How to treat a child from. A cold in a child - how to quickly cure: inhalation with a nebulizer, folk and drug treatment. What if I can't cure a runny nose in a child

Sooner or later, all parents face colds in a child. The common cold, which includes a whole list of varieties of acute respiratory diseases, is considered one of the most common problems of childhood. That is why many parents face the question of how to treat a cold in children quickly and effectively.

Acute respiratory disease can be manifested by various symptoms - cough, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever. Depending on the manifestations of the disease, the optimal method of treatment is selected, which is most often complex and consists of the use of drugs and traditional medicine.

Basic rules for successful treatment

In order to quickly cure a cold in a child, it is necessary to start treatment as soon as possible, as soon as the baby is sick. And if an adult perfectly feels the approach of a cold, then for children this can be a serious problem, especially if we are talking about a baby under the age of one year.

In most cases, the first symptoms of the disease can be quite "vague" and are expressed in the form of lethargy, rashes on the lips, increased drowsiness, capriciousness, loss of appetite. The kid can become restless, he has sharp mood swings - from excessive activity to apathy, in the loss of interest in others.

Important! If the child's body temperature rises above 38°C, intense headaches appear that can "give" to the eyes - this is most often not the onset of an acute respiratory disease, but a full-fledged picture of the flu. In such cases, you should immediately seek medical help.

If parents find a cold that is starting to develop, it is necessary to provide the child with bed rest, not forgetting to regularly ventilate the children's room and do wet cleaning there. Be sure to measure the body temperature. If it does not exceed 38 °, it is not recommended to give the baby antipyretic drugs.

In order to cure a cold, you need to provide the child with plenty of fluids - it is best to give weak herbal or chamomile tea, mineral water without gas, fruit drink, compote. Breast milk and a small amount of water are enough for a baby. The nutrition of children with a cold should be light, but complete, saturated with useful vitamins and trace elements.

Drug treatment of the common cold in children

How to treat a child at the first sign of a cold? It all depends on how acute respiratory disease manifests itself.

With a runny nose, difficult nasal breathing, the following medications can be used:

• Washing the nasal passages with special solutions based on sea salt - No-salt, Aqualor, Aquamaris.
• In the presence of purulent mucus, bactericidal drops or herbal preparations are used - Pinosol, Kollargol. Drops with a vasodilating effect - Farmazolin, Nazol-baby, Galazolin.

If a small child has a cold, the accumulated contents from the nasal passages can be removed using a special syringe.

Important! Drops against the common cold should never be used for more than 7 days, as they can be addictive and cause the development of the so-called drug rhinitis.

It is very important to monitor the child's body temperature and use antipyretic drugs in a timely manner if it has risen above 38 °

Medicines for cough and fever

Drug treatment of a cough in a child with a cold directly depends on what type of cough is wet or dry. Depending on this, expectorant or mucolytic drugs may be used.

• With a dry cough - Alteyka, Gerbion, Prospan.
• With a wet cough - Lazolvan, ACC, Mukaltin, Bromhexine.

In case of inflammation, redness of the throat, and difficulty swallowing, sprays with anti-inflammatory or antibacterial action, such as Oracept or Chlorafilipt, can be used. The use of inhalations, both steam and carried out using a special device - a nebulizer, is considered quite effective.

In order to know exactly how to treat a cold in children, in order to get rid of it faster, it is imperative to carefully monitor the child's body temperature, since steam inhalations and other warming procedures are strictly prohibited at high temperatures.

Important! If the child has an elevated body temperature that is not controlled by antipyretic drugs for more than 2 days, further treatment is carried out in a hospital.

To reduce body temperature at home, it is best to use antipyretic drugs in the form of syrups - Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Efferalgan.

If the temperature persists for more than 2 days, the child must be urgently shown to the pediatrician

The treatment of a cold in children, including the initial stage, should never be dealt with on your own. Even with minimal symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to call a pediatrician, since only a doctor can choose the best treatment option.

Treatment with folk remedies

An effective addition to the treatment of drugs can be therapy with folk remedies. For this purpose, you can use herbal preparations, infusions and decoctions, freshly prepared juices from medicinal plants and other means.

Runny nose treatment:

• At the first symptoms of a runny nose, you can use a recipe with onions - finely chop a large onion, after which the child should inhale its aroma 5-6 times a day.
• To treat a runny nose in babies, you can use freshly squeezed beetroot juice, which must be instilled in 3-4 drops.
• For the same purpose, you can use aloe juice - for newborns and children of 3 years of age, the juice is diluted with water in equal proportions.
• Children can wash their nasal passages with salted water with calendula tincture (a teaspoon per 500 ml of water).
• An infant is recommended to instill 2 drops of slightly warmed mother's milk 2-3 times a day.

To date, there are several thousand folk recipes for coughs and colds in children that can be used at home.

Mint infusion is one of the most effective and fast-acting cough remedies. To prepare it, a tablespoon of peppermint should be poured with 200 ml of hot water, placed on a small fire and simmered for 5 minutes. When the broth cools down a bit, it must be filtered, combined with a spoonful of honey and freshly squeezed lemon juice. The drug should be drunk before bedtime.

Milk with butter is often used to treat colds in children, which are accompanied by a cough with phlegm that is difficult to separate. Pour ½ teaspoon of natural butter and soda into a glass of boiled milk, stir and let the child drink.

Rowan with honey is an excellent diaphoretic, which is recommended to drink before bed

Garlic with milk - this healing drink is no less useful. 2-3 cloves of garlic must be peeled and passed through a press, then poured into a small saucepan with milk. The drink should be brought to a boil and given to drink to the baby. Garlic has strong antimicrobial properties, and you can add lemon juice and honey to improve its taste.

With an increase in body temperature, decoctions and infusions with a diaphoretic property, for example, linden or mountain ash, can be prescribed. Linden decoction is an effective folk remedy for reducing fever. It is prepared very simply - dry or fresh lime blossom must be poured with 2 cups of boiling water, cover tightly and let the product brew. The medicine is taken in a tablespoon three times a day, for children over 3 years old, the recommended dosage is increased to 2 tablespoons.

Rowan, both red and chokeberry, is distinguished by diaphoretic and anti-inflammatory properties. A tablespoon of pre-crushed berries should be poured into a bowl with 200 ml of hot water, left to infuse for 2-3 hours. Before use, it is recommended to warm the berry syrup again and drink a tablespoon an hour before each meal.

Black radish is a popular folk remedy that is used to treat flu and colds in children. Radish juice has extremely useful properties. To get it in the root crop, you need to make a small round recess, put a spoonful of honey in it. After some time, the hole will be completely filled with juice, which should be taken in a spoon 4-5 times throughout the day.

The common cold in children is a common problem that worries every parent. Comprehensive treatment of the disease, consisting of drug therapy and the use of folk remedies, allows you to quickly get rid of the disease, prevent its further development and strengthen the body's defenses.

It is important to remember that in childhood the disease develops faster than in adults. This is due to the fact that the mucous membrane of the nasal passages is looser, equipped with a large number of blood and lymphatic vessels. Therefore, when meeting with a factor that causes inflammation (most often, it is a viral infection), edema develops faster, mucus also begins to be produced more actively and in larger quantities. In addition, in babies, especially under the age of 3 years, the nasal passages are narrower than in adults. Therefore, the resulting mucosal edema quickly leads to the closure of their lumen and difficulty in nasal breathing. In this regard, measures to treat the disease should be taken fairly quickly.

What are the consequences of acute rhinitis in children in the absence of competent treatment? First of all, against the background of a viral infection, a bacterial one often joins, inflammation can capture not only the nasal passages, but also the sinuses, which leads to the development (, ethmoiditis, frontal sinusitis). Also, in children, the middle ear is often involved in the inflammatory process (the infection rises from the nasal cavity along the auditory tube), which leads to the occurrence of otitis media.

In addition, the lack of treatment can lead to such a problem as a prolonged runny nose in a child, that is, to development. Also, the illiterate use of medicines leads to adverse consequences. For example, the uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictor drugs very often causes the development of a child in a condition that requires long-term treatment and observation.

Often, parents believe that antibiotics are an effective remedy for a cold in children. However, in most cases, their uncontrolled use only exacerbates the situation. After all, an antibacterial drug has no effect on viruses that cause inflammation, but sometimes it has a depressing effect on beneficial microflora, which is an important body defense system. In addition, the uncontrolled use of antibiotics leads to the development of resistance in bacteria present in the child's body. And in the case of the addition of a bacterial infection (purulent rhinitis, sinusitis), which are very often caused by these particular microbes, it can be much more difficult to find an effective treatment.

It must be understood that the treatment of even such a common and, at first glance, non-serious disease as rhinitis in children should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Because inflammation in the nasal cavity can be both a sign of a common ARVI and a symptom of diseases such as measles, diphtheria, measles, etc.

The most common cause of rhinitis in children is infection. In a child, especially under the age of 3 years, protective mechanisms are not sufficiently formed, and we are talking about both general immunity and local immunity. When inhaled, airborne pathogens enter the nasal cavity first. With fully functioning defense mechanisms, microbes are enveloped in mucus and brought out due to the movements of special cilia, which are provided with epithelial cells. In addition, immunoglobulins, proteins that provide local immunity on the nasal mucosa, help to resist the development of infection. In young children, there is an insufficient production of these proteins, and the general immune response also “works” to a lesser extent, which allows blocking the inflammatory process at an early stage.

Factors that increase the risk of developing rhinitis in a child caused by infections are the inhalation of dry air, dust, as this leads to drying of the mucus in the nose, making it difficult for the cilia to work. Thus, favorable conditions are created for the reproduction of pathogens in the nasal cavity and the development of inflammation.

The cause of the development of the disease can be both viruses and bacteria. As a rule, the disease begins with viral rhinitis in children, then inflammation caused by bacteria joins. Less common pathogens are fungi, tubercle bacillus, gonococcus.

It is important to remember that a runny nose in a child can be a symptom of some infectious diseases, such as measles, diphtheria, etc. That is why the treatment of the disease, especially in young children, is best done under the supervision of a doctor who can make a correct diagnosis, prevent the development of complications.

Allergic rhinitis in a child occurs due to contact with an allergen. This can be house dust, animal hair and skin flakes, plant pollen, food, etc.

There are other causes of a runny nose. Thus, vasomotor rhinitis in children occurs as a result of dysregulation of the vascular tone of the nasal mucosa, as a result of which epithelial cells begin to actively produce mucus even with normal physiological irritation (cool air, dust), in stressful situations. The reason for this may be a disease such as vegetovascular dystonia, various disorders of the nervous system (vascular neurosis), and allergic diseases.

