home Audience 3 A cold in a child - how to quickly cure it: inhalation with a nebulizer, folk and drug treatment. How to quickly cure a cold in a child, what to give at the first signs of illness: medicines and folk remedies Antiviral drugs for

A cold in a child - how to quickly cure it: inhalation with a nebulizer, folk and drug treatment. How to quickly cure a cold in a child, what to give at the first signs of illness: medicines and folk remedies Antiviral drugs for

Young children aged 1-1.5 years can get colds up to four times a year. The main difficulty in treating the disease is that children cannot talk about the symptoms, and it is also difficult to convince them to take the medicine. Breastfed children have improved immunity and get sick less often, but are not completely protected from colds. How to treat a cold in a child aged 1-1.5 years and what medications to use?

Treatment with medications

Treatment of colds in children aged 1.5 years using pharmaceuticals is based on the individual manifestations of the disease. Let's look at the drugs usually prescribed by pediatricians to treat children.

Immunomodulators

To normalize the immune system, doctors prescribe Interferon and Grippferon for colds in children over 1 year old. They come in the form of drops and are administered through the nose or dripped into the mouth. Children aged 1.5 years are allowed to take Anaferon for children, which helps treat and prevent the development of colds. For childhood colds, pediatricians can prescribe this drug in tablets up to three times a day.

Vasoconstrictor drugs

It is not recommended to treat a cold in a 1-year-old child with such drugs, but at one and a half years old, doctors sometimes prescribe them, as they effectively fight a runny nose. Among the most popular are:

Solin;
Aquamaris;
Isofra (suitable as).

The first two remedies are saline solutions. In difficult situations, when the sinuses are very congested and there is a profuse runny nose, you can use aloe extract, which is sold in pharmacies.

Antitussives

How to cure a cold at 1.5 years old in a child if a cough appears against its background? Among the medications used to combat it, Mucaltin has no contraindications.

Antipyretics

If a child has a cold of one to one and a half years and the temperature does not exceed 38 degrees, and the baby is not clearly unwell, do not give antipyretic drugs. At this temperature, bacteria and viruses begin to die, and this promotes recovery. When the temperature rises to 38 or more, it needs to be reduced with Paracetamol in the form of a suspension or rectal suppositories.

How to give a child pills?

How to treat a cold in a child 1-1.5 years old, of course, but how to give medicine correctly? This often turns out to be more difficult than parents imagine. The entire dose must be given to the baby at a time, otherwise the child will probably not take the second or third portion of the drug.

Do not mix bitter pills or other products with your baby's daily meals (cereals, soups, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, etc.). Otherwise, the child will probably refuse to eat them in the future, and this will turn into a new problem.

Do not try to distract your child from the medicine by giving him the breast before the bitter pill. There is a high risk that the child will even refuse the breast. It is better to act differently - to give breastfeeding after a tasteless medicine.

If you cannot give a child 1-1.5 years old any medicine for a cold, ask your doctor to replace it with an alternative in a different pharmacological form. Before crushing any tablets, check to see if this can be done. In certain cases, violation of the integrity of the pill reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of the drug.

The crushed tablet can be mixed with a couple of drops of vegetable oil, which will group the bitter grains. Drop a little water and your child will easily swallow this drug.

We treat a child with folk remedies

Many parents seek to give up medications by choosing. They are very effective, but it is important to adhere to certain rules.

If a one-year-old child has a fever, then rubdowns are used as a treatment with folk remedies. For this you need clean water, but under no circumstances vinegar or alcohol. Vitamin C also helps combat fever, so you can make your baby warm tea with lemon or give him an orange.

Among the natural antimicrobial agents are onion, garlic and aloe juice. If you decide to steam a child’s feet with a cold at 1-1.5 years old, make sure there is no fever. But in general, many doctors, including Komarovsky, do not recommend treating a cold in a one-year-old child using such thermal procedures.

If a cough appears against the background of a cold, a well-known folk remedy - milk with honey and butter - will help. Do not forget that honey is a powerful allergen, so be careful.

A cold is a condition in which children feel worse, have a fever, runny nose and cough. Before treating a child, you need to contact a pediatrician and undergo an examination at a children's clinic. At home, in critical cases, children can be given an antipyretic drug (rectal suppositories or syrup) on their own. During illness, the child should drink as much fluid as possible.

