Drops for nasal congestion in a child

Nasal congestion is accompanied by many unpleasant symptoms associated with both the nasopharynx and the general condition. Swelling of the mucous membrane can be caused by infectious, allergic or environmental factors.

Today there are a huge number of drugs, the action of which is aimed at restoring nasal breathing. To choose the right drops for nasal congestion for children, you need to know the root cause of the disease, otherwise the treatment may be ineffective.

The drugs differ in composition, duration of the therapeutic effect and mechanism of action. Given these features, the medicine may be approved for use in childhood or have some restrictions.

Difficulty in nasal breathing in babies is often caused by:

• a cold against the background of hypothermia;
• ARVI after contact with a sick peer, when infection occurs by air;
• an allergic factor such as dust, mold, pollen, wool, fluff, food, hygiene products or preparations;
• ear, throat infections;
• adenoids.

In addition to this, the appearance of congestion is predisposed by the deformation of the septum, as a result of trauma, as well as narrow nasal passages of congenital origin.

Symptomatic diseases can manifest themselves:

• difficult nasal breathing;
• itchy skin, eyes;
• lacrimation;
• conjunctival hyperemia;
• nasal congestion;
• rhinorrhea;
• hyperthermia;
• aching joints;
• capriciousness;
• loss of appetite

It is not always recommended to bury the nose at the first stage of a cold. The fact is that the increased production of mucus is a protective reaction, due to which microbes, dust and allergens are washed out of the cavities. On the other hand, mucus traps dirt and infection, preventing it from reaching the lower respiratory tract.

Indications for the use of nasal products

In order not to harm the child and the nasal mucosa, you need to know when it is allowed to use nasal drops. A doctor may prescribe a nasal instillation for:

1. the appearance of apnea at night, when the baby stops breathing for a while;
2. the threat of the development of inflammation of the trachea, bronchi. If in winter children breathe through the mouth, untreated, cold air penetrates directly into the larynx and lower sections, which predisposes the mucous membrane to inflammation;
3. high fever when the baby has shortness of breath;
4. eustachitis, otitis media, when inflammation spreads to the mucous membrane of the auditory tube and ear cavity. Clinically, diseases are manifested by pain, noise in the ear area, as well as hearing impairment;
5. the threat of the development of sinusitis. The swollen mucous membrane of the nasal passages makes it difficult for mucus to drain from the paranasal sinuses. Violation of ventilation and stagnation of mucus leads to the activation of opportunistic microorganisms. The consequence of this is inflammation of the mucous membrane of the paranasal cavities.

Some Recommendations

To obtain the maximum therapeutic effect, you should adhere to some rules:

• up to the age of six, it is necessary to use solutions for drip intranasal administration. The spray is allowed after six years. Limitations are caused by a short auditory tube, due to which aerosol particles can easily penetrate into the ear cavities and provoke infectious or allergic otitis media;
• to instill the right nasal passage, you need to tilt your head slightly back and to the left. Then the head with the spout should be turned in the opposite direction and the left passage should be instilled;
• it is better to bury long-acting drugs at night;
• after the injection of the medicine, it is advisable to massage the instilled nose, more precisely the wings of the nose, for 10 seconds. This will speed up the absorption of the drug and activate local blood flow.

Before using the drug, you need to clean the nasal passages with a saline product.

In the treatment, several types of nasal drops can be used, which differ in the composition and duration of the therapeutic effect, which determines the contraindications, side reactions and the method of application. The main groups are:

• saline;
• vasoconstrictor;
• antihistamines;
• hormonal;
• mucolytic.

In addition to the listed drugs, antibacterial, immunostimulating, homeopathic, antiviral, and combination drugs can be used in treatment.

Saline solutions

The first group of drugs that are allowed in childhood are saline solutions. They contain sea water, so they have a large amount of trace elements and minerals. This solution is prescribed for any type of rhinitis for:

• cleansing the nasal passages from dust, microbes, allergens;
• moisturizing tissues;
• restoration of drainage function;
• reducing the viscosity of mucus;
• facilitate the removal of dry crusts by softening them;
• accelerating the healing of injured tissues;
• increasing the tone of local blood vessels.

