Inhalation: pros and cons
A runny nose is most often a sign of rhinitis, an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity - sometimes these concepts are considered equivalent and are considered synonyms. However, at the same time, nasal congestion and discharge may indicate inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis), pharyngeal tonsil (adenoiditis).
Since inhalations at home involve heating with steam, you need to be sure that there is no pus, which cannot be said only by the color or nature of the discharge - a full-fledged full-time examination by a doctor is needed.
It is possible to treat a runny nose with inhalation only for colds or SARS, and taking into account all possible contraindications. We must not forget that rhinitis in children can be of an allergic nature, appears when irritating substances are inhaled (for example, tobacco smoke or dust during cleaning), and occurs as a reaction to dry air in the room. Swelling and discharge are common symptoms and cannot be considered a sure sign of a cold.
Any method of treatment must be applied reasonably and find its place in a previously thought out therapy regimen. What is inhalation for a cold? With its help you can:
- Moisturize the nasal mucosa.
- Clear the nasal cavity from secretions.
- Stimulate blood circulation in the area of the inflammation focus.
- Deliver anti-inflammatory components, antiseptics and other drugs (if available in the inhalation mixture) to the site of inflammation.
Inhalation actually provides hydration and, as a result, cleansing the nose of the liquefied mucus that runs down the throat, flows out of the nostrils and can be collected with a handkerchief or aspirator. However, the stimulation of blood circulation is already a controversial point. Is rewarming really necessary in the presence of active inflammation, when the blood flow is already increased, since a cascade of pathophysiological reactions is triggered? Many experts argue that too hot steam not only does not bring recovery closer, but can even aggravate the severity of the condition.
As for the use of inhaled forms of pharmacological preparations, they are not needed for the classic viral rhinitis. Inhalations for children are primarily intended for moisturizing, and antiseptics or mucus-thinning agents are required only in difficult cases and should be recommended by a doctor. If we are talking about home methods, the inflammatory process cannot be stopped with herbal infusions or potato steam, this is only an auxiliary method to alleviate the condition.
Thus, inhalations for a runny nose in children are used only for colds in order to moisturize the mucus in the nose, facilitate its excretion and thereby facilitate nasal breathing.
Carrying out the procedure
Inhalations from the common cold for children are carried out in two ways:
- using improvised means - pots, towels, warm steam;
- by using a special device - a portable inhaler.
If we compare the safety and effectiveness of these methods, the steam inhaler certainly wins - the home method with a saucepan is cumbersome, it does not exclude the risk of burns as a result of overturning the container with the steam source. In an automatic inhaler, on the contrary, there is a function of regulating the heating of steam, it is equipped with a face mask (it is not necessary to cover yourself with a towel), generates particles with a size of about 5 microns - this ensures the deposition of the medicinal aerosol in the upper respiratory tract.
Using the pan
Take a large saucepan, prepare a source of steam (water, potatoes), or water and additional ingredients (for example, fresh chamomile decoction). Heat the water, wait for a boil, cool to about 50-60 ° C, start the procedure.
The pan is placed on a hard, stable surface, the patient covers his head with a towel and inhales warm steam for several minutes. To avoid burns, you must not lower your face to the edges of the container with steam; you need to keep your head at a distance of at least 40 cm from the pan.
The advantage of the method is its availability, the absence of significant costs for the preparation of the steam mixture. However, there is a high risk of burns to the skin of the face and the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. It is pointless to warm the nose and throat in the active stage of the inflammatory process, this will not stop the symptoms. An alternative can be the introduction of saline drops into the nose - this is no worse than steam, it will moisturize the mucous membrane and, moreover, it is safer for the child.
Steam inhaler
Treatment of a common cold in children with an inhaler implies the presence of a device prepared for the procedure - it must be installed on a flat surface, pour the base for the inhalation mixture, and connect it to the network. If the appliance is equipped with a function for regulating the temperature and power of the steam flow, it is necessary to select the appropriate values in advance. The duration of inhalation is on average about 7 minutes, after which the device is turned off, and removable parts (for example, a mask) are processed.
Inhalation with a runny nose should be carried out once or twice a day, combined with improving the microclimate in the children's room - eliminating dryness and overheating of the air.