Predisposing factors for the development of vasomotor rhinitis in a child are the growth of adenoids in the nasopharynx, the curvature of the nasal septum.

It is important to know that a very common cause of this condition is the abuse of vasoconstrictor drugs. The use of these drugs for more than 5-7 days contributes to the disruption of the natural regulation of vascular tone of the nasal mucosa and the development of drug-induced rhinitis.

Kinds

The symptoms and tactics of treating a disease such as rhinitis in a child depend on its type. Therefore, despite the presence of common signs, such as nasal congestion, the presence of mucus in the nasal cavity, the causes, and hence the principles of treatment of various types of rhinitis in a child, will differ significantly.

Rhinitis is divided into groups depending on the nature of the process in the nasal cavity (catarrhal,), on the cause of the disease (for example: allergies, viruses, bacteria), and according to other criteria. A detailed classification can be viewed.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of infection-related rhinitis in children? They depend on the stage of the disease, as well as on the characteristics of the pathogen that caused the disease.

• Initial phase(It is also called the “dry” or “dry irritation stage”). During this period, pathogens are introduced into the nasal mucosa. The body responds to microbial aggression by expanding the vessels of the epithelium, filling them with blood, but the mucous membrane itself remains dry. Symptoms of this period are a burning sensation in the nasal cavity, a feeling of “itching”, discomfort in the nose, and a desire to sneeze. Gradually, nasal congestion appears without a runny nose in a child, the sense of smell decreases. At the same time, general symptoms may occur: weakness, lethargy, headache, a slight increase in temperature may be observed. Young children become capricious, irritable, and their appetite may decrease. As a rule, this phase lasts from several hours to one, rarely two days. If the child has good local and general immunity (it is very important to notice the symptoms in time and take the necessary preventive measures, which we will discuss later), the body can cope with the invasion of viruses, and the disease will not develop. Otherwise, the next phase begins.
• catarrhal phase(also called the “wet” or “serous stage”). During this period, there is an increase in the permeability of the mucous membrane damaged by viruses. Lymphatic fluid exits the vessels into the tissues, which leads to severe edema. The activity of epithelial cells that produce mucus, which accumulates in the nasopharynx of a child, increases. As a rule, the discharge at this stage has a light color and a fairly liquid consistency. Discharge from the nose flows down the back wall of the nasopharynx, often enters the lower respiratory tract, so a combination of a runny nose and cough in a child is often observed. Often there is irritation around the nasal passages, on the upper lip. At this stage, there is a pronounced difficulty in nasal breathing, the child can only breathe through the mouth, which leads to anxiety, sleep disturbance. Loss of smell and taste sensations, appetite suffers.

Among the symptoms during this period, a runny nose and temperature in a child are also observed: the thermometer can rise to 38 degrees and above. The severity of general symptoms depends on the characteristics of the virus that caused the inflammation. So, with the flu, there will be aches in the muscles, a pronounced temperature (up to 39 degrees and above). With adenovirus infection, parainfluenza, the general condition, as a rule, suffers less, although general weakness, lethargy, and headache may disturb the child.

It often happens that a child has a cough and runny nose without fever. Such a picture can be observed a few days after the onset of the disease, when the activity of inflammatory processes is already decreasing, it may also be due to the characteristics of the virus that caused the disease, or it may indicate a low reactivity of the immune system, unable to give a full response to the invasion of the infection: in this case, the disease proceeds sluggishly and often there is a tendency to develop chronic rhinitis in a child.

The catarrhal phase usually lasts 3-5 days. During this period, it is very important to carry out competent treatment of the common cold in children: this significantly increases the likelihood that the body will cope with the infection and recovery will come. However, often against the background of damage to the nasal mucosa of a viral infection, the bacterial flora is activated, which leads to the appearance of new symptoms.

• Phase of mucopurulent discharge,- the so-called purulent runny nose in a child. It can occur on the 3-5th day of the course of the disease. A characteristic sign of a bacterial infection is a change in the nature of the mucus: it becomes cloudy, acquires a yellowish or greenish tint, becomes thick, and an unpleasant odor may appear.

At the same time, there is often an improvement in the general condition, a decrease in temperature, and a decrease in headache. The duration of the phase, as a rule, is 2-4 days. With adequate treatment, recovery usually follows this phase. If the child has reduced immunity, competent treatment has not been carried out, there is a possibility of the transition of the acute phase of the disease to the chronic one, as well as the development of complications.

• recovery phase. With an adequate immune response and proper treatment, recovery most often occurs on the 5-7th day of illness. During this period, there is a restoration of nasal breathing, a decrease in the amount of mucus up to complete disappearance, an improvement in the general condition, taste and smell are restored, sleep and appetite are improved. The complete disappearance of the symptoms of the disease, as a rule, takes from 3 to 5 days.

In order for the body to effectively cope with the infection, it is important to include more fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals in the diet. Berries are very useful - they contain a large number of components that positively affect the immune system: they can be consumed fresh, in winter - make fruit drinks and compotes from frozen berries. It is important to remember that during illness you should not experiment with unusual dishes, exotic fruits. The introduction of new foods that are unfamiliar to the child's body requires adaptation (especially at a younger age), in addition, they can cause allergies. Therefore, it is better to dwell on those useful products that were previously present in the baby's diet.

How and with what to wash your nose?

Nasal irrigation is a simple method to reduce the viscosity of the mucus and prevent the formation of crusts in the nose. Mucus is easily blown out or "drawn" into the nasopharynx and swallowed - there is no stagnation and conditions are created for restoring the natural protective function of the nasal mucosa in a child.

Treatment of a runny nose with saline in children

One of the simplest answers to the question “how to treat a runny nose in a child” is the instillation of a saline solution, or, more simply, a solution of table salt, into the nose.

How to prepare a saline solution for a cold in children? It is enough to dilute one teaspoon of table salt in one liter of warm water (you can take any water - bottled, boiled). Do not exceed the concentration so that the solution does not have an aggressive effect on the damaged mucous membrane of the baby's nasal cavity. In addition, saline solution can be purchased ready-made at a pharmacy - it is very inexpensive!

For instillation of saline into the nose, you can use a regular pipette. You can carry out the procedure at any age: for children under 3 years old, 1-3 drops in each nostril are enough, for older children - 4-6 drops. The frequency of instillation depends on the amount of mucus in the nose: with its intensive formation, saline can be dripped into the nose every 10-15 minutes (excluding sleep time).

How to make breathing easier for a child with a cold? For a more intensive cleaning of the nasal cavity from the accumulated mucus and the restoration of nasal breathing, you can carry out the procedure of washing the nose. For this, saline or a solution based on sea salt is also used - you can, for example, purchase a Dolphin kit at a pharmacy, which includes bags of sea salt and a special bottle for washing the nose.

You can also buy a ready-made children's spray for a cold - however, you need to pay special attention to age restrictions. Too strong a jet in a spray designed for use in older children can lead to the reflux of mucus into the auditory tubes in babies, which is fraught with the development of otitis media.

However, in most cases, washing the nose is not at all a mandatory procedure in the treatment of a runny nose in children, it is often enough to simply instill saline into the nose. Nasal lavage is much more relevant in the treatment of sinusitis in children: you can read more about the procedure.

Rinsing the nose with hydrogen peroxide

Quite often, you can find recommendations to use hydrogen peroxide for a cold in children - in the form of drops and a solution for washing. Adherents of this technique believe that the antiseptic properties of this substance can be useful in the treatment of inflammation of the nasal passages.

However, the use of this technique - both in childhood and in adulthood - has no official justification; clinical studies have not been conducted in relation to this approach, proving its effectiveness and safety. The use of hydrogen peroxide can lead to damage to the mucous membrane, disrupt the operation of the cilia, which are provided with epithelial cells to cleanse the nasal cavity of microbes and foreign substances. You can read more about this method.

Answering the question “how to quickly cure a runny nose for a child”, doctors, in addition to the basic methods that we described above (moisturizing and cooling the air, drinking plenty of water, instilling saline or washing into the nose, a protein-free diet, vibroacoustic therapy) include some drugs in the treatment regimen, which can help relieve symptoms and speed up the healing process.

However, in an effort to find an effective remedy for the common cold for children, it is important to remember that the independent and uncontrolled use of drugs can lead to negative consequences, be addictive and even cause complications. Only a doctor can form a treatment regimen based on the specifics of the process, the age of the child, and the nuances of his condition.

Vasoconstrictor drugs

Medicines that have a vasoconstrictive effect are the only means that quickly ensure the restoration of nasal breathing. They affect the tone of the vessels of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity: when they are used, the vessels narrow, swelling decreases and breathing through the nose is facilitated.

However, if these drugs are used for a long time (more than 5-7 days), this will lead to a violation of the natural regulation of vascular tone, that is, addiction will develop. The consequence of the uncontrolled use of such drugs is a chronic runny nose and nasal congestion in a child (vasomotor rhinitis), which are very difficult to treat. If the need for the use of vasoconstrictors persists longer than 5-7 days, it is important to consult a doctor to determine further treatment tactics.

If a child often has a runny nose - what to do? In no case should you resort to vasoconstrictor drugs on your own, but consult a doctor and undergo an examination to determine the cause of the disease. It is important to remember that instillation of vasoconstrictors into the nose is not a medical procedure, it is aimed primarily at relieving symptoms and facilitating nasal breathing. In parallel with their application, it is necessary to take other measures that contribute to recovery.

Phytopreparations

Currently, many products are being produced for the treatment of rhinitis in children, which include herbal components. These can be fatty and essential oils (sea buckthorn, fir), plant extracts, etc.

Phytopreparations are made in the form of drops, sprays, or in such a form as an ointment for the common cold for children. The active substances included in their composition (medicinal components of certain plants) are intended to have an antimicrobial effect, accelerate regeneration, soften and nourish the mucous membrane, and reduce inflammatory manifestations.

It is important to remember that the uncontrolled use of herbal remedies without taking into account the individual characteristics of the child and the nature of the course of the process can cause serious harm to the health of a small patient. The fact is that many plant components can cause allergic reactions, irritate the nasal mucosa. The use of oil-based products can adversely affect the function of the epithelium of the nasal cavity, causing "gluing" of the cilia and disrupting their work to remove microbes from the nasal passages. In addition, many herbal remedies have age restrictions: you must carefully read the instructions before using this or that remedy in a child.

The use of any herbal medicine must be agreed with the attending physician, who will decide whether there is a need for their appointment and at what stage of the disease their use will be most effective.

Mucolytics

Drugs called mucolytics or secretolytics can help reduce the viscosity of mucus in the nasal cavity. They contain enzymes that dissolve mucus and make it more liquid. It is important that they can also affect the mucous sputum, which is formed during viral, allergic, vasomotor rhinitis and in the treatment of purulent rhinitis in children.

