Breathing through the nose is the main type of respiratory activity that is characteristic not only for adults, but also for children, starting from a very young age. And when the nasal passages are blocked by thick mucus, a child can have a number of problems. It is for this reason that parents need to be aware of the basic precautions when carrying out flushing, as well as when home procedures are advisable, and when it is better to see a doctor.
What could be the risk of blockage of the nasal passages?
- During breastfeeding, the baby breathes exclusively through the nose. With its congestion, the normal process of nutrition becomes impossible.
- Blocked nasal passages create significant difficulty in swallowing.
- And even if the process of swallowing occurs, then the child at this moment tries to reflexively inhale through his mouth. This leads to the accumulation of air in his stomach and, accordingly, increased belching and regurgitation.
- Maintaining normal patency of the nasal passages is an excellent prevention of inflammatory diseases of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis, etc.)
- Finally, even in the case of an already developed catarrhal pathology, cleaning the child's nasal cavities significantly increases the bioavailability and effectiveness of drugs.
Why is there excess mucus in my nose?
Adaptation response
This symptom is typical only for very young children - it occurs in the first two months of life. In this case, increased production of mucus in the nose is considered a physiological norm. It reflects the habituation of the child's body to new physical and chemical environmental conditions. In this case, no special treatment is required, but clearing the nasal passages of mucus will help the child go through this period faster.
Allergic reactions
The physiologically immature immune system in infants is a common cause of allergies. One of the manifestations of this disorder is rhinitis, or inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Rinsing the nose is not able to cure allergies, it will only eliminate the symptom of the disease, temporarily relieving the patient's condition. To get rid of allergies, you should identify the allergen and exclude the child's contact with it.
Situational violations
Abundant mucus in the nose can appear when a child is suddenly hypothermic or during teething. In such cases, no special treatment is required and even rinsing of the nasal passages is not necessary. This symptom will soon disappear on its own.
Colds
This is the most common and infectious cause. In this case, rinsing the nose is not a medical procedure - the child needs pharmacological therapy. But the periodic removal of thick mucus, which is a substrate for the reproduction of microorganisms, will significantly accelerate recovery and prevent relapse. In order for the treatment of colds to be as fast and effective as possible, thick mucus in the nose must be liquefied and removed by washing.
How to rinse a newborn's nose?
Ready-made nasal sprays
The selection of such liquids in our pharmacies is quite large. We recommend that you pay special attention to a means for thinning mucus called "Aquamaris". In addition to the salt component, it also contains a number of trace elements that improve the functioning of the mucous membrane in the nasal passages.
You can also use the cheaper, but no less effective domestic drug "Morenazal". It is made on the basis of sea water and contains calcined salt, which is excellent for treating colds. Please note that some of the conditions outlined in the flushing technique section must be followed when using pre-made nasal sprays in infants.
Sea water for rinsing the nose in newborns
The first thing that parents should know: the bottles with "sea water", often offered by cosmetologists, do not contain anything unique. Specific substances of biochemical origin, which saturate the natural water in the sea, disintegrate within a few hours after entering a closed container.
Therefore, if you want to rinse your child's nose with therapeutic "sea water", then the most reasonable choice would be to independently prepare a solution from pure water and solid sea salt. You can buy this salt at almost any pharmacy. When choosing, pay attention to the composition - it should not contain any flavors, dyes or other additives. In order to make such a solution for rinsing the nose, you will need to take:
- 250 ml of warm boiled water (ideally distilled);
- 2-3 teaspoons of sea salt (no slide).
Pour water into a clean, boiled container. Then pour salt into it and stir it gently until it is completely dissolved. The solution remaining after the procedure cannot be stored - a new one will have to be prepared for the next manipulation.
Saline for rinsing the nose of a newborn
Physiological saline is the medium closest to normal human blood in terms of salt content. In order to make your own saline solution, you will need 9 grams of salt, which should be dissolved in 1 liter of water. The water must be boiled first. The solution must also be prepared in a container sterilized by boiling.
Important! For the manufacture of saline, only non-iodized salt should be used. Salt with added potassium iodide can irritate the nasal mucosa in children.
Some medicinal compounds can also be added to the saline solution. A few drops of chamomile extract or aloe extract would be an excellent choice. These substances do not cause allergies and can even be used in infants. They will provide a softening and anti-inflammatory effect and help fight infection.
Technique
How to rinse a newborn's nose with saline and other substances? This procedure should be safe in the first place, so postpone it if the child cries, screams or resists. In this case, the risk of injury to the delicate mucous membrane of the nasal passages increases. Before washing, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly and provide, if not sterile, then at least close to this conditions for placing all the instruments.
When flushing the nasal passages of a newborn baby, do not inject the spray directly from the dispenser. The stream of the drug may be too intense for the thin mucous membrane of the child and injure it or penetrate further than it should, having entered the inner ear cavity. This can lead to inflammation. It is necessary to use sprays that allow you to draw the solution into a pipette and gently instill it into the nose.
Sterilize the pipette by boiling and draw up the solution. Then, taking it in one hand, place the child on his back and inject the drug into each nostril. The exact dosage must be found in the instructions for the spray, but usually it does not exceed 1-2 drops. One minute after that, position the child so that his head is lower than other parts of the body. In this position, the solution will begin to flow, taking the liquefied mucus with it. The child at this moment can sneeze - this will speed up the excretion of mucus.
How to rinse a newborn's nose with a pipette with a self-made solution? It's pretty simple. The procedure for rinsing the nasal passages in this case does not differ from the technology of using ready-made nasal sprays drawn in the same pipette.But the dosage of saline or sea salt solution can be increased to 2-3 drops injected into each nostril.
In addition, saline solutions are milder, but not as intensely thinning as nasal sprays. Therefore, a few minutes after washing, you need to insert a dry cotton flagellum into the child's nostril. Then, performing gentle rotational movements, collect softened mucus on it and finally clear the nasal passages.
Important! Do not touch the finished solution with your hands, so as not to violate its sterility!
Another option for quickly clearing mucus from the nasal passages can be the use of a rubber syringe. Beforehand, it should be thoroughly washed in warm soapy water and several times practiced to control the compression force. One minute after instilling the diluting solution, squeeze the bulb and gently insert the tip into the baby's nostril. Then gently release your hand. This will create a reduced pressure in the pear and under its action the mucus from the nose will be aspirated (drawn) into the syringe. After the end of the procedure, the pear must be washed again in warm soapy water.
Limitations and contraindications
- Ready-made nasal mixtures and sea salt solution for rinsing the nose in children can be used no more than 3-4 times a day and no longer than a week. With more frequent procedures, it is possible to dry out the mucous membrane and destroy its natural anti-infective barrier. But with pure saline or saline with the addition of herbal extracts, you can rinse your child's nose more often.
- Do not use highly allergenic products (such as honey) or concentrated essential oils as additives to the rinsing fluid.
- Also, mother's milk cannot be used for washing. Its benefits in this case are a common misconception, as milk is a good breeding ground for bacteria.
After washing, the child should be at room temperature for at least one and a half hours. This will prevent hypothermia in the sinuses.