There are several types of saline solutions. The classification is based on the concentration of salts in the liquid:

• hypotonic solution - has a 0.65% concentration, which is why it is absorbed into the tissue, moisturizes the mucous membrane and reduces the viscosity of the mucus. Group representative - Aquamaster;
• isotonic - Humer, Aqualor, Marimer, Morenazal. The concentration is 0.9%, so the product is not absorbed into the tissue, cleans the surface from "dirt" and moisturizes the mucous membrane;

It is isotonic solutions that are allowed for newborns and pregnant women.

• hypertensive - Quicks, Aqualor extra forte. Their action is aimed at reducing the swelling of the mucous membrane by "pulling" fluid from the tissues. In addition, they are able to dissolve mucus and restore the outflow from the paranasal cavities. The medication is very effective, but should not be used for more than three days. After instillation, they can cause a burning, baking sensation.

Vasoconstrictor drugs

What drops can be used for nasal congestion in a child? The most common drugs used are vasoconstrictors. They come in the form of an aerosol or drip solution.

Their action is aimed at narrowing the blood vessels at the place where the drops are instilled, after which tissue swelling, rhinorrhea decreases, drainage from the paranasal sinuses improves, and nasal breathing is restored.

The maximum course of treatment with vasoconstrictor drugs should not exceed 7 days, otherwise the mucous membrane dries up and addiction develops.

Separately, it should be said about the risk of medication rhinitis. Its development is due to a disorder in the regulation of vascular tone. With each subsequent administration of a vasoconstrictor, the vessels respond to it to a lesser extent. Ultimately, they completely cease to spasm, but on the contrary, they can expand after instilling drops.

Short-acting drugs

Medicines based on naphazoline have a short therapeutic effect. They are significantly cheaper than other vasoconstrictors and have a high risk of addiction.

The group includes Sanorin, Tizin, Farial.

Medium Duration Drops

It is best for a child to bury the nose with medicines that last up to 4 hours during the day. They include xylometazoline. This is Otrivin, Xymelin, Rinonorm.

Prolonged medications

In the evening, to ease sleep, it is recommended to bury the nose with drugs based on oxymetazoline. Its action lasts up to 12 hours, so the baby will sleep peacefully the whole night.

These drugs are more toxic, therefore they have some restrictions on age and concomitant diseases. This group includes Nazivin, Fazin, Nazol.

The dosage is determined based on the age of the child and the severity of the illness.

Antihistamines

If the cause of the congestion is an allergic reaction, the first step is to stop the child's contact with the provoking factor. As for symptomatic therapy, the doctor may recommend antihistamine nasal drops for children.

Hormonal medications

Corticosteroid-based drops are prescribed when other nasal drugs are ineffective in relieving severe inflammation. The drug has powerful decongestant, anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties.

Note that the drugs inhibit the local immune defense, thin the mucous membrane and increase its sensitivity to irritating environmental factors.

Mucolytics

Mucolytic drugs are prescribed to facilitate the outflow of mucus by reducing its viscosity. If Sinuforte, Sinupret have exclusively anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous and mucolytic activity, then Rinofluimucil has a vasoconstrictor component in its composition.

Medicines are not absorbed into the systemic bloodstream, therefore they have only a local effect. They are prescribed for acute as well as chronic rhinitis and sinusitis. For convenient administration, the bottle has a spray bottle.

Children from two years old are recommended to enter one dose three times. Of the side reactions, it is worth highlighting:

• on the part of the cardiac system - increased heart rate, increased blood pressure;
• on the part of the nervous system - moodiness, excitability;
• from the urinary system - urinary disorders, dysuric disorders;
• local signs - dryness of the nasopharyngeal mucosa.

If the recommended terms of therapy are exceeded, addiction and weakening of the therapeutic effect are possible. Among the contraindications, it should be noted:

• increased function of the thyroid gland;
• taking antidepressants;
• glaucoma;
• individual intolerance to the components of the drug.

Caution must be observed when treating children with bronchial asthma, cardiac arrhythmias and severe hypertension. In case of an overdose, the risk of tremor, agitation, anxiety, tachycardia increases, and sweating also increases.

Remember, nasal drops are only part of a comprehensive therapy. See your doctor in time and avoid complications.