Thick snot in a child: how to treat Komarovsky

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How to treat thick snot in a child?

The younger generation is much more susceptible to ARVI than adults due to unstable immunity, increased physical activity, imperfect heat exchange and a large number of close contacts on playgrounds, preschools and entertainment centers.

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This scourge does not bypass infants either - in this case, one of the main reasons is the physiological features of the structure of the respiratory organs in babies. In this article we will discuss how to get rid of the constant companion of a cold - thick, sticky snot.

You can learn what to do when your snot is brown in color from this article.

Why did they appear

The main reason for the appearance of thick mucus in the nose in a child is the increased content of mucin protein, which is responsible for the structure of nasal secretions. This condition is a protective reaction of the child’s body to the penetration of a viral infection. Mucus tightly clogs the nasal passages and thereby “preserves” pathogenic microorganisms, preventing them from spreading further.

But the phenomenon also has a reverse, negative side - difficulty breathing, which provokes mild oxygen starvation and many other unpleasant symptoms:

Increased production of mucin is provoked by factors such as hypothermia and allergic reactions to various food and respiratory irritants, so their appearance is predominantly seasonal, worsening in spring and autumn.

How to treat thick snot in a child can be found in this article.

The video explains how to treat thick snot in a child:

Discharge color

One of the diagnostic factors by which the pediatrician draws a conclusion about the causes of a runny nose is the color of the snot.

White or translucent thick snot appears at the very beginning of a viral disease or during the recovery stage. They may look like viscous mucus, which is extremely difficult for a child to blow his nose on his own, or they may foam.

In addition to infection or inflammation of the respiratory tract, white discharge often indicates that the patient does not walk and move enough, or spends too much time at home, breathing stale, dusty air. If a child has such nasal discharge, this is the first signal to parents about the need to review his regime.

You can find out what to do when your baby has snot and no fever by reading this article.

Green, thick snot is evidence that the baby’s body is susceptible to an advanced disease, most likely associated with the respiratory system. This can be sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, bronchitis and even sluggish pneumonia. The green color of mucus comes from an excess of a special substance secreted by the immune system, so the appearance of such secretions indicates that the body is actively preventing the spread of the virus.

Yellow or brownish snot rarely appears in children, since this color of discharge provokes the gradual accumulation of nicotine in the body, which is typical for experienced smokers.

Children have nasal congestion and thick snot, what to do and how to deal with it. can be found in this article.

The mechanism is very simple - when nicotine enters a person’s respiratory tract, it settles on their walls and subsequently comes out during a runny nose, turning the snot yellow-brown. But if parents do discover yellow mucus in their child, this should be a reason for an immediate visit to the doctor and a thorough examination, since this may be one of the symptoms of serious diseases, including cancer.

Thick snot mixed with blood does not always indicate serious illness. Most often, this is only a consequence of constant strained nose blowing (a consequence of the fact that they do not blow their nose) leading to mechanical damage to the blood vessels.

How to treat when a child has yellow snot can be found in this article.

However, you should not make a diagnosis yourself - in rare cases, a bloody component in the mucus is a manifestation of sinusitis or high blood pressure, so its frequent appearance should be a reason to visit a pediatrician.

You should not lose sight of the smell of the discharge - if there is an admixture of rot in it, this may indicate an acute stage of inflammation of the maxillary or frontal sinuses. You should not self-medicate - this disease almost always requires the use of antibacterial therapy and its course should be monitored by an otolaryngologist.

Treatment

How to rid your child of annoying nasal discharge? Any treatment should be based on correct diagnosis of the causes of the disease, without which it is impossible to select the necessary set of drugs.

Home procedures aimed at thinning mucus also play an important role:

  1. rinsing the nose with a weak saline solution or special sprays that can be purchased at any pharmacy - Salin, Aqua Maris, Marimer, Delufen;
  2. instillation of nasal passages with drops prescribed by a doctor. Depending on the etiology of the ailment and the age of the patient, they can be hormonal (Avamys, Nasonex, Polydexa), vasoconstrictor (Pinosol, Physiomer, Nazivin, Otrivin, Tizin, Sanorin) or homeopathic (Euphorbium Compositum);
  3. physical procedures: electrophoresis, quartz treatment, ultraviolet irradiation. At home, they can be very effectively supplemented with traditional methods of treatment - warming the nose with a chicken egg, a blue lamp, steaming the feet in hot water (the latter method of treatment is only permissible for older children and, of course, under strict control of the water temperature by parents) ;
  4. inhalation with a nebulizer.

Hygiene and maintaining the humidity level in his room play a significant role in treating thick snot and facilitating nasal breathing for a child. It is necessary to carry out wet cleaning daily - wash the floors, wipe the dust, wash soft interior elements as often as possible - curtains, blankets, pillows, plush toys. Ventilating the room in the evening will help make it easier for a sick child to sleep.

How to treat sinusitis with cuckoo can be found in this article.

How to do a massage for sinusitis can be seen in the video in this article.

If the cause of the viscous discharge is an allergic reaction of the body, it is important to protect the child from the influence of irritants that the apartment is infested with - feather pillows and blankets, pets (we must not forget that the cause of the allergy may not be the pet itself, but its food or litter) , indoor plants. Often the cause of snot can be substances contained in household chemicals - in this case it will have to be replaced with more organic products. It is also necessary to follow the doctor's recommendations regarding the diet and, if necessary, adjust it.

Depending on the cause of the runny nose, the pediatrician may prescribe antihistamines, antiviral or antibacterial drugs for the child, which should be taken exactly according to his instructions.