However, doctors believe that it is easier to prevent mucus from thickening in the child's nasal cavity by providing the necessary humidity and temperature of the inhaled air, drinking plenty of water and regularly instilling saline into the nose than coping with the problem with the help of certain medications. It is important to remember that the enzymes that make up most mucolytic agents are of a protein nature and can provoke an allergy attack in a child. Therefore, the need for their appointment in complex treatment should be determined only by a doctor.

Anti-inflammatory drugs

When the question arises of how to cure a runny nose in a child, the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs as part of a comprehensive treatment. As a rule, drugs in this group also have antipyretic and analgesic effects.

In a situation where there is a high temperature and a runny nose in a child, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve common symptoms - fever, headache.

Before giving a child this or that anti-inflammatory drug, it is important to consult a doctor: sometimes parents try to “bring down” even the slightest temperature, not realizing that fever is the most important defense mechanism in the body's fight against infection. Therefore, doctors do not recommend giving antipyretic drugs if the child has a runny nose and a temperature of 37 degrees - until the thermometer rises to 38.5 degrees and above.

The exception is situations when the child does not tolerate fever well, complains of severe headache or weakness, if he vomits or is at risk of developing seizures. In addition, most anti-inflammatory drugs have a negative effect on the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, so they should be used with caution in children with a tendency to inflammatory or ulcerative processes in the stomach or intestines.

Antivirals

Currently, the pharmaceutical industry produces various antiviral drugs for topical and general use, which people are trying to use as an effective remedy for the common cold in children.

However, according to the famous pediatrician E.O. Komarovsky, all existing means, in essence, cannot have an effect on viruses. This is due to the characteristics of the vital activity of these microorganisms: in order to begin to live and multiply, the virus must get inside a certain cell. And it is possible to destroy it only together with this cell. Therefore, even those agents that are effective in the fight against viruses in the laboratory, in the body, cannot affect these microaggressors in any way. In this regard, most of the products that are declared as antiviral cannot destroy the virus in any way.

More opinion of E.O. Komarovsky about antiviral drugs in the treatment and prevention of acute respiratory viral infections can be found in this video:

However, there are other opinions regarding the use of antiviral drugs for the prevention of SARS. So, the leading researcher of the department of RVI in children of the Research Institute of Children's Infections (Moscow), Doctor of Medical Sciences O.I. Afanasyeva believes that the use of certain antiviral drugs, in particular Cycloferon, helps to increase the child's resistance to viral infections, activate immunity resources when faced with an infection: the doctor's opinion is based on the results of studies conducted in foreign and Russian clinics.

In any case, the decision on the need to use antiviral agents for the prevention and treatment of viral infections should be made by the attending physician.

Antibiotics

Very often the question arises - will antibiotics help with a cold in a child? Doctors believe that these drugs in most cases are not only not effective, but can also cause significant harm to health. As we have already said, in the vast majority of cases, inflammation of the nasal membrane develops against a background of a viral infection. Antibacterial drugs do not work on viruses! But their introduction into the body causes addiction and increased resistance on the part of those bacteria that are present in the child's body and can potentially cause a particular disease.

As you know, many inflammatory processes that are of a bacterial nature, for example, otitis media, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. are caused by microbes that live in the human body and show their pathogenic properties with a decrease in immunity. For example, after a viral infection. If a child was given an antibacterial drug against the background of ARVI, then if he subsequently develops a bacterial infection, the disease will be much worse to treat.

Another adverse effect that can occur if you treat a runny nose in a child with antibiotics is the development of an allergy. Each contact with an antibacterial drug increases the risk of an allergic reaction. The more often parents resort to the unreasonable use of various antibiotics, the narrower the circle of drugs becomes that will help in a situation where the use of these drugs will be really necessary or even vital!

If purulent rhinitis occurs, treatment does not necessarily have to be based on the use of antibiotics. Even a change in the nature of the mucus (turbidity, the appearance of an unpleasant odor) and the appearance of other symptoms indicating the addition of a bacterial infection, in most cases, is not an indication for antibiotic therapy. It is enough to continue activities that help facilitate the discharge of mucus from the nasal cavity, which we discussed above, as well as strengthen the body's defenses. And in most situations, the body copes with the disease on its own.

In what cases is the appointment of an antibiotic for a cold for children indicated? When there is a risk of developing bacterial complications such as sinusitis (ethmoiditis, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis), as well as inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media). When otitis media appears, antibiotic therapy may be prescribed, but only the attending physician should make this decision! The use of local antibacterial drugs is unacceptable.

According to E.O. Komarovsky, antibiotics, which are prescribed in the form of ointments, sprays, drops, are not able to create in the body the concentration necessary to destroy microbes. So, this is the way to develop microbial resistance!

In addition, when it comes to the treatment of sinusitis, which arose as a complication of acute rhinitis, topical antibiotics remain in the nasal cavity and do not reach the maxillary sinuses, where the inflammatory process occurs. You can read more about this.

Antiseptics

Often among the recommendations on how to treat a runny nose in children, there are tips on the use of antiseptics. These are substances that contain components that can in one way or another act on bacteria. These can be substances of plant (for example, eucalyptus leaf extract) or animal origin, silver, as well as drugs (for example, sulfonamides).

Will antiseptics help cure a runny nose in a child? In most cases, their use is not particularly necessary. In addition, it is important to remember that the ingredients included in their composition can irritate the inflamed mucous membrane of the child's nose, and also cause allergies. Only the attending physician can decide whether the use of a particular antiseptic is justified and safe and give the correct recommendations for its use.

Inhalations

Are inhalations necessary for a cold for children? Inhalation refers to the child inhaling air containing substances that can have one or another therapeutic effect.

The most common type of inhalation is steam inhalation over a saucepan.

Parents can add various herbs, soda there, it can also be a decoction of potatoes, etc. The problem is that the concentration of active substances in such a pair is very small, insufficient to provide any therapeutic effect. The main effect that such inhalations give to children with a runny nose is moisturizing the mucous membrane. This is a useful property of steam, as it can lead to a decrease in the viscosity of mucus and the elimination of crusts.

However, some nuances must be taken into account. The traditional method of "breathing over a saucepan" can cause burns of the respiratory tract, as well as injuries associated with inverting a vessel of hot liquid. Therefore, if there is a need for their implementation - and this issue must be resolved with a doctor - it is better to use a special device - a steam inhaler.

It is also important to remember that inhalations with a runny nose for children have contraindications: this is the age of up to 7 years, elevated body temperature, a combination of inflammation in the nasal cavity and purulent processes (sinusitis, otitis media, etc.).

On the Internet, you can find a lot of recommendations for inhalation with a runny nose with a nebulizer, recipes for children that parents can focus on when choosing a treatment. What is a nebulizer? This is a special device that turns the medicine into very small particles (the so-called fine aerosol), which are inhaled by the child.

But is a nebulizer effective for a runny nose in children?

Pediatrician E.O. Komarovsky believes that its use in inflammation of the nasal mucosa will not be beneficial. Because the nebulizer was developed primarily for the treatment of diseases of the lower respiratory tract - when using it, the medicine is sprayed into very small particles, the diameter of which is less than 10 microns. It does not linger in the upper respiratory tract, including the nasal cavity, but is directed to the lowest parts of the respiratory system.

You can read more about the nuances of using an inhalation nebulizer.

Inhalations are also sometimes carried out, in which essential oils are used for the common cold for children. They are carried out using an aroma lamp, or simply pour a few drops on a piece of cloth and let the child breathe. However, the concentration of active substances during this procedure in the inhaled air is very low, and the healing properties of the oils do not have the desired effect on the healing process. In addition, it must be remembered that many essential oils are allergens.

It is important to note that if the basic rules for treating inflammation in the nasal passages in a child (constant air humidification, instillation of saline into the nose, etc.) are followed, in most cases there is no need for inhalation in a child with a cold.

Warming up the nose

Warming up the nose with a runny nose in a child: often this procedure is considered an effective method of treating the disease. Parents apply a boiled egg, hot salt, paraffin, or use a blue lamp, etc. to the area of ​​inflammation. But what can the effect of thermal procedures lead to in the inflammatory process in the nasal mucosa?

Exposure to heat leads to vasodilation and increased blood flow in this area. In the initial stage of the disease, this can lead to activation of the inflammatory process. Warming up the nose is categorically contraindicated if the child has an elevated body temperature, if there is a risk of developing purulent processes in the sinuses, the occurrence of otitis media.

However, it is possible to use warming up the nose from a runny nose in children at the final stages of the process: it can help speed up the processes of regeneration of the mucous membrane. However, before it is carried out, it is imperative to consult with your doctor!

mustard plasters

Is it advisable to put mustard plasters for a cold in children? As a rule, this is not necessary. Mustard plasters are a so-called distracting procedure, the task of which is to activate blood circulation, irritate the skin in reflexogenic zones - at points (feet, calf muscles) that are connected with the place where the inflammatory process takes place. Doctor E.O. Komarovsky, believes that there is a rationale for using mustard plasters in the recovery period in the treatment of diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, that is, diseases that require fairly active rehabilitation measures.

When it comes to how to cure a runny nose in a child, there is usually no need to use mustard plasters - in most cases, if you follow all the necessary measures that we talked about above, the body will cope with the disease on its own.

You can read more about the use of mustard plasters for a cold.

Acupressure

Acupressure for a runny nose in children is associated with an impact on certain reflexogenic zones: it can help facilitate nasal breathing, speed up the healing process. It is important to study the technique of its implementation: it is best if a specialist familiarizes the parents with the methodology.

The technique of acupressure in children is similar to that in adults, you can read about it in detail.

Sometimes parents believe that treating a runny nose in children with folk remedies will quickly help to cope with the disease. There is a myth that such methods may be more safe and at the same time effective in the treatment of the disease. However, doctors say that the use of many folk methods will not only not benefit the child, but can also seriously harm and cause complications. The herbal and other components that make up the products often cause irritation - this is especially important when it comes to young children, since their mucous membranes are more sensitive to the effects of aggressive substances.

In addition, when we talk about such an aspect as a runny nose and its treatment with folk remedies in children, it is necessary to remember the high risk of developing allergic reactions. Any component can cause allergies, there is a risk of both local and general reactions.

It is also important to understand that, relying on folk remedies for the treatment of rhinitis in children and neglecting the basic methods that we talked about above, and - if necessary - drugs prescribed by a doctor, you can lose time and get various complications. Therefore, it is better to use drugs with proven effectiveness in treatment.

Next, we will consider the most popular folk remedies for the common cold for children, and also talk about what their use in the treatment of a disease in childhood can lead to from the point of view of official medicine.

