How to cure green snot in a child

A runny nose can overtake a baby at any time of the year, since his immunity is not fully formed and reacts negatively to any viruses and bacteria. In this case, mucus secreted from the nose can have a different color: transparent, yellow, yellow-green, green, brown. Green snot in a child is of particular concern, and for good reason. They can cause serious disturbances in the body if measures are not taken in time.

Why does mucus turn green

The green color of mucus secreted from the nose is a consequence of the development of a bacterial infection. Initially, snot has a liquid consistency, but later they become thicker and acquire a greenish or yellow-green tint. This happens because the infection takes root in the upper respiratory tract, mucus mixes with the waste products of pathogenic organisms. Treatment of this type of rhinitis in children should be started immediately.

Possible complications

It is very important to consult a doctor in time for qualified help and cure a runny nose in a baby as soon as possible. Green snot can be harbingers of serious diseases, untimely elimination of the problem leads to the following complications:

Purulent rhinitis. Most often it develops against the background of a drop in general and local immunity. It occurs with viral and bacterial respiratory infections in an advanced stage.
Ethmoiditis. An advanced stage of rhinitis, in which a bacterial infection spreads to the paranasal sinuses and causes purulent discharge of mucus from the nose. At the same time, the body temperature rises, pain in the bridge of the nose is felt, and a runny nose appears.
Sinusitis. A disease in which purulent discharge accumulates in the maxillary sinuses. It manifests itself as a severe headache, pain in the area between the jaw, the lower edge of the eye and the nose. Symptoms: severe runny nose, complete loss of smell and partial loss of taste.
Front. Launched rhinitis, in which purulent discharge is located in the frontal sinuses, they drain from the nose into the pharynx. Typical symptoms: difficulty breathing, severe headaches, especially in the frontal sinuses, fever.

In addition to various types of rhinitis, a child with untimely treatment may develop other ENT diseases. Since the nose is closely connected with the ears, otitis media and sinusitis are often observed against the background of a running rhinitis. Also, infection in children can spread to the brain.

Timely treatment is the key to a quick recovery

A runny nose in a child should not be allowed to flow, a fragile body may not cope with the infection on its own, and this will lead to complications. Only an otolaryngologist can choose an effective treatment for a baby after a thorough examination and study of the test results. Green snot can be treated with folk remedies, medications and various procedures.

Thick green mucus indicates bacterial or viral infections. At the reception, the doctor may recommend drugs that will help get rid of the very cause of the disease and relieve severe symptoms of a cold.

Babies are prescribed funds of such groups:

Vasoconstrictor. They are used very carefully, only as directed by a doctor. With the help of drops, you can quickly remove the swelling of the mucous membrane and improve breathing. Such drugs can be addictive, so you need to strictly observe the dosage and not use them for more than a week.
Antihistamines. Green snot in children can appear due to allergies. They need to be treated with antihistamines, the drugs not only improve nasal breathing, but also eliminate the very cause that caused the runny nose.
Decongestants. Most often used when the child has thick snot that cannot be blown out on its own. They thin the mucus and help remove it from the nose.
Antibacterial. It is possible to treat a runny nose with antibiotics only after consulting an ENT and confirming that a bacterial infection is present in the child's body. The drugs are potent, they help to quickly eliminate even purulent rhinitis. However, the specificity of such therapy lies in the fact that the body quickly gets used to the funds, and it can also react with an allergy to their components.

The most popular drugs:

"Protargol". A remedy that can sanitize the nose. Contains silver ions, not suitable for all children, as it may cause allergies.
"Sulfacil sodium". Antibacterial drug. It is prescribed to treat a runny nose in children from 1 year of age.
Isofra. Antibacterial agent. It is prescribed to quickly treat infections, helps prevent purulent rhinitis, the course lasts no more than 7 days.
"Vibrocil". Combined solution containing vasoconstrictor and antihistamine components.
"Pinosol". A mixture of essential oils that helps to get rid of nasal congestion, moisturizes and disinfects the mucous membrane.
"Nazol", "Naftizin", "Nazivin", "Sanorin", etc. A group of vasoconstrictor drugs, they are used with extreme caution and only in cases where nasal breathing is complicated. May be allergic and addictive in children.