The smallest patients who are unable to blow their nose on their own should clear their nasal passages two to three times a day with a respirator - a special rubber bulb with a plastic tip that helps remove snot under the influence of a vacuum.

Komarovsky's opinion

Simple, useful and practical advice from pediatrician Evgeniy Komarovsky has repeatedly made life easier for parents and children and helped speed up recovery. The doctor names the cause of thick discharge as exposure to allergens or active activity of viruses and bacteria. At the same time, green thick snot is an unambiguous and irrefutable sign of a bacterial infection. However, this does not mean that the child must be treated with antibiotics: a bacterial runny nose can be quite successfully treated by rinsing and warming the nose. To make sure that treatment is moving in the right direction, it is necessary to monitor the color and degree of viscosity of the snot. If they gradually lighten, become white and begin to flow, this indicates that the body is victorious over pathogenic microorganisms.

In the video, Komarovsky talks about how to treat thick snot:

Particular attention should be paid to walks: the doctor emphasizes that a child with any runny nose needs to breathe as much clean and moist air as possible. True, walks are permissible only when the child’s body temperature does not exceed 36.6 ºС, and on the street - not lower than 0 ºС. To prevent the spread of infection, during treatment you should avoid groups of children and try to walk more in parks and other green areas, away from crowds of people.

I just recently became a mother and I take any child’s sneeze with great caution (I clean my nose almost every day because a small child cannot blow his nose), but my child’s nose still gets clogged. I read the article, I think I can really go for more walks, but it’s either frosty or quarantine. If only it were already spring and summer, then we’ll definitely move from the house to the street and see the changes.

Unfortunately, not all pediatricians are interested in the color of a child’s nozzles. Our doctor has one solution - vasoconstrictor drops. It’s good that now you can easily find Dr. Komarovsky’s video and self-medicate (which our doctors scold so much).

In the autumn-winter period, we rinse the nose with saline solution. If there are nozzles, pump them out with an aspirator. As a last resort, take naphthyzine at night. Such measures are effective and prevent the disease from progressing further.

We recently got sick, our general health seems to be normal, there is no fever or cough, but the sniffles are like plasticine, thick and cannot be blown out. We tried drops and rinsing, but there were no significant results, but the doctor boldly sent us to kindergarten. You can’t get an appointment with an ENT specialist, there’s only one for the whole city and you make an appointment a month in advance. I think maybe inhalations will help, I can’t think of anything else to do.

I regularly wash my child’s nose with saline solution or Aqualor, and then use a dippenser to pull them out. I didn’t treat his nose with anything else, since saline solution works great against bacteria if you wash the sinuses regularly, but more often than not 4 times a day.

Source: http://prolor.ru/n/detskoe-zdorove/gustye-sopli-u-rebenka-chem-lechit.html

Treating thick snot for a child

Attentive parents who are sensitive to the well-being of their baby have a lot of reasons to worry. Serious and not very serious.

One of these reasons is a runny nose. It is very difficult for parents of an infant to distinguish respiratory manifestations from a physiological runny nose, the launch of adaptation mechanisms from the first symptoms of an onset of the disease, and to understand when it is necessary to treat manifestations of rhinitis, and when it is not necessary to avoid the use of medications. And the treatment of young children itself is not an easy question even for experienced parents.

Cause of thick nasal discharge

Children, especially infants, are susceptible to rhinitis no less than adults and even more so. This is justified for several reasons:

  • physiological features of the structure of the nasal passages of the infant;
  • immaturity of the immune system;
  • imperfection of heat exchange.

The mucus thickens with an increase in the content of mucin (protein) in the discharge. It is this protein that is responsible for the structural characteristics of mucous secretions. Thickening of discharge is a method of protecting the body from an infectious agent. The child's thick snot tightly closes the nasal passages, preventing pathogenic agents from moving deeper.

The negative aspect of such a reaction is difficulty in nasal breathing, which leads to hypoxia, deterioration of general well-being, increased fatigue, sleep disturbance, and headaches. Of course, a baby cannot complain of a headache, for example, but he becomes capricious and refuses the breast or bottle.

The following factors provoke the production of mucin:

  • hypothermia;
  • mechanical respiratory irritants;
  • allergens.

Therefore, exacerbation of a runny nose accompanied by thick discharge is seasonal.

For a correct diagnosis, not only the thickness, but also the color of nasal mucus is very important:

  1. Viscous white mucus is a sign of the final stage of a respiratory disease and the success of treatment.
  2. Thick snot in a child or mucus mixed with blood may be evidence that the child is in unfavorable conditions for him (in a room with overheated, stale air). The appearance of blood may be a sign of thinning of the blood vessels due to excessive use of vasoconstrictors, or frequent straining in older children when trying to get rid of thick mucus in the nose.
  3. Thick green discharge indicates an advanced form of the infectious process.
  4. Thick yellow-green mucus may be a sign of allergic rhinitis complicated by a bacterial infection.\
  5. Yellow-brown nasal mucus in children is rare - a sign of a serious illness, including cancer.

Stages of rhinitis in children under one year of age with respiratory infections

It is customary to distinguish three stages in the process of formation of nasal mucus in respiratory diseases of infants:

  • discharge of copious transparent discharge;
  • formation of thick mucus of yellow-green or milky white color;
  • crust formation.

The first stage marks the beginning of the infectious process.

At the second stage of rhinovirus infection, the mucus becomes thick and white, and if a bacterial infection is attached, it turns yellow-green. This is a sign of the beginning of recovery. However, the period when a child under one year old produces thick snot is a difficult and unpleasant stage. Children under one year old do not know how to blow their nose, and cannot remove mucus from their nose on their own. During this period, eating and sleeping is uncomfortable for the baby; he often abandons the breast or wakes up, cries and is capricious.