A cold is a collective name for various infectious diseases of the respiratory system. The child's condition may worsen due to influenza or ARVI. Then the disease can develop into rhinitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, croup, bronchitis, pneumonia, tracheitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis. Different microorganisms affect the respiratory system at different levels. Rhinoviruses settle in the nose, adenoviruses - in the pharynx, respiratory syncytial virus - in the bronchi.

Factors that provoke colds of the respiratory tract:

hypothermia;
decreased immunity;
viral or bacterial infection.

A child can catch a cold at home, or while walking on the street, in contact with a sick person. Most often, colds occur during the cold season of the year. During a flu epidemic, children can catch the virus through toys or household items.

Factors predisposing to diseases are poor diet, rare exposure to fresh air, a diet poor in vitamins, and an inactive lifestyle. You should always wear clothes appropriate for the weather. Don't wrap your baby too tightly. It is necessary to ensure that he is not cold and his feet do not get wet.

The first signs of a cold in a child

The child himself cannot say that he has a cold. It is necessary to carefully monitor his behavior and condition. If he is capricious, sleepy for no reason, does not want to play or eat, then this is a signal of an impending illness.

Symptoms of colds in children that you need to pay attention to:

It is not always possible to understand what the etiology of the disease is. With a viral infection, body temperature rises sharply, up to 39 degrees. With a bacterial infection, on the contrary, it increases gradually. In this case, the temperature rises no higher than 38 degrees. The type of disease can only be determined based on tests. Depending on what caused the disease - a virus or a bacterium - appropriate treatment is prescribed in this case.

If you have a cold, you need to put the patient to bed. During illness, it is forbidden to play outside with other children. The room where the baby is located needs to be ventilated. The temperature in the room should be at least +22°C. If it's cold, you can turn on the heater.

The air in the room should not be too dry. You need to moisten it regularly using a moisture spray. You can do wet cleaning 2 times a day. Home clothes can be made of cotton, linen, but not synthetics. The baby may sweat frequently, so he will have to change his underwear many times.

The patient should be given plenty of fluids to drink. You can boil milk, prepare herbal tea, compote from dried fruits or rose hips, juice from fresh berries and fruits. The patient needs to be given water often, but little by little, preferably 50 ml at a time. The liquid can be warm, but not cold or hot.

Children aged 1 year and older should be able to blow their nose into a handkerchief. In this way, they clear the nasal passages of mucus accumulated there. Parents regularly clean the nose of an infant from mucus. For small children, snot is removed using an aspirator.

Before cleaning the nose, one drop of breast milk or vegetable oil is instilled into the nasal passages to soften the dried contents. You can use saline or soda solution. In this case, take 1 teaspoon of salt or soda per liter of water. Children under 3 years old should not be instilled into the nose with a spray or bulb; this method of treatment can lead to an inflammatory process, for example, otitis media. Rinsing the nasal passages can be done using pharmaceutical products such as Aqualor, Aquamaris.

To ease the secretion of mucus during a dry cough, you can give your baby tea from coltsfoot, chamomile and give a light massage first to the back and then to the chest. Small children should not inhale, as this can cause the mucus to swell and block the airways.

If your child shows the first signs of a cold, you need to call a pediatrician at home. The disease cannot be left to chance. If babies are not treated or treated incorrectly, thick mucus may soon accumulate in the respiratory system. Young children may have difficulty blowing their nose or coughing on their own. This can subsequently lead to bronchitis, pneumonia, acute respiratory and heart failure, and even death.

Diagnostics

A sick baby should be shown to the pediatrician as soon as possible. The doctor will auscultate the lungs, check the throat and nose, and prescribe blood and urine tests. If necessary, the patient will do an x-ray, ultrasound, CT scan. In the laboratory, children will be given an antibiotic that can be used to treat a bacterial infection.

Medicines and dosage for colds for children are determined by the attending physician. Only a specialist can prescribe a course of therapy. Colds are treated with antipyretics, cough medicines, runny nose drops, antibiotics for bacterial infections, and antiviral drugs for influenza.

There are different approved medicines for every age. Babies should not be given medication to treat a three-year-old baby. If the medicine is safe for infants, then it can be used for an older child.

