- Saline solution
- Vasoconstrictor drugs
Causes
What to do if a child has a runny nose? Dr. Komarovsky is not a supporter of the use of massive pharmacological therapy in children. On the contrary, during his appearances on television, he calls for the use of numerous pharmaceutical agents rationally and to do without them in those situations in which this is permissible. Viewers who are closely watching the releases know that a well-known pediatrician recommends a certain algorithm for dealing with a cold in children. What is the famous Komarovsky method of treating rhinitis?
Many people identify the concept of "runny nose" with the term "rhinitis", while these are still different definitions. Rhinitis is understood as the presence of an inflammatory process in the area of the nasal mucosa. A runny nose appears in different situations, and is not always caused by inflammation. Evgeny Olegovich does not get tired of repeating that only by eliminating symptoms (for example, with the help of vasoconstrictor drops), success in treatment cannot be achieved, it is necessary to act on the root cause.
The phenomenon of a runny nose in children can appear with infection, allergies, injury, inhalation of too dry and hot air, as well as air saturated with chemicals, irritants - including dust. The mucous membrane of the nose is very sensitive, therefore, drying out or irritation explains the appearance of edema, congestion, and disturbances in nasal breathing.
There is a list of actions that Dr. Komarovsky recommends to perform with a cold. Of course, this does not obviate the need for an accurate diagnosis, especially if the parents are confident that the symptoms are not associated with the infection. However, in the overwhelming majority of cases, a runny nose is a manifestation of ARVI, and Komarovsky's method helps to quickly alleviate the child's condition.
Primary requirements
To cure a runny nose, you need not so much medicine as comfortable conditions for recovery, the creation of which is the first stage of therapy according to Komarovsky:
- Inhalation of moist but cool air.
Humidity readings should be within 50–70%, temperatures –18–20 ° C. Remember to dress your child warmly if the room is too cool.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
If the child has fever, sweats, he secretes fluid - therefore, it is necessary to make up for its deficiency. What drink? The doctor recommends using clean water, juice, fruit drink, compote.
- Dust control.
The more dust, the drier the room. In addition, dust particles can retain pathogenic microorganisms and viruses, and are provocateurs of allergies. Therefore, we need regular wet cleaning, airing, as well as the elimination of "dust collectors" - cabinets filled with paper books, carpets, upholstered furniture.
- Walks in the open air.
Doctor Komarovsky does not always recommend walking with a cold. If the child is not feeling well, it is better to stay at home. Also, you should not go to the playground with ARVI, otherwise there is a very real chance of spreading the infection.
But in case of allergies, during dust collection, under satisfactory weather conditions, it is not only possible, but also necessary to walk.
The main task in the treatment of a common cold in a child using the Komarovsky method is to prevent thickening and drying of secretions, the formation of crusts in the nasal cavity.
Dr. Komarovsky focuses on the consistency of the discharge. If they are wet, they can be easily removed by swallowing (since they drain down the throat) or by blowing them out, cleansing with a nasal aspirator. But the drying mucus covers the nasal cavity with a thin layer, while losing its functional properties (and one of them is the fight against viruses and bacteria).
Do I need medications
How to properly treat a runny nose in children? According to Dr. Komarovsky, in the minds of many adults, adequate therapy is numerous bottles of pharmaceutical medicines. Some of them lower the temperature, the other is intended to combat edema, the third is anti-inflammatory. Meanwhile, to help a child with rhinitis, it is worth adding to the first-aid kit, first of all, saline solution and vasoconstrictor drops.
Saline solution
Treatment of the common cold according to Komarovsky is not complete without the use of saline solutions. The pharmacy offers a huge variety of drugs in this group (for example, saline), but if you want, you can prepare the medicine yourself. The doctor advises to dissolve a teaspoon of kitchen salt in a volume of water equal to 1 liter. The water should be boiled and cooled in advance, the finished solution should be close in temperature to the values of body temperature.
How to treat a runny nose with saline remedies? Evgeny Olegovich offers two ways:
- rinsing the nose;
- introduction into the nasal cavity in the form of drops.
According to the doctor, it is impossible to overdose the saline solution - inject 2-3 drops into each nostril at intervals of 30-60 minutes throughout the day. Instillation can be an alternative to rinsing (if for some reason the procedure cannot be carried out), it is safe even for small children.
Vasoconstrictor drugs
These are Phenylephrine and Xylometazoline - drugs of the decongestant group that can quickly eliminate edema, fight increased mucus production. They do not cure a runny nose and are needed if the child does not breathe through his nose at all, he has a high temperature (over 38.5 ° C), sinusitis, otitis media. Dr. Komarovsky emphasizes that using vasoconstrictor drops for the treatment of rhinitis in children is possible only according to indications and no longer than 3-5 days.
The drug is easy to overdose, so care is required - buy only those medicines that are marked as intended for children, do not exceed the recommended number of drops. The concentration of the active substance, and hence the danger of overdose in baby drops, is several times lower.
Treatment of rhinitis in children with vasoconstrictor drops requires the preliminary use of a saline solution to cleanse the nasal mucosa.
Doctor Komarovsky often has to answer parents' questions about the effectiveness of drugs. He argues that the reason for the lack of action of the decongestant after injection into the nose is the presence of a dried film of mucus. Therefore, before using the drops, you need to moisten and wash off the discharge with saline.
Allergic rhinitis
No less often than an infectious rhinitis, there is a disease such as allergic rhinitis in children. Komarovsky advises, if you suspect an allergy, contact a specialist, since you need to confirm the diagnosis with the help of a number of special studies, and the treatment is selected individually.
What if a child has a runny nose, but the reason for this is not an infection at all? If the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is made by a doctor, it is necessary to understand what triggers a reaction in the child's environment. Unlike an infectious rhinitis, which occurs acutely, but also passes quickly, rhinitis of an allergic nature returns every time it comes into contact with an allergen.
Any substance can be allergens - household dust, animal hair, pollen, food. In most cases, allergens enter the nasal cavity by inhalation, that is, by inhalation. Therefore, the primary measure recommended by Dr. Komarovsky is to moisturize the nasal mucosa with saline solutions. Drip them into your nose throughout the day to relieve dryness and flush allergens.
In addition to saline, allergy can be an indication for the use of pharmacological drugs. How to treat a runny nose in a child? The means are used:
- antihistamines (desloratadine);
- topical glucocorticosteroids (Nazonex, Fliksonase);
- decongestants (Otrivin Baby).
The drugs are prescribed for oral administration (for example, in tablets), as well as for local administration (drops, sprays). They can be taken both for stopping an acute reaction and during a course of therapy. The most powerful effect is provided by topical glucocorticosteroids, which help to cope even with pronounced edema and discomfort.
Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky reminds that the main thing in the treatment of allergic rhinitis in children is the detection and elimination of the source of the allergy.
Whatever the child's runny nose, surrounding adults can significantly relieve symptoms even before the medication is used. This is the main point of Komarovsky's method - to create conditions conducive to recovery. At the same time, it is better if the child is examined by a doctor - a runny nose can be a sign of not only rhinitis, but also sinusitis, which requires antibacterial drugs.