At the third stage, mucus is not secreted with increased intensity. Crusts form in the nasal passages, tightly adhering to the mucous membrane of the nose. The presence of such crusts is not as dangerous as thick mucus, but very unpleasant. The crusts irritate the nasal mucosa, so the baby may snore heavily and hoarsely, especially during sleep. During this period, there is no longer any need to treat a runny nose, and the crusts are removed using cotton swabs soaked in sterile petroleum jelly.

The main danger of excessive mucus production for a baby under one year of age

Firstly, the baby’s general condition and nervous system deteriorate due to sleep disturbances and the inability to eat normally.

Secondly, flowing down the back wall of the pharynx, mucus containing harmful bacteria can contribute to the transfer of infection to the mucous membrane of the throat and lead to an inflammatory process. And the treatment is not only and not so much rhinitis.

Thirdly, thick mucus, slowly flowing down the back wall of the throat, can cause vomiting in an infant.

Fourthly, rhinitis can allow bacteria to enter the paranasal sinuses, this is especially dangerous for children, since their nasal passages are narrowed, this contributes to the increased proliferation of harmful microflora.

Therefore, the question of how to cure rhinitis for your child is by no means idle. However, self-treatment with medications is not recommended.

Basics of rhinitis treatment at the stage of thick secretion formation

Treating a runny nose at the stage of thick secretion is quite troublesome. The principle of treating a runny nose at this stage is based on the fact that the thick secretion must be liquefied before removal. Therefore, the treatment procedure proceeds in several stages:

  • thinning mucus;
  • removal of softened secretions;
  • antibacterial or other therapy recommended by a doctor.

At the first stage, medications made from sea water, which, as a rule, have no contraindications, or sterile saline are used for treatment. After instilling one of these substances, you need to wait 5 minutes to achieve the desired effect.

The child himself cannot get rid of the thick secretion, even after it has liquefied. Therefore, adults remove mucus from infants using cotton wool, an aspirator, or a small medical syringe (bulb). Then, as treatment, nasal drops prescribed by the doctor are used.

If a runny nose is caused by an allergy, and a thick secretion appears due to a bacterial infection, antihistamines and sorbents can be prescribed along with antibiotics. In severe cases, your doctor may recommend taking corticosteroids to treat allergies. And in any case, you need to try to rid the child of the influence of the allergen.

Non-drug measures

Treatment is more effective if parents rely not only and not so much on medications. The following measures will help the baby recover quickly and get rid of a runny nose:

  • regular wet cleaning;
  • frequent ventilation every minute;
  • additional air humidification;
  • in case of a bacterial infection, it is not recommended to drip mother’s milk into the nasal passages, especially if thick mucus forms, since being in a nasal clog for a long time, milk loses its bactericidal properties and serves as a breeding ground for bacteria;
  • there is no need to additionally wrap, dress or cover the baby;
  • when the baby has a runny nose, he needs a position that allows him to breathe more freely (a raised head end of the crib or an additional pillow);
  • Additionally, you cannot bathe your baby in hot water; you can bathe him in water that is comfortable for him before bed, if his body temperature is not elevated;
  • if there is no fever and the weather outside is comfortable, you need to go for a walk with the child, the exception is allergic rhinitis (if the allergy is caused by pollen);
  • When thick nasal secretions form, the baby should be given water between feedings.

Source: http://rebenokrazvit.ru/rebenok-do-goda/bolezni/lechim-gustye-sopli-rebyonku.html

Doctor Komarovsky about the treatment of a runny nose in a child

A runny nose is a frequent guest in families where children grow up. Everyone knows that nasal congestion is not an independent disease, it is only a symptom. Moreover, he can talk about a wide variety of diseases. However, in most families, mothers and fathers continue to treat their child for a runny nose. This therapy is sometimes long-term. The famous children's doctor Evgeny Komarovsky tells what a runny nose “signals” to adults, and what parents should do so that their child can breathe easily and simply.

About the problem

Even the most caring mother, who takes care of and protects her child from everything in the world, will not be able to ensure that her child never gets a runny nose in his life. This is because rhinitis (the medical name for the runny nose) most often occurs during acute viral respiratory infections. At the physiological level, the following happens: one of the many viruses that always surround the child gets onto the nasal mucosa. In response, the immune system gives the command to secrete as much mucus as possible, which should isolate the virus from other organs and systems, preventing it from moving further through the nasopharynx, larynx, bronchi and lungs.

In addition to the viral form, which accounts for about 90% of all cases of children's runny nose, according to Evgeniy Komarovsky, rhinitis can be bacterial. This causes pathogenic bacteria to enter the nasal cavity. The body reacts in a similar way - with increased mucus production. Bacterial rhinitis itself is extremely rare, and its course is always very severe. Bacteria (most often staphylococci) cause severe inflammation, suppuration, and toxic waste products cause general intoxication.

Sometimes a bacterial runny nose can develop after a child has suffered a viral infection. This happens because accumulated mucus in the nasal passages becomes an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.

Usually these bacteria are harmless; they live in the nose and mouth on a permanent basis and do not bother the child in any way. However, in conditions of an abundance of mucus, its stagnation, drying out, microbes become pathogenic and begin to multiply rapidly. This usually happens with complicated rhinitis.

The third, fairly common cause of runny nose in children is allergies. Allergic rhinitis occurs as a reaction of local immunity to a protein antigen. If such a substance enters the body, the nasal mucosa reacts with swelling, making it difficult for the child to breathe through the nose.