Kalanchoe

Often you can find recommendations on the use of Kalanchoe juice for a cold in children. The juice of this plant really has anti-inflammatory properties, as it contains various vitamins, trace elements, bioflavonoids, etc.

However, is it worth using Kalanchoe for a cold in children? Pediatrician E.O. Komarovsky does not recommend doing this, since when using this folk remedy, many children experience a deterioration in their condition: it is very difficult to predict the child's individual reaction to the use of Kalanchoe juice. Perhaps irritation of the mucous membrane, aggravating the course of the inflammatory process, the development of allergic reactions, etc.

Therefore, despite the medicinal properties of Kalanchoe, with a runny nose, children should use it very carefully and after mandatory agreement with the attending physician!

Aloe

There are also tips for using with a runny nose in a child. It is believed that the use of this remedy can help due to its anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is important to know that no studies have been conducted confirming the effectiveness of the use of aloe for inflammation in the nasal cavity in children. All preparations containing aloe juice are not recommended for children under 12 years of age without prior approval from the doctor.

The use of aloe can lead to the development of allergic reactions - both local and general, up to the development of Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock: conditions that threaten the baby's life!

Onion

One of the popular folk remedies is for a cold for children. To do this, it is recommended to instill an aqueous solution of onion juice, mix it with oil, honey and other components. However, it is important to remember that onion juice has a strong irritating effect on the mucous membrane, which can cause burns, cause damage to the components of the epithelium, disrupting the formation of mucus and the work of cilia, which helps to remove toxins and microbes from the nasal cavity. All this leads to the development of a protracted process, the occurrence of complications.

In addition, the use of this remedy for a cold in children can cause allergic reactions. Therefore, doctors do not recommend using it for topical use. They believe that the best use of onion for the prevention and treatment of SARS is to include it in the child's diet!

Beet

In folk medicine, it is sometimes used for the common cold in children. It is believed that the juice of this plant helps to reduce inflammation in the nasal cavity. However, the effectiveness of this technique has not been proven, therefore it is more rational to use funds that have confirmed their effectiveness and safety in order not to waste time and prevent the development of complications.

It is much more useful to use the properties of this product by including it in the diet - the beneficial substances that make up the root crop will help strengthen the body's defenses.

Oak bark

There is such a folk remedy for a cold for children, like. It is used to prepare decoctions that are instilled into the nose of a child - it is believed that the substances that make up the oak bark help reduce the viscosity of mucus and reduce inflammation.

However, is it possible to say that oak bark is a good remedy for a cold in children? The instructions for use do not indicate that this phytopreparation can be used to treat inflammatory processes in the nasal cavity. At the same time, it can be used to prepare a decoction for gargling in the treatment of rhinopharyngitis. But this should be done with caution, as many components of the oak bark can cause allergies in children.

Oils

Also, supporters of traditional medicine may recommend the use of this or that oil for the common cold for children. It is believed that their use will help soften the inflamed mucous membrane. There are recommendations for the use of the following oils:

• with a runny nose in a child. It contains substances that help activate the processes of regeneration of the mucous membrane, which may be relevant at the final stage of treatment. The use of this drug is contraindicated in children under 12 years of age.
• Essential for a runny nose in children - reviews of its use in childhood are very different. In some cases, a positive effect is observed, which is associated with the presence of anti-inflammatory substances and antioxidants in its composition. In other cases, parents talk about its inefficiency, and in some cases about the deterioration of the condition, which is associated with the occurrence of irritation and allergic reactions. At the same time, the instructions for use contain contraindications for the use of thuja oil up to 18 years of age.
• Essential from the common cold for children is recommended to relieve inflammatory manifestations and accelerate the processes of regeneration of the mucous membranes.

In any case, when it comes to the use of fatty and essential oils in the treatment of rhinitis in children with folk remedies, it is necessary to consult a doctor before using them. It is important to know that oil, when instilled into the nose, causes gluing of the cilia with which epithelial cells are provided (their movement is an important mechanism for cleansing the nose of foreign elements), which violates the protective properties of the mucous membrane and can impede the healing process.

In addition, it must be remembered that vegetable oils contain components that can cause allergies in a child. That is why the question of the need to use such folk remedies for the common cold for children should be decided only by the attending physician.

Prevention

Prevention of the common cold in children should include a set of measures aimed at both activating local defense mechanisms in the upper respiratory tract in a child and strengthening the immune system as a whole.

In order for the nasal mucosa to be able to fully realize its protective properties, it is important to prevent the increase in viscosity of the mucus and the formation of crusts in the nose.

• It is necessary that the air that the child breathes is always sufficiently humid and cool. Adjust the temperature in the room - the higher it is, the less moisture remains in the air, you can also use various evaporators and humidifiers.
• It is important that the child consumes a sufficient amount of fluid - dehydration leads to drying of the mucous membranes.

The physiological norm of fluid intake for children

• In addition, in order to prevent thickening of mucus and prevent the appearance of crusts, it is recommended to instill a saline solution into the child's nose every day (during periods of increased risk of getting sick, this can be done several times a day).

Measures to strengthen the immune system

If we are talking about allergic rhinitis, then the best way to prevent it is to eliminate allergens: regular wet cleaning and maintaining an optimal indoor climate (if the allergen is house dust). The use of protective equipment or a change of place of residence - if it is an allergy caused by plant pollen.

Prevention of vasomotor rhinitis is the competent use of vasoconstrictor drugs (no more than 5-7 days).

Preventive measures also include a competent approach to antibiotic treatment. Their unauthorized use, non-compliance with treatment regimens contributes to the weakening of the body's defenses and increases the risk of developing infectious diseases, including the common cold in children.

Conclusion

Often there is a situation when parents are carried away by the search for one or another remedy that will provide treatment for the common cold in children quickly and effectively, and forget about the simplest and most effective measures that can significantly alleviate the child's condition and activate their own defenses. These include cleaning, moisturizing and cooling the air in the room where the child is located, washing the nose, proper drinking regimen, and diet. These simple measures, combined with supporting immunity and replenishing the body's resources, will help to cope with the disease as soon as possible and avoid complications.

FAQ:

Is it possible to bathe a child with a cold?

Parents often ask if it is possible to bathe a child with a runny nose. In most cases, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity in a baby is not a contraindication to bathing. On the contrary, contact with water helps to reduce the viscosity of mucus, soaking the crusts.

It is worth refraining from bathing when the child has a runny nose and a temperature of 38 degrees and above, when the child's general condition suffers. In this case, it is recommended to wipe with cool water.

Is it possible to walk with a child with a cold?

The answer to this question depends, first of all, on the cause of the disease. If there is an allergic rhinitis in a child caused by house dust and the elements contained in it, a walk in the fresh air will bring relief. If the allergy is caused by plant pollen, then walking can exacerbate the symptoms. Also, if inflammation in the nasal cavity is associated with SARS, then during the walk it is better to avoid contact of the patient with other children.

Also, the answer to the question “can I walk with a child with a cold?” depends on the condition of the child and weather conditions. With a high temperature, lethargy, weakness, it is better to stay at home. You should not go outside with negative air temperatures outside, wind and other adverse weather conditions.

How many days does a runny nose last?

How long does a runny nose last in a child? The average duration of the disease, when it comes to inflammation occurring against the background of a viral infection, is 5-8 days. This is due to the peculiarities of the immune response: it is this period that is necessary for the production of interferons and antibodies (substances responsible for protecting the body from infection).

If during this time the child does not have a runny nose - what to do? It is imperative to consult a doctor so that he can help establish the causes of the protracted course of the disease. These can be developed complications, for example, the addition of a bacterial infection and the development of sinusitis, otitis media.

A persistent runny nose in a child may be evidence of an allergic process - in this case, an examination by an allergist and the establishment of the cause of the disease are indicated.

Also, if a child does not have a runny nose for a long time, this may be a sign of a violation of the regulation of vascular tone, including that associated with the use of vasoconstrictor drugs - vasomotor rhinitis.

How to soar the legs of a child with a cold?

In most cases, this procedure is not the best cold remedy for children. As well as mustard plasters, thermal foot procedures are aimed at stimulating reflexogenic zones. They can not be used in the acute period of the disease, at elevated temperatures. But they can be effective in the recovery period for the treatment of diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, when there is a need to increase blood flow in the affected organ by stimulating active points on the foot.

In search of an answer to the question “how to cure a runny nose for a child at home”, you should not consider such a procedure as warming up the legs: this disease, with the right treatment, which we talked about above, passes quickly enough and does not need active rehabilitation measures.

How to treat a runny nose in a child?

When a child develops a runny nose, a number of measures can be taken to support his defenses and prevent the development of the disease. First, it is necessary to ensure the full performance of the functions of the nasal mucosa, which is responsible for protecting the nasal passages from the invasion of infection.

First aid for a runny nose in a child is to ensure the correct microclimate in the room: the sick person must breathe moist, cool and clean air. It is also important to supply the baby with enough liquid and instill saline in the nose.

How to cure a runny nose in a child? Another set of measures should be aimed at strengthening the body's defenses. When the first symptoms of the disease appear, it is recommended to transfer the baby to a protein-free diet, which reduces the load on the lymphatic system and liver.

Also, at the initial stage, it is recommended to include vibroacoustic therapy in the treatment of a runny nose in a child: the use of Vitafon devices activates the body's defenses, has a beneficial effect on the lymphatic system, and reduces the toxic load on the body.

What if I can't cure my child's runny nose?

Why does a child not have a runny nose for a long time? The cause may be the development of chronic inflammation in the nasal cavity, a change in the mucous membrane (thickening or thinning).

If a child has a frequent runny nose, the cause may be an allergy, a violation of vascular tone associated with the abuse of vasoconstrictor drugs and other factors.

Also, if a child has a long runny nose, the cause may be a curvature of the nasal septum, an injury to the nose, proliferation of adenoids, etc.

In any case, in order to understand how to get rid of a runny nose in a child, you need to see a doctor to undergo a comprehensive examination that will help determine the cause of the disease and choose an effective treatment.

Can homeopathy help with a cold in children?

Representatives of the World Health Organization believe that "the use of homeopathy has no evidence base, and in cases where it is used as an alternative to basic treatment, it poses a real threat to the health and life of people."

Doctors say that the effectiveness of such a method as homeopathy for the common cold for children, as well as for other diseases, is associated with the placebo effect, that is, with the patient's belief that the treatment helps. You can learn more about the principles of homeopathy from this TV show by E.O. Komarovsky.

Important to remember that homeopathy is by no means the most effective remedy for a cold for children! Moreover, if the disease becomes protracted, if there is a risk of developing purulent complications, such as otitis media or sinusitis, etc., in no case should one focus on this method of treatment: this can be fraught with serious consequences up to the death of the child. Only complex treatment with the use of antibacterial drugs under the supervision of specialists will help to cope with purulent-inflammatory processes in the body.

