A runny nose in children, especially in small children, is quite common. Their nasal passages are very narrow, and the mucous lining in them is delicate and sensitive. Nasal discharge does not always indicate the onset of a serious illness. They can be of an allergic or other non-infectious nature. But you cannot ignore this symptom. The color of the discharge can tell a lot, especially if it is pronounced. Most often, snot takes on various shades of green. Let's see if the child has green snot, what does this mean.
What shades of green are talking about
When green snot appears in a child, the reasons can be very different. We can only say that pathogens - viruses or bacteria - got inside. Moreover, the thicker and more intense the discharge, the more advanced the disease is. Therefore, the color of the snot is an important factor in helping the doctor make a correct diagnosis.
This is what green snot mean in a child of different color intensity:
- Greenish snot in a child heals the fastest, as this indicates the onset of the disease. In this case, you can still not use potent drugs, but try to cope with home remedies. But if within 1-2 days the situation does not begin to improve, and the nasal discharge becomes thicker and more abundant, you need to consult a doctor and connect modern pharmacy medicines.
- Light green snot in a child indicates that the development of the disease continues, and the means used for treatment do not help. Perhaps the baby has too weak immunity, and he cannot cope with the actively multiplying infection. In such a situation, antibiotics and immunomodulators are usually used. But only a doctor should decide on their appointment.
The child's yellow-green snot is thick, but odorless - a clear indicator of the bacterial nature of the disease. The body fights the disease on its own, but already signals that it needs help. At this stage, antibiotic nasal drops are helpful. They act locally and, if used correctly, do not enter the stomach, disrupting its microflora. For the prevention of otitis media, doctors often recommend burying the ears.- A baby's smelly green snot is a sign that pus is building up in the sinuses. In this case, it is necessary to urgently start antibiotic treatment. Delay threatens with the rapid spread of infection and very serious complications - sinusitis or frontal sinusitis. Purulent snot in a child is very dangerous, as it can provoke inflammation of the meninges or purulent otitis media of the middle ear.
The child's yellow-green snot is thick, but odorless - a clear indicator of the bacterial nature of the disease. The body fights the disease on its own, but already signals that it needs help. At this stage, antibiotic nasal drops are helpful. They act locally and, if used correctly, do not enter the stomach, disrupting its microflora. For the prevention of otitis media, doctors often recommend burying the ears.It is also important for mothers to remember that green snot appears very rarely in a child at once. In the early stages of any disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms, nasal discharge is colorless.
Only as dead bacteria and neutrophils accumulate in the mucus, the snot acquires a pronounced green color. Therefore, it is important not to miss the moment and start treatment as soon as possible.
Prevention methods
Although it is not that difficult to cure green snot in a child, it is best to simply prevent them from appearing. Simple preventive measures will help to temper the baby, strengthen his immunity and reduce the likelihood of an infectious disease:
- the air in the room where the child is located must be fresh - it must be regularly ventilated;
- dust can not only cause a severe allergic rhinitis, but also accumulate in the nose, clogging it and provoking inflammation, so wet cleaning every morning is a must;
- the baby needs adequate nutrition, rich in vitamins, minerals and trace elements;
- a healthy baby should be in the fresh air every day and dress him for a walk according to weather conditions;
it is necessary to take measures to temper the baby - moderate physical activity and water procedures will perfectly help with this;- during the off-season periods, when diseases transmitted by airborne droplets are especially active, sending the child to school or kindergarten, it is better to lubricate the nose with oxolinic ointment - this will stop the infection and prevent infection.
it is necessary to take measures to temper the baby - moderate physical activity and water procedures will perfectly help with this;An excellent means of prevention, so that green snot does not appear in children, is to regularly rinse the nose with a solution of sea salt or decoctions of herbs (chamomile, sage, etc.). This will clear the nasal passages of accumulated mucus and create an unfavorable environment for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
When the baby is already sick, the nose can be rinsed up to 3 times a day (preferably before instilling drops). But this must be done carefully - under a high pressure of water, snot can get into the Eustachian tube and provoke otitis media.
The attentive attitude of the mother to the health of the baby will allow to detect the first signs of the disease in time and immediately begin treatment. If you are not sure that you can cope with the disease yourself with home remedies, then be sure to consult your doctor!