In some cases, nasal congestion and impaired nasal breathing are associated with ENT diseases, such as adenoids. If the runny nose is acute (occurred no earlier than 5 days ago), then there should be no reason for special concern. In case of persistent snot and other symptoms, it is better to consult an otolaryngologist.

Treatment of viral runny nose

Viral rhinitis is the most common among children and does not require treatment as such. The mucus produced by the membranes of the nose contains special substances that are very important for fighting the virus that has entered the body. However, the beneficial properties of mucus will end immediately after the snot becomes thick. As long as they flow, everything is fine, parents can calm down.

But if suddenly the nasal mucus thickens, becomes green, yellow, yellow-green, purulent, purulent with impurities of blood, it ceases to be a “fighter” against the virus and becomes an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. This is how a bacterial runny nose begins, which will require treatment with antibiotics.

Thus, with a viral runny nose, the main task of parents is to prevent the mucus in the nose from drying out. The snot should remain liquid. That’s why Evgeniy Komarovsky recommends not looking for pharmacy magic nose drops, because there are no cures for viruses, but simply rinsing the child’s nasal cavity with saline solutions, and doing this as often as possible (at least every half hour). To prepare the solution, you need to take a teaspoon of salt per liter container of boiled chilled water. The resulting solution can be dripped, washed out of the nose using a disposable syringe without a needle, or sprayed with a special bottle.

For instillation, you can use other means that help thin the nasal mucus - “Pinosol”, “Ectericide”. Washing with the most common saline solution, which can be bought inexpensively at any pharmacy, effectively thins snot.

The drying out of nasal mucus, which is so necessary during the body’s fight against viruses, is facilitated by stuffy and dry air in the room and the lack of a sufficient amount of fluid in the body. Therefore, the room where a child with a runny nose is located should be ventilated and wet cleaned. The air must be humidified to 50-70%. Special devices - humidifiers - will help parents with this. If there is no such miracle of technology in the family, you can place basins of water in the corners of the room so that it can evaporate freely, hang wet towels on the radiators and make sure that they do not dry out. A child who often suffers from rhinitis should definitely be given an aquarium with fish.

On the heating radiators in Dad’s room, you need to install special valves that can be used to regulate the air temperature during the heating season. The air temperature in the children's room should be degrees (all year round).

During treatment of a viral infection, the child must drink. But not syrups and mixtures from the pharmacy, but tea, compote of dried fruits or fresh berries, fruit drinks, regular drinking water. The drinking regime should be plentiful; the mother should serve all drinks to the child warm, but not hot, preferably at room temperature. Such a drink is absorbed faster into the body, and the likelihood of drying out the mucous membranes is significantly reduced.

If a child does not have a high temperature, he, despite a runny nose, should definitely walk in the fresh air and breathe more. This is where the treatment of viral rhinitis ends.

Treatment of bacterial rhinitis

If the snot changes color, consistency, becomes thick, green, or purulent, you should definitely call a doctor. Bacterial infection is a serious matter, and airing alone cannot do it. In most cases, your child will need antibiotic nasal drops. But before prescribing, the doctor will definitely examine the extent of the inflammatory process and only then will decide in what form to give the child antibiotics - in tablets (for an extensive infection with additional symptoms) or in drops.

Komarovsky’s recommendations regarding air humidity, air temperature, wet cleaning, ventilation and plenty of warm drinking for a runny nose caused by microbes also remain in force.

Treatment of allergic rhinitis

The best treatment for rhinitis caused by antigen proteins is to get rid of the source of the proteins. To do this, says Komarovsky, an allergist and pediatrician must try and find, with the help of tests and special tests, the very allergen that affects the child in this way. While doctors are looking for the cause, parents need to create the safest conditions possible for the baby at home.

Be sure to remove all carpets and soft toys from the children's room, which are accumulators of dust and allergens. The room should be wet cleaned more often, but without the use of chemicals; you should especially avoid household chemicals that contain substances such as chlorine.

You should wash your child’s clothes exclusively with baby powder, the packaging of which has the inscription “Hypoallergenic”; after washing, all clothes and bed linen must be additionally rinsed in clean water. Parents should create adequate conditions in the room - air temperature (18-20 degrees), air humidity (50-70%).

If all these measures are unsuccessful and the runny nose does not go away, then the use of medications may be necessary. Usually in this situation, vasoconstrictor nasal drops are prescribed. They do not treat rhinitis of an allergic nature, but they provide temporary relief. Almost immediately after instillation, the vessels of the nasal mucosa narrow, the swelling subsides, and nasal breathing is restored.

These drops are in any home medicine cabinet, and usually everyone knows their names. In relation to children's treatment, these are “Nazol”, “Nazivin”, “Tizin”, etc. However, these drops cannot be dripped for longer than 3-5 days (maximum 7 days, if the doctor insists on it), otherwise they will cause persistent drug-induced symptoms in the child. dependence, in which, without drops, he will always experience difficulty breathing through the nose, and from constant use, the nasal mucosa can atrophy. In addition, Komarovsky calls for the use of exclusively children's forms of drops, which differ from adults in a reduced dosage. In addition, it should be remembered that many of these drugs are strictly contraindicated in children under two years of age. The list of side effects of vasoconstrictor drugs is also quite long.

For the treatment of allergic rhinitis, calcium gluconate is often prescribed in an age-appropriate dosage, and antihistamines, if the doctor considers it necessary. Children whose allergic rhinitis is chronic and protracted, with exacerbations occurring every season, may be prescribed antiallergic drugs for topical use (Cromoglin, Allergodil, etc.). The drug "Rinofluimucil", which is a combination drug that includes hormones, antiallergic components, and antibacterial agents, has proven to be quite effective.