List of used literature:

1. Bogomilsky M.R., Chistyakova V.R. Children's otorhinolaryngology. M.: GEOTAR-Media, 2006
2. Karpova E.P., Bozhatova M.P. Rational methods of treatment of SARS in children // Farmateka, 2008;
3. Kryukov A.I. Acute rhinitis. In: Otorhinolaryngology: National Guide / Ed. V.T. Palchun. M.: GEOTAR-Media, 2008
4. Lazarev V.N., Suzdaltsev A.E., Ivoylov A.Yu., Babeshko E.A. Methods for studying adaptation processes and their correction in inflammatory diseases of the paranasal sinuses in children: Guidelines, Moscow, 2002
5. Radtsig E.Yu. Features of the course and treatment of acute rhinitis in infants and young children / BC, 2011
6. Romantsov M.G., Golofeevsky S.V. The effectiveness of Cycloferon in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza during the epidemic rise in respiratory morbidity (2009 - 2010) / Antibiotics and chemotherapy, 2010
7. Sinopalnikov A.I., Klyachkina I.L. The place of mucolytic drugs in the complex therapy of respiratory diseases / Russian Medical Bulletin No. 4.
8. Chuchalin A.G. Avdeev S.N. Rational pharmacotherapy of respiratory diseases: Handbook. for practitioners / Litterra, 2004

You can ask questions (below) on the topic of the article and we will try to answer them competently!

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The common cold is one of the most common diseases. Many kids get sick several times a year, often feel very ill and do not attend educational institutions. However, during illness, children develop immunity, so that in the future they will be able to more easily endure such conditions. It is important to choose the right therapy in order to get rid of the disease as quickly as possible and prevent complications.

Typical symptoms of a cold

Colds usually start abruptly. The child wakes up with a runny nose, sneezes, sometimes has a fever. The baby can be irritable, complain of a headache, cough develops over time, the mucus from the nose becomes denser and darker. The main signs of ARI also include:

• in most cases - increased body temperature;
• weakness;
• sore throat and pain when swallowing;
• irritability;
• sometimes - the urge to vomit and diarrhea.

In a one-year-old child, other symptoms may be added:

• significant deterioration in appetite;
• tearing and redness of the eyes;
• fast fatiguability.

If a child catches a cold, his temperature stays above 38°C for about three days. Most often, unpleasant symptoms in the form of swelling of the nose, vomiting, headache join when the thermometer readings begin to decline. The disease almost always begins with a rare transparent snot and cough.

What are the most dangerous symptoms for a child?

Parents should definitely know the symptoms of a cold, in which you need to urgently consult a doctor. In babies up to a year, dangerous signs are:

• strong cry;
• cold sweat;
• sudden lethargy;
• a sharp decrease in body temperature;
• rashes (pimples and spots are especially dangerous, which do not change color when pressed).

Signs of complications in older children may include persistent loose stools and frequent vomiting. In this case, the child should be given a solution containing a small amount of soda, salt and sugar to restore water balance. The following are also considered dangerous:

• fainting;
• forgetfulness and inappropriate behavior;
• sudden hoarseness of voice;
• respiratory failure;
• swelling in the head and neck;
• sharp pains in the abdomen.

Dangerous symptoms are rare. They talk about the threat not only to the health, but also to the life of the child. Hospitalization is the only way to get the help you need.

It is also important to distinguish the common cold from the flu:

1. with a cold, a runny nose and cough first appear, discomfort in the throat, and only after 1-2 days the thermometer mark rises to 38 ° C (usually no more);
2. the flu starts abruptly and immediately with a high temperature - the child at one moment begins to shiver, a cough appears, the temperature rises to 40 ° C.

Medication treatment

A good effect is provided by preparations for washing the nose, which allow you to clear the nasal passages of secretions and mechanically remove pathogenic microorganisms. Seawater-based products are non-addictive and harmless:

• Morenasal;
• Fluimarin;
• But-salt;
• saline sodium chloride;
• Aquamaris.

If, nevertheless, it was not possible to avoid the disease, and the child’s cold is actively developing, it is necessary to resort to the use of stronger drugs. It is worth adhering to certain recommendations in the treatment:

1. For babies under 3 years old, it is better to give funds in the form of syrup and drops, it is recommended to lower the temperature with rectal suppositories.
2. Children from 4-5 years old can be taught to gargle using herbal decoctions. Kids already easily swallow capsules and tablets, they can dissolve pastilles, so the list of medicines is expanding significantly.

In therapy, the means are often used:

Name of the drug	Action	Application features
Genferon, Derinat	Antivirals.	Effective in the early stages of the disease
Nose drops Kollargol, Pinosol	They are used for the accumulation of purulent secretions, have an antimicrobial effect.	It is not advisable to use longer than 7 days - they are addictive
Dr. Mom, Hexoral, Gerbion, Alteyka, Bear cub Bo	Ready-made pharmacy syrups for different types of cough	It is advisable to use the minimum dosage. Means simultaneously have a mucolytic, antitussive and anti-inflammatory effect
ACC, Ambroxol, Bromhexine (we recommend reading:)	Used for wet coughs	They do not suppress the cough reflex, they effectively act by thinning sputum.
Efferalgan, Paracetamol, Nurofen, Ibufen, Ibuprofen, Panadol syrup (we recommend reading:)	Reduce the temperature	The temperature is recommended to bring down at rates above 38 ° C
Chlorophyllipt, Lugol	They are used to kill bacteria, relieve inflammation and clean the mucosa.	It is necessary to treat the mucous membrane of the throat
Isofra, Polydex	Antibiotics	Appointed very rarely
Anaferon, Viferon	Strengthening immunity	Better to use after consultation with a specialist

It is worth remembering that while the child feels fine, there is no need to rush with pills or syrups - the body will cope with the disease itself. Some features of the use of drugs:

1. Tablets that have a bitter taste are best crushed to a powder and mixed with jam, honey.
2. When using syrups, it is not advisable to drink water or eat within 20 minutes after ingestion.
3. Children under 12 years of age should not use aspirin as an antipyretic. Tablets can cause severe side effects.

Treatment with folk remedies

If the child has a cold, most parents treat the baby's condition as inevitable and hope that he will recover in 7-10 days. However, the disease can be cured at the initial stage, quickly, without pills and other medications. Traditional medicine recipes can also be used at an advanced stage of the disease as an additional therapy.

At the first sign of a cold, when microbes begin to overcome the body, you need to use products that help to quickly remove toxins. Fruit drinks from berries are ideal for this purpose. To replenish vitamin C, children can be given teas from sea buckthorn and rose hips, as well as add parsley, oranges, and kiwi to food.

Tea with raspberry jam in a shock dose is able to “strangle” the initial manifestations of a cold

You can cure a cold in 1 day:

1. At the first manifestations, make inhalation with hot water with the addition of salt / soda (1 tsp per glass of water). Rinse your nose and gargle with the same solution.
2. Make a foot bath for 10-15 minutes with mustard, gradually raise the water temperature to 40 degrees.
3. Drink a cup of tea with raspberry jam, lime blossom decoction. Lie down in bed, wrap yourself up, breathe hard and sweat for half an hour. Free your head from the blanket, wrap it in a towel and sleep until morning.

Runny nose

What should parents do if the baby suffers from a cold? There are several effective ways to deal with nasal discharge:

1. Make a steam inhalation - add 3-4 drops of menthol or eucalyptus essential oil to boiling water. Bend over a bowl and cover with a towel, breathe for 15 minutes. Adding dry cinnamon to the water will help you sweat, and cayenne pepper will improve blood circulation and relieve nasal swelling.
2. Soak your feet before going to bed for 10-15 minutes. Blood will rush to the lower extremities, and the vessels of the head will narrow, which will lead to a decrease in mucosal edema. Do not keep your feet in hot water for too long, otherwise the opposite effect will occur. Temperature is a direct contraindication to the procedure.
3. A runny nose in both a one-year-old baby and an older child can be treated with carrot or beetroot juice. Pour boiling water over fresh vegetables, grate and squeeze the juice. Drip 2-3 drops up to 4 times a day.
4. Prepare onion drops. Mix fresh onion juice with boiled water in a ratio of 1:20. Bury 2-3 times a day.

Under the condition of normal temperature, to get rid of a runny nose, you can steam your legs and sleep in woolen socks for 2-3 evenings in a row.

Cough

The following folk recipes are suitable for treating cough:

1. Licorice root, chamomile, mint, calendula, coltsfoot mixed in equal proportions. 2 dessert spoons pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, let stand for an hour. Give the baby 50-100 ml three times a day after meals.
2. With a dry cough, lemon balm and chamomile (1 tsp each) are poured with half a liter of boiling water. The drink should be given warm 4-5 times a day, 2 tablespoons.
3. An effective remedy is milk (250 ml) with honey (1 tsp) and butter (1/2 tsp). The liquid should be warm, but not hot, otherwise honey loses its beneficial properties.
4. Hot compress of water and apple cider vinegar in a ratio of 3:1. Apply to the throat and chest for 15-20 minutes.

Sore throat

If the baby catches a cold, his throat will definitely hurt for 2-4 days. Rinsing will help to cope with discomfort:

• add 1 tsp to 200 ml of boiled water. propolis tinctures;
• per glass of water - 1 tsp. salt and 3 drops of iodine;
• pour a collection of equal proportions of chamomile, calendula and sage into a liter of boiling water, leave for 40 minutes;
• add 3-4 drops of thyme, cypress or eucalyptus oil to a glass of warm water.

You can gargle up to 6 times a day, preferably at regular intervals. The antibacterial effect of these funds will help to quickly overcome the infection.

Mistakes in treating a cold in a child

An increase in temperature is a normal reaction of the immune system to the penetration of the pathogen and the onset of the disease. However, it should be understood that the symptoms of a respiratory disease can appear even when there is no cold at all. Snot and cough can cause a foreign body in the respiratory tract, irritation from dust and smoke.

If it seems to parents that the child has an acute respiratory disease, but the disease proceeds without fever, then this is either an allergy or a foreign body in the nose or throat. In this case, treating the baby for a cold is useless. However, the absence of fever can sometimes indicate a mild form of the disease.

When treating a cold, many parents resort to medications that are not necessary. Consider the main mistakes in therapy:

1. The use of antibiotics. They can be used only if indicated, otherwise the drugs destroy the natural microflora. This will only exacerbate the symptoms of the disease.
2. The use of antipyretic drugs. If you give them to your baby at a temperature of 37-37.5 degrees, the crumbs' immunity will develop incorrectly (we recommend reading:).
3. Antitussive drugs. You should not give them just because you want to quickly eliminate this unpleasant symptom. Cough is a natural reaction of the body, which is trying to remove sputum from the bronchi.
4. The use of all drugs at the same time. With a combination of drugs, it is worth studying the instructions, taking into account the indications. Ignoring these factors will lead to a backlash.

