Ethyl alcohol is a solution antiseptic, which is widely used in the production of medicinal tinctures and antimicrobial drugs. In alternative medicine, it is used as a warming agent for the treatment of inflammatory processes in the ENT organs. Can I put an alcohol compress on the throat of a child?
Alcohol solutions with a strength of up to 40 degrees can be used as a warming agent during the treatment of infectious diseases in children aged 3-4 years. On contact with the skin, ethyl alcohol quickly penetrates into soft tissues, which promotes accelerated blood circulation and a local increase in temperature. Intensive nutrition of the mucous membrane of the throat with oxygen and nutrients stimulates regeneration processes, as a result of which a regression of inflammation and edema of the ciliated epithelium is observed.
Alcohol in pediatric therapy
Alcohol solutions are categorically not recommended for the treatment of children under the age of 3 years, which is associated with increased sensitization of the body. An overdose of the drug causes intoxication and a deterioration in the patient's well-being, which negatively affects the course of an infectious disease. To reduce the strength of the alcohol solution, it is diluted:
- boiled water;
- herbal decoction;
- green tea;
- vegetable oil;
- solution of "Furacilin".
It is undesirable to use vodka compresses to treat throat in the presence of mechanical damage to the skin, malignant tumors and reduced blood clotting.
Reducing the degree of alcohol solution helps to mitigate the local irritating effect of the agent. Thus, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of burns on the skin after the physiotherapy procedure.
Purpose of the procedure
Children are more susceptible to infectious diseases than adults, which is due to the low reactivity of the body. Comprehensive treatment of ENT pathologies involves the use of not only medicines, but also local therapy. Semi-alcohol and alcohol compresses can be used to treat the following types of diseases:
- angina;
- laryngitis;
- laryngotracheitis;
- bronchitis;
- pharyngitis;
- pneumonia.
However, heating tissues will be safe only at the stage of resolving pathological processes in the mucous membranes of the airways. In other words, it is undesirable to use warming cotton-gauze dressings when purulent plaque occurs on the tonsils, walls of the throat and palatine arches.
The effectiveness of local therapy depends on the correct setting of the compress, the concentration of alcohol in the warming solution and the regularity of the procedure. To enhance the anti-inflammatory properties of the drug, you can add aloe juice, sage broth, calendula tincture, flower honey, chopped onions, etc. to its composition.
Vodka and alcohol compress
Vodka is an alcoholic drink, the strength of which does not exceed 40-45 degrees. When treating preschool children, vodka should be diluted with water in a 1: 1 ratio to prevent burns on the skin. The duration of therapy should be determined by the pediatrician after the child undergoes pharyngoscopy.
Semi-alcohol compresses accelerate blood circulation in the throat mucosa, which helps to restore tissue trophism. Multilayer dressings soaked in vodka are applied to the area of the submandibular lymph nodes for several hours. After the therapy, the skin is treated with baby cream to prevent it from drying out.
The strength of medical alcohol is 96 degrees, which is due to the practical absence of water in its composition. In pediatric therapy, undiluted ethyl alcohol is not used. To reduce the strength, water is added to the product in a ratio of 1: 4 - 1: 6. You can enhance the decongestant and antimicrobial properties of the medicinal solution using essential oils of peppermint, sea buckthorn, lemon balm, cedar, etc.
Recipes
Alcohol and vodka compresses warm up tissues well, but they contain a small amount of useful substances. To speed up recovery, it is necessary to restore normal tissue trophism. To do this, it is necessary to add components with anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties to the composition of the warming agent. In pediatric therapy for the preparation of medicinal solutions, the following recipes can be used:
- solution with "Furacilin": mix boiled water with medical alcohol in a ratio of 1: 3, then add 1 tablet of "Furacilin" to the product;
- camphor oil solution: mix 5 tbsp. l. vodka with 5 tbsp. mineral water, adding 1 tsp of camphor oil to the liquid;
- solution with essential oil: pour 50 ml of vodka into 70 ml of boiled water, then add 5-6 drops of lemon, orange, mint or tea tree essential oil to the preparation;
- solution with "Dimexidum": in 200 ml of "Dimexidum" solution pour 3 tbsp. medical alcohol.
Important! Dimexide can cause side reactions: itching, dermatitis, erythema and dizziness.
Warming compresses have a pronounced local anesthetic, antiphlogistic and antimicrobial effect. To prevent the spread of infection in the throat, during the application of a medical bandage, it is necessary to grasp the healthy tissue adjacent to the inflammation. However, it should be noted that when the body temperature rises, it is absolutely impossible to use alcohol compresses.
With subfebrile and febrile fever, it is more advisable to use compresses based on pharmaceutical preparations and herbal decoctions, which is due to the practical absence of a warming effect. Medicinal herbs such as sage, raspberries, calendula, St. John's wort, chamomile, etc., contain anti-inflammatory components that prevent the ciliated epithelium from melting. To accelerate the regression of pathological processes, the procedure must be performed at least 3-4 times a day until the child's well-being is evidently improved.
Compressing technique
The medical dressing should be composed of several layers to keep warm inside the compress. Only if the application is applied correctly, it is possible to achieve intensive heating of tissues and, accordingly, accelerate blood circulation in the foci of inflammation. To prepare a medical dressing, you will need:
- diluted alcohol solution;
- gauze or cotton cloth;
- compressor paper or polyethylene;
- a large piece of cotton wool or flannel cloth;
- a bandage or piece of non-elastic fabric.
A bandage that is too tight can lead to increased tissue swelling.
Alcohol and semi-alcohol compresses can only be applied to the side and back of the neck. Warming up your thyroid gland can worsen your health condition. During the setting of the compress, you need to pay attention to the following nuances:
- gauze folded in several layers is moistened in a medicinal solution;
- a slightly wrung out wet tissue is placed on the area of the submandibular lymph nodes;
- compressor paper is placed on top to prevent the evaporation of alcohol;
- insulate the compress with a layer of cotton wool or flannel cloth;
- after 2-3 hours, the bandage is removed, and a warm scarf is tied around the throat.
After the procedure, the neck should be washed with warm water to prevent skin irritation. In the presence of itching and erythematous spots, it is necessary to abandon the use of alcohol and semi-alcohol compresses.