If the child sniffs his nose

Usually, parents are immediately inclined to believe that the baby is starting to have a runny nose and plan how and what to treat it with. However, says Evgeny Komarovsky, sniffing is not always a sign of illness.

If a child is upset, cries, and then sniffles for a long time, this is a normal physiological process in which “excess” tears flow down the nasolacrimal canaliculus into the nose. There is no need to treat or drip anything, just offer the child a handkerchief.

Runny nose in infants

Parents often ask how to treat a runny nose in newborns and infants. Evgeniy Komarovsky argues that such babies do not always require treatment as such. If it seems to the mother that the baby is snoring or wheezing in his sleep, this is not always rhinitis. In infants, the nasal passages are very narrow, which makes nasal breathing somewhat difficult. This condition does not require any other help other than creating the correct microclimate in the room, which was mentioned above. You can take your child for walks more often.

If the nose does not breathe, breathes poorly, or mucous discharge appears, it should be remembered that it is the narrowness of the nasal passages in infants that makes it difficult for mucus to flow out, and therefore the risk of developing a bacterial infection is significantly higher in them than in older children. The baby doesn't know how to blow his nose yet. Parents will need to buy an aspirator and help the little one clear the nasal passages of accumulated snot. You can drip salt solutions, give them water and moisturize them too.

If a baby has white snot coming out of his nose, it is mucus mixed with milk or formula. This happens if the child burps unsuccessfully (partially into the nose). There is no need to treat anything in this situation either. Remove white mucus and rinse the nose with saline solution.

Nasal congestion sometimes occurs during teething. In this situation, parents are also required to do the minimum necessary to create normal conditions. There is no point in dripping and treating such a runny nose; as soon as the teeth erupt, the swelling in the area of ​​the nasal passages will subside on its own.

Advice from Dr. Komarovsky

The longer a child with a stuffy nose breathes through his mouth during influenza or ARVI, the higher the risk that not only the mucous secretions in the nose, but also in the bronchi and lungs will dry out. To avoid bronchitis and pneumonia, which are the most common complications of respiratory viral infections, be sure to moisturize and liquefy. All methods are described above.

If, after using certain drops in the nose, a child sneezes or his eyes water, you should not attribute these symptoms to an allergic reaction to the medication. These are normal manifestations of the immune fight against the virus; treatment should not be cancelled.

A runny nose doesn't always look classic. If a child’s snot flows not outward, but inward, along the back wall of the larynx, then the disease will be called nasopharyngitis. A doctor should treat him.

Any treatment with folk remedies can lead to serious complications, says Evgeny Komarovsky. All recipes offered by traditional healers are aimed at eliminating the amount of mucus. If you have a bacterial runny nose, you should not warm your nose, rinse it with warm solutions, or make compresses or inhalations. In case of allergic rhinitis, especially of unclear etiology, most medicinal plants that are used in alternative medicine pose a danger to an allergic child in themselves.

How to treat a runny nose in children, see the program of Dr. Komarovsky.

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How to treat thick snot in a child

All small children get sick. Some are more, others are less. Very often, the main cause of the disease is viral infections. And they are often accompanied by a runny nose. Very thick snot is an almost constant companion to the penetration of a pathological agent into the nasopharynx.

Reasons for education

The formation of thick mucus is influenced by the protein mucin. It is he who is responsible for the structure of discharge from the nasal passages. The following factors can influence the increased formation of this protein:

In addition to this factor, the formation of thick snot in a child is influenced by:

  • non-compliance with drinking regime;
  • dry air in the room where the child is.

Therefore, if you discover your baby has a stringy runny nose, you need to take the following measures:

  1. provide access to fresh air into the room;
  2. carry out wet cleaning;
  3. remove possible allergens;
  4. spend time in the fresh air as often as possible.

If these simple and uncomplicated procedures do not help remove the unwanted runny nose as soon as possible, you should consult a doctor. After all, it seems that a serious illness may be hidden behind banal snot.

These pathological processes that accompany a runny nose include:

  • influenza with complications;
  • formation of polyps;
  • proliferation of adenoid vegetations;
  • sinusitis;
  • sinusitis.

The color of the discharge will also help determine the cause of the appearance of thick, sticky snot.

Color, smell and diagnosis

When consulting a doctor for advice, the first thing the doctor will do is look at the color of the discharge from the nasal passages. Slime can have the following colors:

  • indicates the onset of a viral disease;
  • may appear at the end of the disease;
  • the child spends little time outdoors;
  • the baby leads a sedentary lifestyle
  • very often speaks of an advanced disease of the respiratory system: sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, low-grade pneumonia
  • yellow-green mucus indicates a bacterial infection
  • indicates the body’s struggle with the pathological process
  • appear rarely, as they mainly indicate the accumulation of nicotine in the body
  • may be a sign of the development of an oncological process
  • cause of constant strong nose blowing movements
  • manifestation of sinusitis
  • may indicate high blood pressure

The presence of one or another pathological process occurring in the child’s body is indicated by the smell of mucous secretions. If you hear the smell of rotting when you blow your nose, this indicates the presence of an acute phase of the inflammatory process occurring in the maxillary sinuses.

The formation of any type of snot is always a very dangerous sign. They become the root cause of painful damage to the throat and lower respiratory tract. As a result of their accumulation, blockage of the nasal passages occurs. This affects the pathological process - normal breathing becomes difficult, the brain receives insufficient oxygen. This can lead to the development of hypoxia and cause developmental delays.

