The frequency of visits to an ENT doctor for rhinitis practically does not change during the year. If in the winter, autumn period, a cold, infectious rhinitis is diagnosed to a greater extent, then for spring and summer, allergic is more characteristic. How to treat a runny nose in a child? Treatment tactics are developed taking into account the age, general health of the little patient, the cause of the disease, as well as its severity.
Treatment at home can be done with a mild form of pathology. When should you see a doctor with your child?
- high hyperthermia (more than 37.5 degrees);
- green tint of snot;
- the appearance of a cough;
- ear pain;
- poor sleep;
- sore throat;
- skin rash;
- signs of conjunctivitis (lacrimation, conjunctival hyperemia, itching sensations).
Characteristics of the disease
The course of a cold in a child goes through several stages, which are characterized by the following clinical symptoms:
- rhinitis begins with irritation of the mucous membrane, which is clinically manifested by sneezing, itching sensations in the nasopharynx. Thanks to strong immunity, the progression of a starting rhinitis can be prevented and the appearance of mucous discharge can be completely avoided;
- rhinitis in a 7-year-old child at the second stage is manifested by pronounced rhinorrhea. Transparent mucus constantly runs from the nose. Snot usually flows in a stream with an allergic, viral or catarrhal origin of the disease;
- at the third stage, the transparent snot in a 4-year-old child gradually acquires a yellowish tint and becomes thicker. Usually this stage lasts up to 4-5 days. The total duration of the illness is 10 days.
Causes
To quickly cure a runny nose in a child of 8 years old, you need to know its cause. Frequent predisposing factors include:
- allergic factors (wool, food, medicines, fluff, pollen, dust mites, hygiene products, strong odors of household chemicals);
- frequent hypothermia and colds;
- viral infection (rhinos, adenoviruses, influenza). Usually, the onset of rhinitis is observed a couple of days after contact with a person suffering from a viral disease. This often happens with children who are immunocompromised;
- bacterial inflammation (streptococcus). Activation of opportunistic microbes occurs with exacerbation of sinusitis or progression of infectious rhinitis;
- unfavorable living conditions, when the air in the children's room is dry or polluted, which irritates the nasal mucosa and provokes hypersecretion.
Clinical symptoms
A runny nose in children of three years old can have the following clinical symptoms:
- hyperthermia;
- pain in the paranasal area;
- lacrimation;
- body aches, as a manifestation of an infectious rhinitis in children;
- mucous discharge from the nose of a watery or thick character;
If a child has transparent snot flowing for two weeks, it is worth suspecting an allergic form of rhinitis.
- tickling in the nasopharynx;
- insomnia;
- poor appetite;
- dizziness;
- irritability, moodiness.
Complications
When a 3-year-old child has a runny nose for more than three weeks, the risk of complications increases. They are caused by the spread of infection and inflammation to the surrounding healthy tissues:
- otitis media - occurs as a result of swelling of the mucous membrane of the auditory tube, a violation of its airway function and the multiplication of microbes in the ear cavity;
- sinusitis. At first, rhinitis flows from the nose, then the volume of discharge gradually decreases, which may indicate both a speedy recovery and the development of sinusitis. The fact is that snot can accumulate in the paranasal cavities due to the lack of outflow. Impaired drainage is caused by swelling of the nasal mucosa;
- tonsillitis, laryngitis. With the progression of the pathological process, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx and tonsils is possible. In addition, the development of diseases is predisposed by the inhalation of the child through the mouth of cold, unpurified air;
- hypotrophy (more typical for infants).
Persistence of infectious snot in children for more than four weeks is fraught with the development of meningitis.
Plasters for rhinitis in children
A beginning runny nose in a child can be cured with the help of a special plaster "Nozzle". It helps to get rid of the symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, flu, as well as signs of inflammation of the upper, lower respiratory tract.
In addition, this effective remedy helps to calm children and speed up their falling asleep. It can be purchased at the pharmacy. A baby cold patch can be used if you are not allergic to essential oils.
The patch is contraindicated:
- children at 2 years old;
- with bronchial asthma;
- with an allergy to essential oil;
- with epilepsy and frequent convulsions.
Composition
The package contains several sachets with a rag sticker. Each of them is impregnated with camphor and eucalyptus oil. The patch will take effect once it is glued to your clothing.
A good remedy, thanks to the eucalyptus component, has an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory effect. Camphor has a mucolytic effect, reduces the viscosity of mucus and facilitates its excretion from cavities.
Recommendations for use
The use of the medication requires adherence to some recommendations. The healing effect lasts eight hours. Do not use the patch more than twice a day.
After opening the bag and peeling off the protective film, you need to start gluing the patch to the T-shirt. After peeling it off, no marks remain on the clothes.
To achieve a healing effect, it is recommended to glue it to children from 2 years old on a home jacket in the chest area. This is necessary to breathe in the aromas of the essential oil throughout the day.
You can also stick it on a pillow, toy, but it is forbidden to fix the plaster to synthetic materials and skin. Allergy to esters can be manifested by itching sensations, skin flushing and tissue edema.
The medicine does not have an antipyretic effect, but it can be used to alleviate the general condition.
This inhalation can be done at home. To do this, it is enough to moisten a gauze cloth in a mixture of oils (camphor, eucalyptus 1: 3).