It is necessary to take medicines according to the instructions for use. It is included in every drug pack. It is necessary to observe the mode of administration and dosage. It is necessary to pay attention to contraindications to the medication. If a child is allergic to any component of the medicine, you need to stop using it.

Cough syrups should not be used for more than 7 days, and drops for the common cold can be used for 3 to 5 days. If treatment does not give results, you need to consult a doctor again and undergo a re-examination. The child may have developed complications. The doctor may have misdiagnosed and prescribed medications.

Safe children's cold medicines

For newborns - Paracetamol (for fever), Viferon (antiviral), Nazivin (for the runny nose), Lazolvan (for cough), IRS 19 (for boosting immunity).
For children from 1 to 2 years old - Panadol (for fever), Laferon, Tsitovir (antiviral), Broncho-munal (to boost immunity), Bromhexine (for cough).
For children 2 years old - Ibuprofen (for fever), Inhalipt (for sore throat), Xylin (for runny nose), Ambroxol (for cough), Tamiflu (antiviral), Immunal (to boost immunity).

Treatment for the little ones

Starting from the age of one month, children can be given mucolytics, that is, substances that dilute the mucus formed in the bronchi and promote its removal. For cough, infants are given Ambroxol, Ambrobene in the form of syrup. The medicine is taken after meals, half a teaspoon twice a day for 5 days. From 6 months you can give Bronchicum and Lazolvan.

Infants are prescribed expectorants, for example, Gedelix, Linkas. For a runny nose, it is recommended to use Aquamaris, Nazoferon, Vibrocil, Laferon, Vitaon, Baby Doctor “Clean Nose”. If nasal congestion is caused by a bacterial infection, use Protargol drops. This effective remedy quickly eliminates the symptoms of a cold. Rectal suppositories will help to remove the temperature. From birth you can use Viburkol, from 1 month - Cefekon D, from 3 months - Panadol and Nurofen.

If the cold is caused by a bacterial infection, children 1 year of age and older can be treated with antibiotics. Such for children are prescribed for pneumonia, acute bronchitis. For treatment, you can use Penicillin, Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, Cefadroxil in the form of injections. An antibiotic is not prescribed for ARVI, but if a child’s temperature does not drop for a long time, the cough only gets worse, and the snot has acquired a brownish color, these medications can also be used. Antibacterial medications are used if a bacterial infection has been added to a viral infection.

How to treat a cold in a 2 year old child

For children aged 1 to 2 years, Naphthyzin, Rinorus, Sanorin, Nazol Baby are prescribed for a runny nose. These are vasoconstrictors and should not be used for more than 3 days. Typically, children take one drop into each nostril twice a day before feeding. Nasal congestion can be relieved by oil products, for example, Pinosol. For viral infections, Interferon and Grippferon are used. For cough, the child is prescribed Mucaltin, Ambroxol, Bromhexine. Medicines are given in the form of syrups. It is not recommended to give tablets to children under 5 years of age; children have a narrow esophagus and can choke on them. For high fever, give Ibuprofen or Paracetamol syrup.

In children over 2 years old, it is carried out using cough medicines such as Ambroxol, Bronholitin, Fluimucil. From this age, you can use new vasoconstrictors for nasal congestion - Tizin, Otrivin. In severe cases of purulent rhinitis or sinusitis, antibacterial drops for the common cold are used, for example, Isofra, Polydex.

If a child has a cold, you cannot do without vitamin supplements. In case of weakened immunity, Pikovit, AlfaVit, Mult-Tabs are prescribed. Up to 3 years of age, it is better to take it in the form of syrups.

Children can be treated for colds using traditional medicine. For high temperatures, vinegar rubs are used. To do this, dilute vinegar with half and half water, soak a towel in the solution and wipe the child’s forehead, chest, back, arms, and legs with it. You can wet a whole sheet and wrap it around your baby.

Raspberries have good diaphoretic properties. Leaves and bush twigs are brewed. Raspberry jam, made from berries ground with sugar, helps remove toxins from the body.

If you have a cold, you can give linden tea to the patient. Starting from the age of three months, the child is given a compote of Antonov apples with the addition of honey. Decoctions of various medicinal herbs help relieve coughs. Before using them, you need to find out if the patient is allergic to them.

