When a child has a sore throat, gargling is one of the most affordable topical therapies. Children's otolaryngologists advise to carry it out in various situations - from pharyngitis, which has become a manifestation of acute respiratory viral infections, to bacterial tonsillitis caused by a dangerous pathogenic microorganism - beta-hemolytic streptococcus. This therapeutic measure allows you to quickly eliminate the dryness of the mucous membrane, reduce the number of pathogenic agents on its surface and, importantly, reduce the intensity of pain. Therefore, for many parents, the question becomes urgent: how to gargle a child's throat and how to do it correctly?
Children and gargle
Gargling is unpleasant. Of course, the degree of "unpleasantness" of the sensations can hardly be compared with injections or other painful procedures. However, a rare child is delighted with the prospect of frequent and long rinsing.
Persuasion does not always work, shouting leads to an increase in fear of inevitable manipulation and an offended look from a son or daughter - the younger the children, the more difficult it is to explain that the treatment is being carried out for their own benefit.
In addition, many children do not know how to gargle.
They swallow the drug or, without properly treating the mucous membrane, immediately spit it out. In the first case, parents are afraid of the side effects of the drug, in the second, the procedure is simply useless. Therefore, it is important to understand whether gargling is really necessary for young children and to know how to carry it out correctly.
As a rule, the list of the main effects of rinsing includes such as:
- Moisturizing.
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Antiseptic.
Moisturizing is achieved by irrigating the mucous membrane with liquid.
Many pediatricians say that it is not necessary to gargle with special solutions for high-quality hydration. The patient should often be offered warm drinks (tea, compote) and make sure he drinks it. This is a good alternative to rinsing for ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection), when the patient is too young to acquire the skills to perform the procedure.
Gargling is an integral part of the local treatment for pharyngitis and tonsillitis. In this case, anti-inflammatory drugs and antiseptics are needed. In this case, the rinsing procedure is only one of the possible options for applying drugs to the mucous membrane. It should be recommended to those children who, due to their age and understanding of what is happening, can learn how to correctly perform all the steps.
Rinsing skills
How to gargle a child 3 years old, older or younger? Parents try to make the treatment as effective as possible, and do not intend to abandon the use of "rinsing" solutions.
However, rinsing is one of the procedures that can only be controlled from the outside, observing the child.
Children need time to figure out how to do it properly.
To teach children how to perform the procedure, you can use:
- own example - as a rule, all parents start with this, wanting to demonstrate not only the technique, but also the safety of the method;
- arousing interest - describe a convenient method that will help to cope with all, without exception, "evil microbes" in the throat;
- the form of the game - children are offered a game in which the throat should be treated (it is better to pour the solution into a colored cup or take your favorite dishes);
- the authority of the doctor - let the attending doctor tell about the benefits and necessity of rinsing (it is important that the child trusts him, and not be afraid).
Not all children are able to get their throats right on the first try. Sometimes it is better to start by rinsing the mouth with plain warm boiled water - even if the patient swallows it with their head thrown back, it is safe, unlike swallowing an antiseptic. You can teach children to rinse without waiting for symptoms - the easier it will be later. If we are talking about an acute process, the method is most effective in the first three days of the disease.
It is believed that the optimal age to start rinsing is no earlier than 5 years.
At the same time, some parents say that children began to correctly repeat all the necessary actions after them at the age of 3. The child should be explained in advance how and why to throw his head back, how much to hold the medicine. To make it easier for him to navigate, turn on the clock - you can color. Take your favorite toy with you to the bathroom. Be patient if the child accidentally swallows the product or spits it out in front of the bath - tell right away why this should not be done. Of course, in no case leave the little patient alone.
Home remedies
To help the patient before using pharmacy products, you can use the ingredients available at home - salt or soda. With their help, the mucous membrane is treated for viral and bacterial infections. It should be understood that the named products will not replace the medications prescribed by the doctor - they play an auxiliary role.
How can you gargle a sick child's throat? To prepare the solution, it is permissible to apply:
- kitchen salt;
- sea salt;
- baking soda.
All components are taken finely, without impurities and additives. The classic volume of water is 150 ml. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt and / or soda in warm boiled water. The amount of funds is sufficient for one procedure. Repeat rinsing is required during the day at least 6 times. Before giving the solution to the child, you need to check its temperature yourself, pouring a little into a separate dish.
You can also make chamomile tea using dry flower baskets. Raw materials (3 tablespoons) are poured into 500 ml of water, boiled for 20 minutes and insisted for an hour. Naturally cooled to a comfortable temperature, used 5 times a day.
Other drugs
The overwhelming majority of annotations of pharmaceutical products used for rinsing contain a note "not allowed for children under the age of 3 years." Guidelines on the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the oropharynx in children indicate the need to discuss the issue of the procedure with the attending physician, regardless of the patient's condition. Rinsing does not heal - it helps to heal as part of a comprehensive therapy.
The doctor may prescribe drugs such as:
- Hexoral.
- Tantum Verde.
Both Hexoral and Tantum Verde are intended for the treatment of pharyngitis and tonsillitis. These diseases can occur at different times of the year (autumn-winter period, summer) and are usually triggered by respiratory viruses or beta-hemolytic streptococcus.
Hexoral is a solution based on the antiseptic Hexetidine. It is used without dilution with water. For children over 6 years old, 15 ml of the product is required for one procedure, which is retained for 15 seconds.
Rinsing is repeated 2 to 3 times a day some time after eating.
Geksoral is used with caution in the presence of sensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid.
Tantum Verde contains the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Benzydamine. It is used without dilution from 2 to 3 times a day in the amount of 15 ml of the product. Gargling can help children cope with illness, but do not rely on it as the only treatment. If it is impossible for the child to carry out or does not accept the procedure, it is quite permissible to replace it with alternative methods of therapy. The composition of the funds, the frequency of use and other questions of interest should be discussed in advance with the attending pediatrician.