Consultation with Dr. Komarovsky

The first thing you need to do is consult a doctor for advice. Self-medication can be dangerous to health and can lead to serious complications. Only a doctor can correctly assess the situation and make a diagnosis.

The presence of thick snot, according to Dr. Komarovsky, does not indicate the need to prescribe antibacterial therapy. At the first stage, very simple preventive measures will help:

  • take regular walks in the fresh air;
  • carry out wet cleaning in the room where the child is at least twice a day;
  • ventilate the room frequently;
  • use a humidifier;
  • rinse the nose to moisturize and cleanse the nasal mucosa.

In the most extreme cases, the famous doctor Komarovsky recommends using vasoconstrictor drops in the nose. They should only be prescribed by a doctor, as these medications are addictive and addictive. But, if there is a threat of a complication such as otitis media, the use of drops is justified.

Treatment with medications

When treating a stringy runny nose, adhere to the same rules as when treating other forms of rhinitis.

The first thing to do is to remove thickened mucus from the nasal cavity. For small children who cannot yet blow their nose on their own (and this is difficult for adults to do because of the thick consistency), it is recommended to use a nozzle ejector or aspirator. The following rinsing preparations are used:

  • saline;
  • solutions based on salt water: Marimer, Aquamaris, Aqualor, Salin;
  • sea ​​water solution.

These medications are available in the form of drops and sprays. Sprays have different types of atomization. For a small child, a continuous mist spray is best. It ensures uniform penetration of liquid onto the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and thus cleans the drains well.

The second stage will be the restoration of airway patency. This must be done so that the baby can breathe fully through the nose. To carry out this procedure, vasoconstrictor drops are used:

For the same purposes, homeopathic and hormonal remedies are used:

Of the antiviral and antibacterial medications, doctors recommend:

Medicines are used in age-specific dosages and as prescribed by a doctor.

Rinoflumicin spray has proven itself to be effective in the treatment of very thick snot. It has a dual effect: vasoconstrictor and antibacterial. The drug Bioporox belongs to this category. With a good therapeutic effect, it has a minimum of side effects. In advanced conditions, antibacterial drops are used.

If the above drugs do not help, green thick snot does not go away, a purulent inflammatory process occurs in the paranasal sinuses - the use of antibacterial drugs in tablet form or by injection is recommended.

In order to ensure the correctness of the therapy, it is necessary to observe the discharge from the nasal passages. If the snot becomes lighter, becomes more liquid, begins to flow and becomes lighter, then all the prescriptions are correct. The body successfully fights the problem.

If there is no effect of treatment, surgical intervention in the form of a puncture is possible. This removes the accumulated pus.

Folk remedies

Any treatment using medicinal herbs and herbs cannot replace all drug therapy. But, in combination with prevention methods, they will have a beneficial effect on the child’s body.

Before using folk remedies for the first time, you need to make sure that there is no allergic reaction to all components of the drug.

The most common include:

  • steam inhalations with a solution of chamomile, calendula, St. John's wort, sage (taken in equal proportions);
  • nasal drops made from Kalanchoe and aloe juice;
  • rinsing the nasal passages with sea water with the addition of a few drops of iodine;
  • drops made from beet juice diluted in half with water.

We speed up recovery and engage in prevention

In order for the child to recover faster, a comprehensive approach should be taken to the treatment of this disease. Not only medicines and traditional medicine should be used, but also other measures:

  • do not wrap or overheat the baby;
  • ventilate the room;
  • use a humidifier;
  • never cancel walks outside;
  • do not self-medicate in order to avoid serious complications (especially with regard to vasoconstrictor drops;
  • during night and daytime sleep - it is necessary to ensure that the child is comfortable in the crib (so that the mucus does not completely block the nasal passages);
  • regularly carry out cleansing procedures of the nasal passages;
  • if body temperature is kept within the age norm, evening swimming is allowed;
  • establish an adequate drinking regime.

To ensure that the infectious process does not become widespread, it is necessary to avoid visiting children's groups during treatment and walk in parks and green areas away from large crowds of people.

To prevent the appearance of thick snot, it is necessary to engage in feasible sports, take a contrast shower (the difference in water temperature for a child should not exceed two to three degrees).

From a very young age, it is necessary to accustom a child to a proper balanced diet, adherence to a daily routine and a healthy lifestyle.

By following these simple recommendations, you can forever get rid of, or even not get acquainted with, such a phenomenon as thick viscous snot.

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All information is provided for informational purposes. Only a qualified doctor can make a real diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment.

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Source: http://nasmork-rinit.ru/vidy-nasmorka/gustye-sopli-u-rebenka.html

How to treat a child's thick snot

There is not a single person in our climate who is not familiar with a stuffy nose, runny nose, or nasal discharge. We are so used to it that we don’t even consider it a serious illness and joke that without treatment, a runny nose lasts a week, but with treatment it lasts 7 days. But if the snot does not go away in a child, especially an infant, then this is no longer a reason for jokes.

In a baby, even a one-year-old, a runny nose leads to difficulty eating, possible complications with the ears, and a temperature of 37 and above. Older children, due to a runny nose, breathe through their mouths outside in the cold, which leads to a sore throat, cough and further worsening of the cold. Realizing this, parents begin to worry if their child has thick snot, they think about how to treat it and how to quickly get rid of it.

Types of snot

Runny nose and nasal congestion occur quite often in children, but can be explained by various reasons. There are different types of nasal discharge, which can be explained by differences in either the stage of the disease or the reasons for their appearance. Children under one year of age may have a physiological runny nose, which appears as a result of the baby’s adaptation to the environment.