Infusion recipe:

sage (chamomile, nettle, St. John's wort, plantain, coltsfoot, licorice root) - 1 teaspoon;
water – 250 ml.

Boil water for a couple of minutes. Boiling water is poured over a crushed medicinal plant to which the baby is not allergic. Leave for 30 minutes, strain. The tincture is made in enamel or glass containers. Give a sick child 80 ml to drink 3 times a day.

You can prepare a cold remedy for children based on honey. For example, honey cake. Prepare a soft dough from flour, vegetable oil, water and honey. Place it on the baby's chest for 10 minutes.

Cabbage leaf helps to “stir up” congestion in the chest. It is lightly boiled. A softened warm leaf is smeared with honey and applied to the chest. You can put a towel on top of the compress under a tight-fitting T-shirt. Before using bee products for treatment, you need to do an allergy test.

Warm milk with honey and butter helps with cough. All ingredients are mixed in a glass and given to the child with a spoon during severe attacks. You can add half a teaspoon of soda to 200 ml of milk, thus preparing an alkaline drink. This remedy helps to quickly thin the mucus in the bronchi and remove viscous phlegm.

The onset of a runny nose or cough while there is no fever can be treated with warming dry foot baths. To do this, heat 1 kg of salt in a frying pan, add 50 grams of grated ginger and pour the mixture into a basin. The baby is put on cotton socks and asked to walk on the warm “sand” for a couple of minutes.

You can warm your feet in a basin of hot water (60 degrees). Add a pinch of salt and a spoonful of mustard to the liquid. You need to keep your feet in the water for about twenty minutes. Then they are wiped dry and put on warm socks.

For a runny nose, children over one year old can drop Kalanchoe juice into their nose. 2 drops in each nostril. Swelling of the mucous membrane is well relieved by a solution with soda, salt and iodine. So, sea water is prepared at home. For a glass of liquid, take a teaspoon of soda and salt, plus 1-2 drops of iodine.

Snot can be cured with fresh beetroot juice. It is mixed in equal proportions with warm water. You need to put one drop into your nose three times a day, one drop into each nostril. Instead of beets, you can take carrot juice, parsley and water in the same ratio. If a natural remedy makes your nose feel very hot, change the concentration of the solution. More clean water is added to the juice.

You can warm up your nose with warm cottage cheese. It is applied to the nose for a couple of minutes. You can mash boiled potatoes and use the puree to make a mask for the maxillary sinuses. To prevent the mass from spreading over your face, wrap the cottage cheese or potatoes in a thin cloth.

If a sick baby has no appetite, there is no need to force feed him. The main thing is that he drinks a lot of water. If he does not want to drink, you can inject him with a syringe without a needle onto the inner surface of his cheek, 2 ml of water every 30 minutes, especially at night with a fever. There is no need to wrap the patient warmly.

You can take an onion or a couple of cloves of garlic and grate it on a fine grater. Children should breathe in the vapors of these plants for a couple of minutes. The pulp can be laid out in saucers and placed in different corners of the room where the patient is. From time to time, grated onions and garlic left indoors should be replaced with fresh ones.

If your body temperature is high, you should not use warm compresses or foot baths. These procedures can be done after the patient's fever has subsided. They try not to bring the body temperature down to 38 degrees. If it is above this mark, rectal suppositories will help to quickly lower it. Fever can cause seizures. In order not to bring the child to such a state, the elevated temperature should be reduced with syrups or rectal suppositories.

In order for children to get sick less often and stay healthy longer, they need to strengthen their immunity. For this purpose, it is necessary to regularly spend time in the fresh air and strengthen the baby using water or air procedures. Before going to bed, you can teach your child to wash his feet in cold water. The bathhouse strengthens the body well, but small children should not stay in the steam room for more than 5 minutes. You need to take a bath at least 2-3 times a week. You can add decoctions of medicinal herbs, oak leaves, and black tea to the water.

Children should regularly receive from food sufficient quantities of vitamins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates for their growth and development. The diet should include fermented milk products, meat, cereals, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables.

In winter or spring you need to use pharmacy vitamin complexes. Honey, nuts, citrus fruits, and dried fruits help resist the disease. The baby needs to be taken outside every day in any weather except heavy rain and wind. In summer, it is recommended to relax near a body of water, preferably at the sea.