When treating a cold, it is important not to overdo it with medicines and use potent drugs only as directed by a doctor.

If the baby has a cold, then at the first signs of illness, it is necessary to create the most comfortable conditions for him:

1. You should not put the child in a warm and stuffy room - he will get worse. The air temperature should be no more than 23 degrees.
2. It is necessary to maintain the humidity in the room 60-70%. If the baby is cold, he needs to be dressed, and not turn on the heater.
3. You should not force-feed a child if he refuses to eat. Give him tea, juice, fruit drink, milk - the bulk of microorganisms and toxins are removed from the body with liquid.
4. Bed rest is required. It is highly not recommended to carry the disease "on the legs".

When a child is ill, you need to bathe - during the hygiene procedure, he breathes moist air, which helps to moisturize the mucous membranes of the nose and throat (we recommend reading:). The ban on bathing came from the time when children were washed in a trough and were afraid to get too cold. The procedure is prohibited only at high body temperature. You can also play outside. It is important to dress your baby for the weather and minimize contact with other children.

During the period of a cold, provided that there is no elevated body temperature, you can and should walk in the fresh air, dressing for the weather

Cold prevention

It is better to prevent the development of the disease than to treat a cold child. In an unfavorable epidemiological situation, it is necessary:

• exclude handshakes;
• try not to be in crowded places (public transport, shops);
• limit contact with sick people;
• wear a gauze bandage, changing it every 2-3 hours;
• try to spend more time outdoors, walk in the park.

In the prevention of colds and flu, daily work on the development of immunity and health promotion will help:

• choose healthy foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, sour-milk);
• buy clothes made from natural fabrics;
• exercise;
• observe the optimal temperature regime;
• harden the child from an early age.

It has been proven that during the day a person's hands repeatedly come into contact with discharge from the mouth, eyes, nose. A huge number of pathogens are transmitted through the hands, as a person daily touches door handles, handrails, money, etc. It is advisable to give the child an antiseptic, wet wipes and remind him to wash his hands before eating, after going to the toilet and immediately after returning from the street.

There is nothing sadder for a mother than the illness of a beloved child. Against the background of complete health, the baby suddenly begins to behave differently. He becomes capricious, lethargic, refuses to eat and play with his favorite toys. And then young mothers begin to worry and panic. But just at this moment, the panic of the parents is the main enemy for the baby.

Take a close look at your baby, and if you notice the first signs of a cold in a child, immediately start treating him. You may not need to see a doctor, because the common cold goes away very quickly, in just 4-5 days, if unwanted complications are not connected to it. But they will never happen if the parents are attentive and immediately take all measures to ensure that the child becomes healthy, cheerful and active again, as it was before.

In no case should you be negligent about the cold itself and its treatment, hoping that everything will pass, as always, as before. When there are frequent colds in children, many parents get used to it, as strange as it sounds, their vigilance is dulled. But with its seeming banality, a cold is an insidious disease, because it is quite possible to miss the moment when dangerous complications join it.

What is a "cold" really?

Few parents think about the nature of the occurrence of a cold. But it has an infectious origin, or rather, a viral one. Doctors call this disease ARI (acute respiratory disease) or SARS (acute respiratory viral infection). It is very difficult to fight viruses with drugs, because the nature of these microorganisms is strange and complex. And their prevalence explains the frequency of occurrence of colds.

So, SARS are caused by viral infections, for which the upper respiratory tract - the nasopharynx, larynx, trachea - is a favorite place for penetration and damage. This group of viruses, which includes several dozen "cold" pathogens, includes rhinovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, RS-virus and influenza virus. It is these insidious pathogens that selectively affect some parts of the respiratory tract of children whose immune system is still imperfect, and it is difficult for them to effectively resist the infection.

Rhinovirus "loves" to damage the nasal mucosa, so the main symptoms of a cold in a child will be nasal congestion, rhinorrhea. The parainfluenza virus usually infects the larynx, leading to laryngitis. Adenovirus infection "settles" in the lymphoid tissue, which is quite developed in children in the form of adenoids and tonsils. And if the disease begins with fever, conjunctivitis and pharyngitis, then we can speak with a 100% guarantee of infection with adenovirus infection.

And when a cold in a child under one year old immediately manifests with bronchiolitis, then an experienced doctor will quickly determine the RS-viral nature of this disease. But there are exceptions, because there is a high probability of the occurrence of combined infections that give such a bunch of signs of a cold in children that sometimes you can get confused. That is why doctors usually do not single out the name of the disease separately by the type of virus, but talk about SARS, especially since the treatment of a cold in children has one scheme and tactics. They differ only in relation to the location of the focus of the development of the pathological process - whether it is rhinitis or laryngitis, or pharyngitis, or tracheitis, etc.

It is not particularly correct to speak of ARVI as a cold. This concept is more popular than medical. But the explanatory dictionary interprets a cold as a disease that arose after hypothermia. We will continue to use this concept in order to make it easier to understand the essence of the treatment of colds in children.

There is no need to talk about the influenza virus in this article, because the flu is rarely tolerated quickly, often complicated and has a severe course and its own treatment characteristics, although this is also essentially a cold disease to one degree or another, only with its characteristic course and a high probability of occurrence many complications, sometimes very serious and dangerous.

>>Recommended: if you are interested in effective methods of getting rid of chronic rhinitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis and persistent colds, then be sure to check out this website page after reading this article. The information is based on the personal experience of the author and has helped many people, we hope it will help you too. Now back to the article.<<

Under what conditions and why can a child catch a cold?

A little higher it was already said that a cold is a viral disease that occurs after hypothermia. It is this factor that is most often decisive in starting pathological processes. It is enough for a child to get cold, as his immune system fails, ceases to effectively resist an external aggressive factor - respiratory viruses. And it is not necessary that the entire body of the child is supercooled.

It is enough just that for some time the feet or hands of our babies experience a cooling factor, and immediately a response occurs - a reflex contraction of blood vessels. This leads to impaired blood circulation in the mucous membranes of the nose, pharynx, larynx. Viruses that are able to quickly penetrate the mucous membrane will not fail to take advantage of this state of the mucous membranes. At this point, her resistance decreases, but her sensitivity to microorganisms and viruses increases significantly.

Here it is the main cause of a cold, and now parents understand how to prevent the disease, and what should be the prevention of a cold !!! The child should not be supercooled, even partially, not only at the peak of the seasonal incidence of SARS, but also in summer. Remember how often you can see children with colds in the midst of the summer heat.

But even those children whom mothers and grandmothers constantly protect from hypothermia, drafts, have a cold no less than others. This is due to the fact that parents and grandparents do not take into account the fact that their pets will run around during a walk, sweat in warm clothes and thereby expose their body to the risk of a cold.

With good immunity, the mucous membranes become an effective barrier to viral infections. Therefore, cooling alone is usually not enough for the development of the disease. Symptoms of a cold in a month-old child or teenager should occur when an imbalance of such factors as the state of immunity, vitality, the presence of other diseases, physiological characteristics and factors, as well as climatic environmental parameters - humidity and air temperature. If these factors create a single critical conglomerate that favors the penetration of viruses into the child's body, he will get sick.

Ways to infect a child with colds

Infection of children with a respiratory infection or diseases that occur against the background of a cold in children occurs through three main ways of transmitting viruses:

• airborne, when viruses and microorganisms are transmitted with microdroplets that occur during sneezing or coughing;
• contact, when the infection is transmitted through a handshake;
• household, when a viral infection is transmitted through the use of hygiene products, cutlery, telephone, etc.

For colds, the main route of infection transmission is airborne, but in a child under 3 years old and even up to 6-7 years old, a cold often occurs due to the contact household method. During coughing, sneezing and talking from the nasopharynx of a sick person, particles of saliva, sputum, nasal mucus, which are saturated with pathogens, begin to be thrown into the environment.

An infected zone is created around the patient, the air of which has the maximum concentration of aerosol infected particles. They usually disperse to a distance of no more than 2-3 m, and when sneezing, infected sputum particles can scatter up to 10 meters. Therefore, to sneeze and cough to a sick person only in a handkerchief and wear a gauze bandage, but not only to him, but to all people in contact with him, especially children. In this way, the concentration of infection in the air can be reduced up to 70 times.

And if viruses overcome the protective barrier of the cell membrane, then they penetrate into the cells of the mucous membranes, where they begin to multiply intensively. Newborn viruses are released and begin to infect all new cells. A particularly high degree of reproduction is recorded in the influenza virus, which explains the short incubation period - only a day or two.

During this time, viruses and toxins, the products of their reproduction and vital activity, are carried with the bloodstream throughout the body, resulting in a rapid defeat of the cardiovascular, nervous and other systems of the child's body by influenza viruses. But for other respiratory viruses, only local, local damage to the tissues of the upper respiratory tract is characteristic.

How often do children get colds?

Every child has a cold at least once a year. But sometimes colds occur so often in the children's category that parents go astray from counting them throughout the year. A baby can get sick up to 6-10 times a year, and if this happens more often, then in this case it is worth sounding the alarm, because such an incidence rate already indicates that the protective forces of the child's body are negligible.

Frequent colds of a child under 3 years of age are explained by the fact that only by this age the immune system is formed, although this process can sometimes take up to 7 years, which happens in 15-20% of children. Typically, these kids do not attend kindergarten, where they have to “get acquainted” and get sick with many respiratory viral diseases at an early age, having taught the immune system to effectively resist infections.

Doctors believe that frequent colds, both in one-year-old babies and in children under 3 years old throughout the year, occurring up to 9 times, are almost normal. For kindergarten children, a cold up to 12 times is also quite a common situation. If teenagers get sick more often than 7 times a year, this is already a cause for concern.

Just do not need to regard this information in such a way that colds are the norm in children. Any illness is a pathology, so you need to strive to ensure that children get sick as little as possible. It is important that the therapeutic tactics be adequate, timely in each case, and prevention is always observed at the proper level, regardless of seasonality and time of year.

Let's sum up a little. Frequent colds among babies occur due to reduced immunity against the background of:

• untrained immune system;
• sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity;
• weakening of the microflora of the child's body;
• unbalanced diet, overeating;
• hypovitaminosis, lack of trace elements;
• severe environmental situation;
• frequent stressful situations;
• excessively warm microclimate in the house where the child lives;
• antibiotic abuse;
• passive smoking (if adults smoke around).