Caused by bacteria, viruses, and allergic reactions to respiratory irritants, a runny nose is called respiratory.

  1. Liquid transparent;
  2. Thick transparent;
  3. Colored: green, yellow, orange snot.

Liquid transparent snot can be allergic or, according to Dr. Komarovsky, at the initial stage of ARVI. If clear nasal drops are caused by allergies, they are usually associated with certain flowering seasons of certain plants and are accompanied by other allergy symptoms - watery eyes, frequent sneezing.

Viral infections also begin with liquid transparent snot due to inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which intensively produces a protective secretion. At this stage, if the infection has not spread to the throat, ears, or respiratory organs, it may not be accompanied by fever. However, the child breathes heavily, sleeps poorly, and intoxication leads to loss of appetite, fatigue and whims. Transparent liquid sniffles as the flu, another viral disease, continues, are replaced by thick ones.

  • Thick transparent snot appears in the second stage of the disease; this is a kind of protective mechanism. They clog the infection, preventing pathogenic microorganisms from spreading further. Thick snot makes it especially difficult for a child under one year to eat, get oxygen, etc. Dr. Komarovsky, like other pediatricians, believe that the appearance of thick snot is a sign of recovery.
  • Thick colored snot also usually appears with an illness that has gone quite far, but is caused not by viruses, but by bacteria or other pathogenic microorganisms.
  • At the third stage of recovery, which is highlighted, for example, by Dr. Komarovsky, yellow dry crusts appear in the nose instead of thick mucus. They irritate children and dry out their mucous membranes. Because of these yellow crusts on the back of the nose, the child grunts and wheezes in his sleep.

Discharge color

When parents bring their child to see a doctor with a cold and a complaint of nasal congestion, before treatment, the pediatrician makes a diagnosis and asks about the color of the baby’s nasal discharge. The different colors of this discharge tell the doctor this:

  • White or transparent. They appear at the beginning of ARVI, influenza in the form of liquid discharge at the initial stage and thick discharge at the second stage of the disease. This discharge is thick and viscous, making it difficult for the baby to blow his nose. In addition, the white color indicates that the child spends little time in the fresh air and is inactive. Parents should consider correcting this deficiency in his regime.
  • Green, thick nasal discharge indicates that the child has had a respiratory disease for quite some time. You can see such green snot with sinusitis, bronchitis, chronic rhinitis or pneumonia. The presence of such purulent snot is a sign of bacterial inflammation in the nasopharynx.
  • Orange snot, as well as yellow or brownish snot, is rare in children and requires special attention from parents. This brown color can be explained in adult smokers, where it is explained by nicotine. Orange snot in a child is a signal of serious illnesses that require careful examination by specialists.
  • Small red spots of bloody inclusions in thick nasal discharge are not always a cause for particular concern. This is usually the result of the child trying very hard to blow his nose and doing it often, which causes the blood vessels in the nose to be slightly damaged. But sometimes this is a consequence of sinusitis, or high blood pressure.

It is also worth paying attention if the snot smells like rotting. This may be a sign of acute disease of the maxillary or frontal sinuses.

Considering all this, parents should not make a diagnosis themselves, but turn to specialists. After all, without treatment, a runny nose may not go away in a week, but can lead to the transformation of nasopharyngeal diseases into chronic ones, and give complications to the ears or throat.

Green snot + how to treat Komarovsky

Why is snot thick?

The mucus in the nose consists of water, salts and mucin protein, which is responsible for the thickness of the discharge. It is actively produced by the nasal mucosa in the fight against bacteria that provoked the disease.

Treatment of green snot in infants under 1 year of age

For whatever reasons - physiological or as a result of ARVI, influenza - snot appears in a baby, you cannot treat it yourself. You can’t leave them unattended, even if the baby doesn’t have a fever.

You should definitely consult a doctor who will determine the cause and prescribe treatment. Since nasal congestion and thick snot can lead to complications in the baby’s throat and ears. Even if a runny nose is the result of dry air, the fact that the nose is clogged prevents the baby from eating, sleeping, and therefore fully developing for up to a year.

If the child does not have a fever, and the mucus in the nose is caused by dry air in the room or other similar reasons, then the snot of an infant up to one year old is sucked out with a rubber bulb, and the nose is washed with saline solution. The room must be ventilated and the air humidified.

After two months, the doctor may prescribe vasoconstrictor drops, products based on sea water. If green, thick discharge is associated with a cold or other illness, accompanied by fever, then the doctor may prescribe antiviral agents or a local antibiotic.

You should not treat a runny nose with folk remedies for up to a year:

  • Drops of mother's breast milk into the nose will only harm the baby up to one year old, they can accelerate the development of bacteria.
  • Drops of aloe juice, honey or other plants in children under one year of age can cause severe allergic reactions.

Doctor Komarovsky's opinion

The already mentioned Dr. Komarovsky, a good pediatrician and father, shares with other parents his professional knowledge on a variety of issues of children's health. He also spoke out about such a well-known problem as a runny nose and thick snot in children.

He warns that snot in babies requires special attention. Komarovsky warns parents about the need to contact a specialist, but at the same time suggests carefully monitoring the color and thickness of the child’s nasal discharge. This will help them determine whether the child is recovering or not.

Although green, thick snot is a clear sign of bacterial inflammation, Komarovsky says that such a runny nose can be cured without antibiotics by warming the nose, inhalation and rinsing, for example, with products based on sea water.

How to get rid

A runny nose, as mentioned above, even if it does not lead to complications with the throat or ears, and is not accompanied by a fever, still prevents the child from fully sleeping, eating, and exercising. After snot, the skin under the nose becomes irritated and cracks.