To avoid serious complications, you need to come for an examination to a doctor at a children's clinic. Children can catch colds 2-4 times a year. If children get sick more often, then they have serious problems with their immunity and, accordingly, with their health. During a flu epidemic, you should visit crowded places less often and not have contact with sick people.

A cold is a condition in which a child begins to cough, sneeze, and his body temperature rises. Viruses and bacteria can cause the disease. Hypothermia can trigger a crisis. Colds need to be treated. For this purpose, you need to visit a doctor and undergo an examination. The pediatrician prescribes all the necessary medications for the child. During treatment, you need to drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of rest, and follow your doctor's recommendations.

Colds are one of the most common diseases. Many children get sick several times a year, often feel very bad and do not attend educational institutions. However, during illness, children develop immunity, making it easier for them to tolerate similar conditions in the future. It is important to choose the right therapy in order to get rid of the disease as quickly as possible and prevent complications.

Characteristic signs of a cold

Colds usually start abruptly. The child wakes up with a runny nose, sneezes, and sometimes has a fever. The baby may be irritable, complain of a headache, a cough develops over time, and nasal mucus becomes thicker and darker. The main signs of acute respiratory infections also include:

in most cases - increased body temperature;
weakness;
sore throat and pain when swallowing;
irritability;
sometimes - vomiting and diarrhea.

A one-year-old child may have other symptoms:

significant loss of appetite;
tearing and redness of the eyes;
fast fatiguability.

If a child has a cold, he or she will have a temperature above 38°C for about three days. Most often, unpleasant symptoms in the form of swelling of the nose, vomiting, and headache appear when the thermometer readings begin to decrease. The disease almost always begins with rare clear snot and cough.

What symptoms are most dangerous for a child?

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Parents should definitely know the symptoms of a cold, which require immediate medical attention. In babies under one year of age, dangerous signs are:
strong cry;
cold sweat;
sudden lethargy;
a sharp decrease in body temperature;
rashes (pimples and spots that do not change color when pressed are especially dangerous).

Signs of complications in older children may include persistent loose stools and frequent gagging. In this case, the child needs to be given a solution containing a small amount of soda, salt and sugar to restore water balance. The following manifestations are also considered dangerous:
fainting;
forgetfulness and inappropriate behavior;
sudden hoarseness of voice;
respiratory failure;
swelling in the head and neck;
sharp pain 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:
with a cold, a runny nose and cough, discomfort in the throat first appear, and only after 1-2 days the thermometer rises to 38°C (usually no more);
the flu begins abruptly and immediately with a high temperature - the child suddenly begins to shiver, coughs, and the temperature rises to 40°C.

Treatment with medications
Nasal rinsing preparations have a good effect, they allow you to clear the nasal passages of secretions and mechanically remove pathogenic microorganisms. Seawater-based products are non-addictive and harmless:
Morenasal;
Fluimarin;
No-salt;
saline sodium chloride solution;
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:
For children under 3 years of age, it is better to give the medication in the form of syrup and drops; it is recommended to reduce the temperature with rectal suppositories.
Children from 4-5 years old can be taught to gargle using herbal decoctions. Children can easily swallow capsules and tablets and can dissolve lozenges, so the list of medications is expanding significantly.

The following drugs are often used in therapy:
Drug name Action Features of application
Genferon, Derinat Antiviral agents. Effective in the early stages of the disease
Nasal drops Collargol, Pinosol They are used for the accumulation of purulent discharge and have an antimicrobial effect. It is not advisable to use longer than 7 days - they are addictive
Doctor Mom, Hexoral, Herbion, Alteyka, Bo the Bear Ready-made pharmaceutical syrups for different types of cough It is advisable to use it in a minimum dosage. The drugs 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 and act effectively by diluting sputum.
Efferalgan, Paracetamol, Nurofen, Ibufen, Ibuprofen, Panadol syrup (we recommend reading:) Reduce temperature It is recommended to lower the temperature above 38°C
Chlorophyllipt, Lugol Used to destroy bacteria, relieve inflammation and cleanse mucous membranes It is necessary to treat the mucous membrane of the throat
Isofra, Polydexa Antibiotics Very rarely prescribed
Anaferon, Viferon Strengthening the immune system It is better to use after consultation with a specialist

It is worth remembering that as long as the child feels normal, there is no need to rush into pills or syrups - the body will cope with the disease itself. Some features of the use of drugs:
It is better to crush tablets that have a bitter taste to powder and mix with jam and honey.
When using syrups, it is not advisable to drink water or eat within 20 minutes after administration.
Aspirin should not be used as an antipyretic for children under 12 years of age. Tablets can cause severe side effects.