And if parents manage to correct at least a few items from this list, then the frequency of children's diseases will go to a minimum.

Imperceptible signs of a cold in children during the incubation period of the disease

Usually they begin to talk about the disease when all the signs of a cold are present. Only then the parents of a sick child begin to feverishly think about how and how to treat a cold in their child. But the disease itself is always preceded by a period during which attentive parents can always suspect that something is wrong with their child. And if during this period measures are taken to maintain the immune system in babies, then the disease itself can be nullified.

This period is called the incubation period, it begins from the moment the infection enters the child's body and lasts until the first clinical symptoms of a cold characteristic of children. This usually happens within 2-7 days. The shortest incubation period after influenza infection is up to 1-2 days. Adenovirus infection is cultivated in the child's body for up to 2 weeks.

During this period, you can see the first typical signs of a cold in a child. The baby becomes lethargic, inactive. He is not interested in much, even his favorite games before. Sick children sleep more, they feel weak and overwhelmed. Appetite gradually decreases, sleep may be disturbed. The psyche of the baby is also changing, he begins to act up, he increasingly has a bad mood. Many children complain of frequent headaches.

If already in this period we begin to maintain the protective forces of the child's body, then it is quite possible to recover quickly and as soon as possible, to avoid its long course, the occurrence of complications.

The first symptoms of a cold in a child

By the end of the incubation period, the first clinical signs of a childhood cold begin to appear, which have a number of common features for all respiratory diseases, although the severity and combination of individual symptoms are characteristic of a specific viral infection.

1. Features of the course of rhinovirus infection in children

If the disease is caused by infection with a rhinovirus infection, then after an incubation period of 1-5 days, the body temperature begins to rise to 38⁰С, accompanied by temporary chills. The duration of the temperature period usually does not exceed 3 days.

After nasal congestion and difficulty breathing through the nose, abundant mucous rhinorrhea (snot) begins, which after a few days becomes thicker and more viscous. Symptoms of intoxication grow slowly, they are accompanied by a feeling of sore throat. In children with a cold, redness of the sclera and conjunctiva, lacrimation appear. In a baby, catarrhal processes in the nasal cavity lead to reddening of his wings and maceration of the skin underneath.

With this infection, complications in children rarely occur, usually they are associated with the addition of a bacterial pathogenic infection, which leads to the development of sinusitis, ethmoiditis, frontal sinusitis, otitis media and tonsillitis. The cold process in infants can be complicated by tracheobronchitis and even pneumonia TEXT_LINKSif the baby is too weak.

2. Features of adenovirus infection

After a long incubation period of up to 2 weeks, an acute onset of the disease occurs, which begins with a sharp rise in the child's temperature to 39 ° C. Usually, colds in a child under 2 years of age are accompanied by subfebrile temperature, which gradually rises to high numbers. The feverish period can last up to 10 days, during which temperature jumps from normal to very high are recorded. The next rise in temperature occurs with the addition of the next signs of a cold in children, and a decrease in temperature always occurs critically. At the same time, even against the background of high temperature, the symptoms of intoxication are mild.

From the first day of illness, children complain of headache, weakness, nasal congestion, burning and tearing of the eyes, which is explained by the rapid development of conjunctivitis. From the very beginning there is a strong pain in the throat when swallowing. Severe hyperemia (redness) of the pharynx and tonsils is visible. On the 2-3 day, a runny nose with a dry cough joins against the background of pharyngitis that has arisen. There is a sharp increase in regional lymph nodes.

A cold in a child under 1 year old may be accompanied by bloating, flatulence and diarrhea up to 7 times a day. Children under 3 years of age are especially susceptible to adenovirus infection, although, as a rule, in infants under the age of 6 months, a viral cold is almost impossible, because these children have temporary passive immunity from the mother. After a disease, immunity can sometimes last up to 8 years. A cold caused by adenovirus in a child under 1 year old can be complicated by pneumonia.

3. Features of the course of parainfluenza

After an incubation period of 7 days in children, the temperature rises sharply to 40 degrees in 2-3 days. Simultaneously, there is weakness, nasal congestion, runny nose with mucopurulent discharge. A dry, hacking and agonizing cough develops rapidly, accompanied by pain, burning in the throat, and hoarseness of voice. In children aged 2 to 5 years, a cold caused by the parainfluenza virus can be complicated by the development of croup syndrome, which occurs due to damage to the trachea and reflex spasm of its muscles. When complicated by a bacterial infection, angina, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, etc. often join. If the disease proceeds without complications, then the pronounced symptoms of a cold gradually fade and completely disappear by 7-10 days.

How to cure a cold in children?

How to quickly put on your feet and cure a cold in a child? Do I need to immediately grab onto medications, call a doctor, bring down the temperature at the slightest rise? These questions concern all parents who often have to deal with this problem. And the first thing that must be learned by the parents of a sick baby is that medical consultation and examination are mandatory in any case.

Only a doctor can decide how to effectively treat a cold in a child. He will also determine the tactics of therapy, depending on whether a bacterial infection has joined the viral infection. You can’t self-medicate, otherwise you can miss the moment when a cold baby’s illness crosses the line and takes a severe course with the development of formidable complications.

However, there are general principles for the treatment of colds. If complications have not joined, and the catarrhal process takes a mild form, then there is no special need for medical preparations. Yes, and there are no drugs that would effectively fight viral colds.

It must be remembered that the use of two medications at once for the treatment of colds in children can lead to the risk of their negative interaction in 10% of cases. The use of three drugs increases this risk to 50%, and more than five - to 90%. So with such treatment, inexperienced parents can harm the child more, instead of helping.

For a sick child, the most important thing during the period of illness is to ensure complete rest. It is necessary to ensure the intake of plenty of fluids and some "soft" drugs that will support the child's weakened immune system. The hygiene of the room, its constant airing and moisturizing is important.

But you need to start with ensuring that the sick baby has adequate nutrition and plenty of fluids. Give your child the opportunity to drink more warm tea with honey, cranberry or lingonberry juice, rosehip broth, compotes, alkaline mineral waters, such as Borjomi, which help fight dehydration, remove waste products of viruses and increase sputum discharge. The more fluid enters the child's body, the sooner it will be cleared of toxins and viruses.

Food should be rich in carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables. Increase the content of fermented milk products in the diet of a sick child to support the intestinal microflora. Do not make your diet heavy with fatty, heavy foods, on the contrary, make it as light as possible. Never force feed a child! Remember that during a viral infection of the body, not only the respiratory system suffers, but the entire body as a whole, and the digestive tract.

One of the most important signs of a viral childhood cold is an increase in body temperature at the start of the disease. It can reach very high numbers - 40 ° C, and usually indicates that a bacterial infection has joined with the likely onset of complications. But most often the child's body temperature does not exceed 38.5 ° C, or even is at a subfebrile level.

Temperature is a protective reaction of the body, which is aimed at fighting and destroying viruses and pathogenic microorganisms. Against the background, interferon is being produced at an accelerated pace - our protector from a viral infection. But if the temperature rises above 38.5 ° C, then the synthesis of interferon is disturbed, the nervous and cardiovascular systems begin to suffer from hyperthermia, a convulsive syndrome with impaired respiratory function may occur.

Only from the moment the temperature barrier of 38.5 ° C is overcome, the use of antipyretics will be required. It is not recommended to lower the temperature to 38.5 ° C, because by doing so we prevent the child's body from fighting the infection.

What drugs are usually prescribed?

As drugs of choice from the list of antipyretics, it is better to focus on Paracetamol, Solpaflex, Panadol, Efferalgan, Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Tylenol or Coldrex. Very often, parents use Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic acid), without thinking about the fact that it is contraindicated for children under 16 years of age. Aspirin can provoke the development of Reye's syndrome, which leads to severe damage to the brain and liver.

Do not forget about the simple "grandmother's" way to reduce body temperature - wet rubbing with a napkin dipped in an aqueous solution of vinegar, one part of which is added to 20 parts of water. Wipe the armpits and inguinal cavities, forehead and face more often, but wiping should always start from the chest and back, and only then move on to the arms and legs of the child. This method often helps to bring down the temperature without medication.

By the way, it is not always necessary to rejoice that the baby has a catarrhal disease without a temperature, and sometimes even against the background of a low temperature. Parents are sure that the disease has taken a mild course. But most often this circumstance indicates the absence of the protective forces of the child's body.

Dry hacking cough can be temporarily relieved with Tusuprex, Pertussin, Libexin. Prolonged cough is successfully treated with herbal chest collection. Remember that once again it is impossible to suppress the cough reflex, because sputum discharge may be disturbed, and an inflammatory process will begin to develop in the lungs.

To reduce swelling and allergic reactions against the background of an inflammatory process in the tissues of the upper respiratory tract, antihistamines are indicated, for example, Tavegil, Suprastin, Loratadin, Zaditen and others.

Particular attention should be paid to sufficient intake of ascorbic acid and multivitamins, the choice in pharmacies of which is very large.

The treatment of infants has its own characteristics, because the child is not able to take pills. The output is rectal suppositories containing antipyretic, anti-inflammatory drugs. Before reaching the age of one, a cold is usually severe, and only a doctor can decide on the tactics of treatment. At the slightest sign of illness, ailments, you should immediately call the attending pediatrician.

Even after the disappearance of the clinical signs of the disease, it is better to leave the child at home for a few more days, not to let go to school or kindergarten. After all, the complete elimination of the symptoms of a cold does not mean a complete recovery! In addition, after an illness for up to 2 weeks, children become as vulnerable as possible to other types of viral infections.

Are antibiotics needed to treat a cold?

Sometimes there are cases when, out of ignorance, parents immediately grab antibiotics and start stuffing cold babies with them in order to cure their child's cold as quickly as possible. More surprising is the fact that from the first days of the disease, pediatricians very often prescribe antibiotics to a sick child, just in case.

But this is a fundamentally wrong idea about the treatment of viral diseases. Antibiotics for children with a cold are not indicated, moreover, they are prohibited, therefore it is impossible and unrealistic to treat viral infections with them. Antibacterial therapy is only used to treat bacterial infections, not viral ones. Excessive use of antibiotics leads to the emergence of resistance to them, a decrease in the tone of the immune system. And when antibiotics are actually needed, they may not have the expected effect. In addition, the use of high doses of antibiotics over a long period can lead to the development of candidiasis.

For your information, viruses eventually self-destruct and are excreted from the body themselves. And if a bacterial infection has not joined, then the use of antibiotics is meaningless, it only causes harm.

But if the child has a high temperature for more than three days, which is not stopped by antipyretic drugs. If severe pains in the ears joined, purulent sputum and purulent discharge from the nose appeared. If the cough has become severe, shortness of breath has joined, which is a very poor prognostic sign, then it can be assumed with great certainty that complications have developed due to the addition of a bacterial infection. That's when antibiotics will become a mandatory component of therapy, but only as prescribed by a doctor.