Inhalation does not mean curing rhinitis; to prolong the effect of the procedure, you need “correct” air (with a moisture content of 50–70%, a temperature of 18–20 ° C), wet cleaning of dust, airing, rinsing the nose, or drip injection of saline solution. Children need to create conditions in which the nasal mucosa will not interfere with recovery after an acute period of the inflammatory process.
Contraindications
In order for the procedure to bring only benefits, the presence of contraindications cannot be ignored, since inhalation of steam can have a significant effect on the condition of the respiratory tract. When shouldn't a child carry out steam inhalation with a cold?
- With a fever.
An increase in body temperature is an absolute contraindication for any warming procedures, since they prevent the body from dumping excess heat during the period of increased heat production. You should not breathe steam either in the initial period of a fever, or immediately after a decrease in temperature, when the child suffers from weakness and sweating.
- For allergic diseases.
This paragraph should indicate, first of all, allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. It is important to take into account the tendency to allergic reactions if any components are present in the inhalation mixture, in addition to water or saline solution - herbs, pharmacological preparations. Medication in inhalation form must be prescribed by a doctor.
- With inflammation of the auditory tube, as well as any form of purulent inflammation.
Mucus swells on contact with steam, which can lead to hearing impairment, the drainage function of the auditory tube - and therefore, increase the likelihood of developing otitis media. You can not warm the nasal cavity with sinusitis, otitis media, tonsillitis.
- In case of injury, nosebleeds.
If the mucous membrane of the nose and throat is damaged (for example, a chemical burn), the child is prone to nosebleeds, heating with steam cannot be called a useful measure.
It is better not to do inhalation with the help of a pan to children who are scared or prone to increased physical activity, due to their age, cannot understand how to behave during the procedure. Such a child can accidentally turn over a container with steam, and burns even from hot potatoes are very painful, extensive in area, and take a long time to heal.
After inhalation, do not go outside with the child, do not open the window and, in general, do not allow sudden changes in the temperature of the inhaled air. If you used a saucepan, wipe your face with a dry towel, make sure that the child is dressed warmly (including in socks), does not get cold, does not drink cold liquid or eat cold food.
Inhalation with a runny nose is prohibited for children under the age of one year - this is associated with a high risk of obstruction (blockage of the airways with swollen mucus).
The mucus saturated with steam increases in volume and fills the lumen of the respiratory tract, which is already very narrow in children due to age characteristics and inflammatory edema. Therefore, inhalation as a method of treating a young child is absolutely excluded, it is very dangerous - both in terms of immediate and long-term complications. It is not worth taking the risk of inhaling also for children of the younger age group (preschoolers), especially if a runny nose is combined with a cough. A weak cough jolt and blockage of the airway with secretions is a sure way to worsen the condition.
Recipes
With what to do inhalations with a cold to a child? Can be used:
- isotonic (physiological 0.9%) saline;
- mineral water without gas (for example, Borjomi);
- water and infusion of medicinal herbs - chamomile, sage.
Inhalation with saline for a cold for children is most conveniently carried out using a steam inhaler. The product purchased at the pharmacy is poured into a special container, the resulting steam is breathed for several minutes.
For the treatment of a cold in a child, weakly alkaline mineral water is often used - the principle of application is the same as in the case of saline. You can alternate between saline and mineral water during successive treatments.
Water as a basis for inhalation is used both for filling the container of an automatic device and for heating in a saucepan. Boiled potatoes can be used as a base for steam in the second option. It is kept in boiling water until soft, the water is drained, the patient is seated over a table on which there is a saucepan, and his head is covered with a towel.
The herbal infusion is prepared separately (a teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers or a teaspoon of sage is usually taken for 1000 ml of water), added to the water after heating. There is also a faster way, a tablespoon of dry raw materials is added to hot water in a saucepan a few minutes before the procedure. For a steam inhaler, only strained and cooled infusions are used, heating occurs after the device is turned on.
Treatment of a common cold in a child with the help of pharmacological drugs (Fluimucil, Acetylcysteine, Lazolvan) is carried out only on the recommendation of the attending physician. Additional medications are usually needed if the mucus is very thick and viscous.
It is undesirable to use oils for inhalation, especially if it is not known what the child's reaction will be or the allergic nature of the common cold is suspected. Even a small amount of essential oil can provoke an allergic reaction, accompanied by respiratory failure. Therefore, if you wish to carry out inhalation, it is better to dwell on the safer components of the inhalation mixture.