Treatment with folk remedies
If a 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 additional therapy.
At the first signs of a cold, when the body begins to be overcome by microbes, you need to use products that help quickly eliminate toxins. Fruit drinks made from berries are ideal for this purpose. To replenish vitamin C, children can be given sea buckthorn and rosehip teas, and also add parsley, oranges, and kiwi to their food.

Tea with raspberry jam in a loading dose can “strangle” the initial manifestations of a cold
You can cure a cold in 1 day:
At the first manifestations, inhale with hot water with added salt/soda (1 tsp per glass of water). Rinse your nose and gargle with the same solution.
Make a foot bath for 10-15 minutes with mustard, gradually increase the water temperature to 40 degrees.
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 combat nasal discharge:
Make steam inhalation - add 3-4 drops of menthol or eucalyptus essential oil to boiling water. Bend over the 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.
Steam your feet before going to bed for 10-15 minutes. Blood will flow to the lower extremities, and the vessels of the head will narrow, which will lead to a decrease in swelling of the mucous membrane. Do not keep your feet in hot water for too long, otherwise the opposite effect will occur. Fever is a direct contraindication to the procedure.
A runny nose in both a one-year-old baby and an older child can be treated with carrot or beet juice. Pour boiling water over fresh vegetables, grate and squeeze out the juice. Apply 2-3 drops up to 4 times a day.
Prepare onion drops. Mix fresh onion juice with boiled water in a ratio of 1:20. Instill 2-3 times a day.

Provided the temperature is normal, to get rid of a runny nose, you can steam your feet for 2-3 evenings in a row and sleep in woolen socks
Cough
The following folk recipes are suitable for treating cough:
Mix licorice root, chamomile, mint, calendula, coltsfoot in equal proportions. Pour 2 dessert spoons with 0.5 liters of boiling water, let stand for an hour. Give the baby 50-100 ml three times a day after meals.
For 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.
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 will lose its beneficial properties.
A hot compress of water and apple cider vinegar in a 3:1 ratio. Apply to the throat and chest for 15-20 minutes.

Sore throat
If your baby has a cold, he will definitely have a sore throat for 2-4 days. Rinsing will help you 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 mixture 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 equal intervals. The antibacterial effect of these products will help quickly overcome the infection.
Mistakes when 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, it is useless to treat the baby for a cold. 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. Let's look at the main mistakes in therapy:
Use of antibiotics. They can be used only if indicated, otherwise the drugs destroy the natural microflora. This will only increase the symptoms of the disease.
Use of antipyretic medications. If you give them to your baby at a temperature of 37-37.5 degrees, the crumbs' immunity will develop incorrectly (we recommend reading:).
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.
Using all medications at the same time. When combining drugs, it is worth studying the instructions and 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 your baby has a cold, then at the first signs of illness you need to create the most comfortable conditions for him:
You should not place your child in a warm and stuffy room - he will get worse. The air temperature should be no more than 23 degrees.
It is necessary to maintain the humidity in the room at 60-70%. If your baby is cold, you need to dress him and not turn on the heater.
You should not force feed your child if he refuses to eat. Give him tea, juice, fruit drink, milk - the majority of microorganisms and toxins are removed from the body with liquid.
Bed rest is required. It is highly not recommended to endure the disease “on your feet”.

If a child is ill, he needs to be bathed - during the hygiene procedure, he breathes moist air, which helps moisturize the mucous membranes of the nose and throat (we recommend reading:). The ban on bathing comes from the times when children were washed in a trough and were afraid of getting too cold. The procedure is prohibited only at high body temperature. You can also walk 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 child who has a cold. In unfavorable epidemiological conditions, it is necessary:
avoid 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, fermented milk);
buy clothes made from natural fabrics;
exercise;
maintain optimal temperature conditions;
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 doorknobs, 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.