Therefore, it is not surprising that even if the disease is expressed only in nasal congestion and discharge, parents want to quickly rid the child of these problems. Treatment of a runny nose, like any illness in children, should be carried out on the recommendation of a doctor. But parents want to know what it usually includes and how to rid their baby of thick snot.

Of the folk remedies that doctors do not object to, the most commonly used are inhalations, warming the feet with dry mustard or warming ointments, and the nose with dry heat. For inhalation, popular recommendations advise using steam from boiled potatoes.

The first thing they do is thin out the thick mucus.

Liquefaction

Thick mucus that clogs the nose must be thinned in order to at least temporarily make it easier for sick children to breathe. To do this, a few drops of saline or seawater-based products are instilled into the nose of babies under one year old. Children after one and a half years old can be given a weak solution of decoctions of medicinal herbs - chamomile, St. John's wort, if the parents are sure that the children are not allergic to plants.

Older children are advised not to make do with droplets, but to rinse their nose with these products, then blow their nose, clearing the nose of mucus.

Saline solutions

Sometimes, in order to cure a runny nose and get rid of thick snot, it is quite enough to liquefy and moisturize the nasal mucosa using physiological or saline solutions. Children under three years of age are instilled with a pipette; older children use sprays. You can purchase such seawater sprays at the pharmacy, or you can pour the prepared saline solution into a previously used bottle with a dispenser.

The frequency of rinsing depends on the condition of the nose and the humidity in the room. In some cases this is done every hour.

Cleaning

Babies need to clean their nose after liquefying. Parents' help is needed here, because they still cannot blow their nose. To do this, you can use a special aspirator, a rubber bulb, cotton swabs moistened with baby cream or Vaseline. Some use a syringe without a needle as a suction device, but there is a risk of injuring the baby’s nose if he jerks his head.

Liquefing and clearing the nose of mucus will help for a while, but without eliminating the cause, a runny nose cannot be cured. Therefore, according to a doctor’s prescription, after cleansing, antibacterial or antiviral agents are instilled, and in case of allergies, antihistamines. If necessary and only as prescribed by a doctor, vasoconstrictor drugs are also used.

Vasoconstrictor drugs

In case of a runny nose, we are accustomed to immediately grab vasoconstrictor drops. Meanwhile, the time of their use is usually limited to 5-7 days, and a runny nose rarely goes away in less than a week, so many pediatricians warn that these drugs should not be used every time the baby’s nose is clogged. But if the child already has the stage of green or yellow snot, they are used to prevent complications with rhinitis.

Pediatricians try not to prescribe vasoconstrictor drops for children under three years of age; in case of urgent need, they use the mildest ones.

Medicines of this type are addictive, affect the mucous membrane and, if the conditions for their use are violated, can worsen the condition of the nasopharynx. Therefore, it is necessary to comply with the requirements for their use:

  • Do not use for more than a week;
  • Follow the frequency of use and dosage written in the instructions;
  • Observe age restrictions

Prevention

To avoid thickening of nasal mucus and the appearance of crusts in a baby under one year of age, it is necessary to create a favorable environment in the room:

  1. Humidify the air to %, for example, by placing water containers near batteries in winter or by other methods.
  2. It is imperative to carry out wet cleaning, which not only slightly humidifies the air, but most importantly removes dust, which can cause allergies.
  3. Make sure your child drinks more often and gets enough fluids.
  4. Outdoor walks and outdoor games are required.
  5. Avoid hypothermia.
  6. If there is no fever, then bathe the child, as the wet steam from the water softens and cleanses the nose naturally.

How to prevent sinusitis

As a complication of various diseases of the nasopharynx in children, sinusitis can occur - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus. The cause of its occurrence can also be adenoids, which make it difficult to breathe through the nose and serve as a source of infection.

Sinusitis can be acute, or it can become chronic. With sinusitis, as with a runny nose, nasal congestion is observed, but the snot with sinusitis is purulent and thick. The child may complain of headache, usually on the affected side. It is also characteristic of sinusitis that one side is usually blocked, and the other nostril is breathing.

When you have a runny nose, you can't breathe through your entire nose. With chronic sinusitis, dryness, sore throat, frequent headaches, and weakness appear. Pus flowing down the back wall of the pharynx from the affected sinus causes attacks of night coughing that do not respond to conventional treatment.

To prevent sinusitis, it is necessary to prevent a runny nose, identify and treat acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections in a timely manner, and strengthen the immune system. Your doctor may recommend that precipitating factors such as a deviated nasal septum or enlarged adenoids be addressed in advance.

To prevent it from becoming chronic, remember that snot in sinusitis is purulent, and if you notice it, be sure to bring it to the attention of a doctor.

How can a child clear snot from his nose? — Dr. Komarovsky

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Which expressions do you use most often when communicating with children? Answer “Yes” if you say this to your child and “No” if you do not:

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7-8 points. You live with your child in perfect harmony. He truly loves and respects you. Your relationship contributes to the development of his personality.

9-10 points. You are inconsistent in communicating with your child. He respects you, although he is not always frank with you. Its development is subject to the influence of random circumstances.

11-12 points. You need to be more attentive to your child. You enjoy his authority, but, you must admit, authority is no substitute for love. Your child's development depends more on chance than on you.

13-14 points. You yourself feel that you are going down the wrong path. There is mistrust between you and the child. Before it’s too late, try to pay more attention to him, listen to his words!

Source: http://razvitieiq.ru/zdorove-rebenka/u-rebenka-gustyie-sopli-chem-lechit-i-kak-byistro-izbavitsya.html