A cold (or SARS) is a common and frequent occurrence in children under 5 years of age. As a rule, a child rarely gets sick before the age of two. First, because he is protected by the antibodies he received from his mother's milk. Secondly, because he does not yet have contact with a large number of people. But when the baby begins socialization and goes to kindergarten, everything changes. Even a strong child can get sick almost every month. Do not worry, in most cases this is normal, many children go through adaptation. The body is formed, it learns to resist a huge number of viruses and microbes in the world around us. The task of parents in this situation is to alleviate the course of the disease in various ways, as well as strengthen the immune system so that the defenses of the child's body can withstand the virus in the future. In this article, you will learn how to distinguish a cold from other diseases, how to suppress the disease at the very beginning, and we will also tell you about the many ways to quickly and safely treat SARS.

How to understand that the child has a cold

Typical symptoms of a cold are nasal discharge, congestion, sneezing, and redness of the eyes. With a cold, the temperature may rise - although this is not a prerequisite. In general, the well-being of the crumbs deteriorates - he becomes capricious, whiny, asks for hands, loses his appetite. If the child is more than two years old and can already speak, the children show what exactly hurts. Often with a cold, a sore throat - the child points to this. You can examine the mucous membrane of the throat with a clean spoon - if it is red, there should be no doubt - the baby caught SARS.

Very often, a cold is confused with other diseases, first of all, it is an allergy. As during a cold, the baby may begin to watery eyes, stuffy nose, and cough. Children are especially tormented when the disease does not go away for a long time, simply because the treatment should be different. To find out if the baby has a cold or an allergy, you just need to donate blood for immunoglobulin E. If the indicator of this analysis is exceeded, allergic reactions occur in the body, if normal, treat for a cold. As a rule, an allergic rhinitis is characterized by clear mucus, but a cold can be anything. The same goes for coughs – allergic coughs are usually dry and superficial. You can also check for allergies in the throat. If it's red, it's definitely a cold. There is no fever with allergies. In addition, all symptoms quickly disappear after an antihistamine.

The common cold is often confused with food poisoning. After all, often a baby with a high temperature can be tormented by vomiting and diarrhea. If diarrhea and vomiting are repeated, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible, dehydration is extremely dangerous for young children. In this case, the throat will also help to make the correct diagnosis. If it is not red - most likely, the baby was poisoned. If red - with a high degree of probability we can say that the baby has caught ARVI, which, by the way, can often manifest itself as gastrointestinal disorders.

Cold symptoms also appear in children who develop infectious mononucleosis. The disease is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. With this disease, a high temperature appears, which is difficult to bring down, a purulent or red throat, lymph nodes increase. To identify the disease, you need to be tested for atypical mononuclear cells. In any case, if you are definitely not sure that it is a cold, you should definitely consult a doctor for a correct diagnosis.

If you notice the primary signs of the disease in a child, it is very important to start treatment as early as possible. After all, an early response will allow you to suppress the disease in the bud. So what to do if the child is cold or comes from the garden with snot?

1. First of all, you need to warm the baby. If the child does not mind, you can take a hot bath. In any case, the water should first be comfortable and warm, and then the temperature can be gradually increased. Then dress your child warmly.
2. After that, the baby can be washed with a nose. Firstly, this will wash off the virus from the mucosa, which may not have been completely absorbed into the body. Secondly, rinsing will help remove excess mucus and relieve swelling, which will allow you to breathe through your nose again. For washing, you can use decoctions of herbs, a solution of furacilin or miramistin, salt water. Flushing can be done simply by placing the spout of the teapot against the child's nose. The kid should turn his head to one side until the jet pours out of the other nostril. Show by your own example how the baby should act. Babies need to rinse their nose with saline. Just drop a drop of saline solution into each nostril with a pipette. After that, use a nasal aspirator, which will draw out all the unnecessary mucus. In case of serious discharge (purulent), the baby can be taken to the ENT for washing. The Cuckoo apparatus will pull out everything unnecessary from the sinuses, and the antibacterial composition resists the further development of inflammation.
3. In addition to washing, the baby can be inhaled. An excellent nebulizer device sprays mineral water or special preparations into tiny particles that fall directly on the lungs. The nebulizer perfectly treats cough, snot and red throat, suppresses inflammation at the root. If there is no such device at home, you can simply breathe over a basin of hot water, covering yourself with a towel. For inhalation, you can use a decoction of potatoes or chamomile, essential oils of eucalyptus or tincture of calendula.
4. After that, the baby needs to make a mustard foot bath. The procedure is allowed for children over three years old. In order not to frighten or force the baby, just dip your legs in a basin of hot water with him. Add some dry mustard to the liquid. From time to time pour hot water into the basin. After the bath, you need to dry your feet well, put on woolen socks on bare skin. This creates an additional impact on the active points of the foot. This massage strengthens the immune system and activates increased blood circulation.
5. Mustard bath should be done before going to bed. But before you wish your baby good night, you need to smear his chest and back with badger or goose fat. Fat keeps heat for a long time and warms up well. If you have a runny nose, warm your sinuses with boiled eggs or warm salt in a bag.
6. After that, give the baby tea with raspberries. Raspberry has a powerful diaphoretic property. Such a drink will allow the body to sweat well - the main thing is not to get out from under the covers.

Having fulfilled all these conditions, in the morning you will not even remember that the child was sick yesterday. However, remember - this set of measures is effective only at the beginning of the disease.

Plentiful drink and moist air

In all sources on the treatment of colds, you can find recommendations for drinking plenty of water. However, few people know that the virus is not treated with drugs. All antiviral drugs have only the ability to relieve symptoms. Only liquid will help remove the virus from the body. The more the child pees, the faster his recovery will come. You really need to drink a lot. A child of three years old should drink at least a liter of fluid per day (during illness). This is the only way to speed up recovery. Offer the baby your favorite juices, compotes, sweet tea - anything, as long as he drinks.

Humid air is another condition for a quick recovery. The virus lives and multiplies in dry and hot air. But in a humid and cool climate, it dies. Ventilate the room more often, install a humidifier, moderate the work of radiators in winter, do wet cleaning daily. In addition to the fact that dry and hot air contributes to the development of the virus, it also dries out the nasal mucosa. This leads to secondary infection. The quality of indoor air with a cold is one of the main conditions for recovery.

If it is indeed a cold, there is no need to treat it with medicines. Ensuring plenty of fluids and moist air in the room is already the key to a quick recovery. However, often children need help to get rid of the disease as soon as possible. Antipyretic drugs have an excellent anti-inflammatory effect. If given three times a day, regardless of temperature, they help to reduce symptoms and alleviate the patient's condition. Among them are Nurofen, Ibuklin, Ibufen, etc.

If the baby has a stuffy nose, you need to use vasoconstrictor sprays and drops. However, observe the age limit - use only those drugs that are approved for a child of your age. They should not be used for more than five days. If the runny nose is of a bacterial nature, you need to add more powerful drugs - Isofra, Protorgol, Pinosol.

It is mandatory to take antihistamines, even if the baby is not allergic. Zodak, Suprastin, Zirtek will help relieve swelling and relieve nasal congestion.

Cough medicines cannot be taken uncontrollably, they are acceptable only if they have been prescribed to you by a doctor. Antitussive medicines, such as Sinekod, fight dry coughs by suppressing the cough reflex. If you cough with phlegm, you need to remove it from the lungs. Mukoltin, Lazolvan, Azz, etc. will help with this. When sputum is discharged, in no case should you drink antitussive medicines - they drown out the cough, sputum is not excreted, this can lead to stagnation.

How else to treat a cold in a child

We have collected for you the most effective and useful ways to treat a cold.

1. If there is a sore throat, rinsing will help get rid of them. Toddlers over three years old can already be taught to gargle. Decoctions of medicinal herbs, antibacterial solutions or sea water (soda, salt and iodine) are suitable for rinsing.
2. Parents make a big mistake when they force a sick child to eat, saying that they will not have the strength to fight the disease. In fact, a lot of energy goes into digesting food. Don't force your child to eat if he doesn't want to.
3. It is better to give up sweet and unleavened milk for a while - they increase the inflammation in the throat.
4. If there is a strong cough, you can cook a honey-mustard cake. Mix honey, a pinch of dry mustard, vegetable oil and flour to make a dough. Roll out a cake from it and attach it to your chest. Leave overnight. Mustard slightly irritates the skin and increases blood circulation in the chest area. This helps activate immune cells and speeds up recovery. Honey gently warms, and oil protects delicate baby skin from burns.
5. Chopped onions need to be spread around the house - this disinfects the air. So you not only treat the child, but also protect other household members from infection.
6. To make the child breathe in vapors of garlic, place the cut garlic cloves in a yellow Kinder egg and hang around the neck. Make a few holes in the "egg" itself. So the baby will constantly inhale the smell of garlic, which is very useful for colds.
7. If the child has a stuffy nose, you can use folk recipes and drops. Beet juice, carrots, aloe and Kalanchoe perfectly treat a runny nose. However, remember that they must be diluted with water by at least half, since in their pure form the juices are very hot. Before dripping drops of your own preparation into your child’s nose, you need to try them on yourself. Never drip breast milk into your baby's nose. It has long been proven that milk is the best food for bacteria, such treatment will only aggravate the disease.
8. Eat more vitamin C. These are citrus fruits, rosehip broth, kiwi. You can eat ascorbic acid - it is sour and many children eat it instead of sweets. If the baby is small, you can add vitamin C to food. The pharmacy has a lot of vitamin C in liquid form (usually in drops).

These are simple yet time-tested ways to help you get your baby back on their feet quickly.

When to See a Doctor

There are times when a cold does not go away in the prescribed 5-7 days. If the baby does not recover and there is no improvement in his condition, you should definitely see a doctor. In addition, self-medication is unacceptable if the temperature rises above 39 degrees, if there is a rash, diarrhea or vomiting.

You can not be treated without consulting a doctor if there are purulent plaques on the throat - tonsillitis is treated with antibiotics. If thick, yellow or green snot appears, it means that a bacterial infection has joined and you also need a doctor. Any unnatural behavior of the child, uncharacteristic complaints or doubts about the diagnosis must be discussed with the doctor. It is possible to be treated at home only if the symptoms are understandable and characteristic of a cold.

To protect a child from a cold, you need to strengthen your immune system - eat right, temper yourself, drink vitamins, spend more time outdoors, and move actively. And then there will be fewer colds. And if they do, they will flow much easier. Remember, the health and immunity of the child is in your hands.

Video: how to treat SARS in children