Traditional methods

Together with drugs, or even instead of them, you can try treatment with alternative methods. It is necessary to use any components only after consulting a doctor.

You can eliminate thick green snot using natural remedies. They are non-addictive and highly effective.

Means for instillation into the nose:

A weak solution of baking soda or sea salt. It is very simple to prepare - soda or salt must be dissolved in warm boiled water and dripped into the child's nose. The product has an antibacterial and thinning effect.
Herbal solution. If you are unsure of what to do when your toddler has a clogged nose, you can use this remedy to make his breathing easier. Mix 1 tablespoon of calendula and millennial flowers, pour boiling water over and let it brew. When the mixture has cooled to room temperature, strain it and drip into the baby's nose.
Parsley root juice. Treatment with this remedy will help get rid of green snot. You need to drip juice at room temperature, it will help loosen mucus, remove it from the nose and eliminate pathogenic bacteria.
Carrots + potatoes + beets. All of these vegetables are powerful natural antibiotics, so treating a common cold with them gives excellent results. You need to make the tool from the juice of all components with the addition of boiled cooled water. You need to take the ingredients in equal proportions, mix thoroughly and drip into the baby's nose.

Additional measures

Complex treatment has a high effect. To get rid of green snot as quickly as possible, you need to apply other measures, for example:

Steam breathing. This procedure can only be done by older children, babies will not be able to sit over a hot pot with a towel on their heads for several minutes. Boiled potatoes are used as a source of steam; it is best not to peel them.
Physiotherapy. You can cure a runny nose with the help of physiotherapy procedures. They are carried out in a polyclinic with the use of special medications. With the help of devices, medicinal substances are directed to eliminate the problem.
Warming up the nose. Warming the nose will help cure children from colds. You can do it by applying a bag of warm salt or a warm boiled egg to your nose.It is important that the product is not too hot, otherwise the baby's skin may burn.
Washing. Green nasal discharge can be treated with rinsing. Special pharmaceutical solutions or folk remedies, for example, water with sea salt, will help break down mucus and remove it from the nose. In addition, they have a beneficial effect on the mucous membrane. Such procedures are effective even in situations where purulent discharge is found.
Compliance with the drinking regime. Treating a child for rhinitis requires drinking enough water to prevent dehydration. You can replace ordinary water with rosehip infusion, savory compotes and broths.
Steaming feet in hot water has a warming and diaphoretic effect. It will help to quickly eliminate the symptoms of the disease and its causes. Mustard plasters can be used instead of water, they also give good results.
Air humidification. Excessively heated and dry air only aggravates rhinitis, as it dries out the nasal mucosa. It is very important to keep the humidity in the room between 60-70%.

Features of therapy

Treating older children is not as difficult as treating babies. Before the introduction of drops, the nose must be cleaned of mucus. Sometimes it is impossible to do this by blowing your nose. For older children, rinsing or thinning medications can be used. For the smallest crumbs, only washing and mechanical removal of secretions are suitable.

To remove purulent accumulations, you can use an herbal solution to thin the mucus. It is injected with a pipette along the outer wall of the nose, then the skin is pressed against the septum for 1-2 minutes, and the manipulation is repeated from the second nostril. You can remove mucus with an aspirator, the best is an electric one, but you can only find it in hospitals. At home, you can replace the device with an ordinary syringe with a soft spout, which must be boiled before use.

Prophylaxis

Treatment of rhinitis in babies is quite difficult, especially if the discharge is purulent. It is for this reason that it is best to prevent a runny nose by all possible methods. The following measures will help in this:

fortified balanced nutrition;
prevention of hypothermia of the body;
regular walks in the fresh air;
airing the room;
strengthening local and general immunity.

In conclusion

Only a doctor can prescribe treatment for rhinitis; it is impossible to independently select drugs and traditional medicine. The baby's body is more susceptible to aggressive components of drugs, therefore they are selected with extreme caution. Timely started therapy will help prevent complications. See your doctor at the first symptoms of the disease.