Varieties of plasters
In addition to the Novelka patch, there are other types of medicines:
- Breathe. The composition is represented by mint oil, levomenthol, eucalyptus, fir, lavender oil, and turpentine oil. The patch has an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory effect, helps to get rid of snot and general manifestations of the disease;
- Extraplast. It is a helium plate with active ingredients such as menthol, cherry oil, eucalyptus, and camphor. The tool is often used to treat cough in viral pathology. The action is aimed at reducing the viscosity of sputum, facilitating its excretion. Recommended for a 2-year-old child. The patch is not a medication, it is selected taking into account the symptoms of the disease;
- "Magikoplast" (warming) is prescribed for coughing. It contains activated carbon, salt, and iron powder. Heat spreads smoothly through clothing, as a result of which blood circulation increases and the viscosity of sputum decreases;
- "Magikoplast" (with ARVI). The composition is represented by essential oils of eucalyptus, cedar, and menthol. The patch has anti-inflammatory, antiviral effects.
Therapeutic tactics
How to quickly cure a child's runny nose? In order to find the best remedy for therapy, it is necessary to take into account the cause of the disease. The following drugs are prescribed:
saline solutions;- vasoconstrictor;
- antiseptics;
- antihistamines;
- homeopathic, herbal remedies.
saline solutions;The safest drugs for a newborn and a child over one year old are saline solutions:
- Salin;
- Aqua Maris;
- But-salt;
- Marimer;
- Otrivin baby;
- Morenazal;
- Dolphin;
- Humer.
No-salt is available in the form of an aerosol and a solution for drip dosing. Its main effects:
- moisturizing - prevents drying out of the mucous membrane;
- regenerating;
- cleaning. Allows you to gently cleanse the nasal passages from dry crusts and mucous accumulations;
- protective - increases the resistance of the mucous membrane to the irritating influence of environmental factors.
But-salt has no contraindications, side reactions, therefore it is widely used for hygiene of the nasal cavities, as well as for medicinal purposes.
Note that it is not recommended to abuse saline solutions due to the risk of disturbance in the composition of the microflora of the nasopharynx.
Newborns are shown instillation of one drop up to four times a day. For children from a year, 2 drops are prescribed. The duration of the course is 4 weeks. The spray is allowed for babies aged 3 years and older.
Vasoconstrictor drugs
You can quickly cure snot in a child with the help of Nazol baby. A vasoconstrictor 4 minutes after the instillation of the nasal passages allows you to stop rhinorrhea and restore breathing. The drug is based on phenylephrine and lasts up to 6 hours. Available in the form of drops.
The medicine can be used in the treatment of rhinitis, eustachitis, otitis media, sinusitis, to reduce tissue outflow and normalize the airway function of the nasal passages and auditory tube.
Contraindications include:
- hypersensitivity;
- arterial hypertension;
- failure of the cardiac rhythm;
- hepatitis;
- heart failure;
- increased levels of thyroid hormones in the bloodstream;
- atrophic type of rhinitis.
Children from two months are prescribed dropwise three times a day. The maximum duration of the course is 3 days. Vasoconstrictor drugs for the common cold for children are used when there is a threat of complications.
A child of 6 years old can be prescribed Nazol Kids, which contains a high concentration of phenylephrine.
Possible adverse reactions include:
- baking, itching sensations in the nasopharynx;
- tachycardia;
- allergies (skin rash, tissue edema, itching);
- increased blood pressure;
- dizziness;
- headache.
Antibacterial and antihistamines
How to treat snot in a one-year-old child? With an infectious origin of rhinitis, Isofra can be used instead of antibacterial tablets. The drug consists of framycetin (antibiotic) and is prescribed for local administration.
It is contraindicated in hypersensitivity, as well as up to one year of age. For children 3 years old, one spray is shown up to 4 times a day. The duration of the course is up to 10 days.
Adverse reactions are rare. They can be represented by an allergic reaction (itching, hives).
If the baby suffers from an allergic rhinitis, an antihistamine is prescribed. Sanorin-Anallergin is contraindicated in atrophic rhinitis, as well as under the age of 3 years.
The medicine is prescribed 1-2 drops three times a day. Of the side reactions, dryness, baking sensations in the nasopharynx should be distinguished.
Folk remedies
For children of the first year of life, it is not recommended to use folk remedies based on aloe juice, garlic, onions and other strong medicines. They can irritate the mucous membrane and worsen the course of the disease.
How to treat a starting runny nose in children 4 years old?
- rinsing the nasal passages with saline. For cooking, it is enough to dissolve 3 g of salt in 300 ml of warm water. With an increase in the concentration of salt in the solution, the risk of mucosal irritation increases. In this regard, it is not recommended to exceed the recommended concentration;
If a burning sensation appears when rinsing the nasal passages, you must immediately wash off the solution with boiled water. Next time you should make a solution with a lower salt content.
- aloe juice. Herbal remedy for rhinitis for children 5 years old should not be used in concentrated form. Before instillation, it is necessary to dilute the aloe juice with boiled water 1: 3. Dripping two drops twice a day. Sneezing after using aloe is considered a normal reaction. It allows you to well clear the nose of accumulations of mucus;
- washing the nasal passages with herbal decoctions, infusions. Children from 1 year old can be cured with the help of medicinal solutions based on chamomile, calendula, oak bark, sage. For cooking, you need to pour 15 g of grass with boiling water with a volume of 320 ml, wait 20 minutes. Then you should cool a little and rinse the nasal cavities.
To cure a runny nose in a child of 1 year old and at an older age, you must strictly follow the pediatrician's recommendations. Regular medical supervision is required to assess the dynamics of treatment and the severity of the baby's condition. This will allow you to suspect complications in time and change the treatment tactics.
