Chamomile, calendula, all conifers, and lemon help very well in this case. Cover the child's head with a cloth over a container with a healing infusion and ask him to breathe through his nose for a few minutes.

You can use a modern device called a nebulizer for inhalation. This inhaler sprays a medicinal solution in the form of small droplets. The size of the solution particles can be adjusted. So the smallest size is used to treat the bronchi, and larger particles will settle in the nasal cavity. Infusions of medicinal herbs are suitable for inhalation with a nebulizer. This can be a collection of pine buds, eucalyptus leaves, calendula or chamomile flowers.

Cold drops for children

Small children under five years old are allowed to use pharmaceutical drugs only in the form of drops to treat a runny nose. The use of sprays is dangerous for them due to the imperfection of the nasal passages.

Most often, the doctor prescribes Aqua Maris for a runny nose. This preparation contains only pure sea water with trace elements. It is prescribed to children to get rid of runny nose, allergies, adenitis and for prevention in the autumn. The product is instilled into the nose, 2-3 drops in both nostrils.

Another drug created using salt water is Aqualor Baby. It also contains high-purity sea water, enriched with microelements. These drops relieve inflammation, cleanse the nasal cavity and help improve the child's immunity. It is used both for treatment and to prevent infection.

To reduce swelling of the mucous membrane, use the drug Nazol Baby. This is a vasoconstrictor with the active ingredient phenylephrine. It will make breathing easier for the child by reducing swelling. You can use it for allergies and colds. You should not take this medicine for more than three days to avoid addiction.

Folk remedies for runny nose for children

Since a runny nose can only be treated with medications for a few days, it makes sense to turn to popular advice. For children you can use the following recipes:

• Aloe juice. Cut off an aloe leaf and keep it in the cold for a day. Then squeeze the juice out of it and dilute it with boiled water in a ratio of 1:10. Place this solution in your baby's nostrils up to 5 times a day. Do not store the solution for more than a day.
• Honey. Dilute 1 part honey with 2 parts water and bury the drop in the baby’s nose.
• Honey and beets. Boil the beets and squeeze the juice out of them. Now dilute honey with beet juice in a ratio of 1:2, stir and drip this mixture into each nostril.
• It is permissible to bury the baby’s nose with a decoction of herbs. To do this, take calendula, coltsfoot, plantain and sage in equal quantities and boil for 5 minutes. Then leave to infuse for an hour, strain and use as a nasal drop.