Most women consider themselves specialists in three areas: medicine, cooking and raising children, so write on the topic: “How to treat a cold in a child?” - a thankless task. And yet, I will try to discuss a topic about which kilometers of text have already been written.

The common cold in children in medical language is called acute respiratory viral disease (abbreviated SARS). I highlighted the word “viral” intentionally, since it is key in the further narrative.

Signs of a cold in children are as follows: a sudden, most often asymptomatic rise in body temperature, after which liquid, clear discharge from the nose appears (in Russian - runny nose). If the discharge turns yellow or green, then this is a symptom of a bacterial infection in the nasopharynx. The cough is dry at first but becomes wet over time. You may experience sore throat and sore throat, as well as sneezing.

How to treat a child with a cold?

Every mother, sitting over the bed of a sick baby, asks the question: “What should I give my child if he has a cold?” I outline the rules that are taught to any medical student in pediatrics classes:

Fighting fever - paracetamol in an age-appropriate dose.
Drinking plenty of fluids can help prevent dehydration caused by fever.
For a dry cough - antitussives (contraindicated in children under 2 years of age), for a wet cough - expectorants (bromhexine, ambroxol, ACC, etc. see review of all cough expectorants).
After the temperature has returned to normal, physiotherapeutic methods can be used: foot steaming, soda inhalations, etc.

How not to treat ARVI in children

World statistics say the following

90% of respiratory infections (upper respiratory tract infections) in children are viral in nature. It is a viral one, which antibiotics do not work on. Unfortunately, most mothers consider antibiotics to be medicines for fever and start feeding them to the child for any cold.

There are no safe medications; taking antibacterial agents causes allergies, intestinal dysbiosis, suppresses the immune system and creates antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

Pediatricians, of course, know about the dangers of antibiotics for ARVI, but it is difficult to distinguish a cold from pneumonia, and even at the patient’s home, using only hands, eyes and a phonendoscope, especially with insufficient experience.

For most pediatricians, it’s easier to prescribe an antibiotic to a child on the first day and, as they say, “don’t worry”: the harm from them at the beginning is not very noticeable, if there was pneumonia, it will go away, and if it doesn’t go away, there is an excuse, I prescribed the correct treatment, Yes, and mom is calm.

To summarize: antibiotics for colds are not used for children under 12 years of age for the first 5 days. If you have weak nerves, then every cough or runny nose should be accompanied by a visit to the clinic and additional tests: blood test, x-ray of the lungs, examination by an ENT doctor, urine test, etc.

Increase in body temperature

Adults and children over 6 years of age should manage a fever if it exceeds 390C. This temperature is no longer considered physiological and can harm the body. In young children (under 6 years of age), antipyretics should be used at a temperature of 38.60C, due to the threat of convulsive syndrome. And also in children with convulsive readiness or previously recorded febrile convulsions, the temperature drops from 37.5-38C.

Temperature is an important part of the body's fight against infection. During fever, the vital activity of cold pathogens is inhibited, and the body’s defenses are also mobilized. Therefore, excessive fight against fever only delays recovery. In addition, absolutely all antipyretics can cause allergies, stomach ulcers or severe kidney damage, including kidney failure.

In addition to tablets, there are physical methods of cooling. Of course, in adults they are not very effective, but in a child they can lower the temperature by a whole degree (see how to lower the temperature without medications):

If the child is red - with red hyperthermia, when the child is pink, you should not wrap up the sick baby, but, on the contrary, undress him down to his panties and leave him to cool in the air. Cruel but effective.
If the child is pale - white hyperthermia, he should be wrapped in a light blanket and given warm liquid to drink.
Rub the baby with vodka (not suitable for young children, especially under 1 year), it is better to rub it locally - arms, legs. The evaporating alcohol will quickly cool the skin. You should not use alcohol solutions of a higher concentration than vodka. This can damage children's skin, and the child can also get drunk, as some of the alcohol will definitely be absorbed.
Cold on the main vessels. In normal language it sounds like this: take a plastic bottle, pour cold water into it and apply it to the armpits or groin areas. The water will cool the large blood vessels passing there.
Do not wear a hat on a child indoors, especially on a sick person. Grandmothers of the “old school” love to do this. The head is the main source of heat loss in the body; up to 80% of the heat is removed through it, so during fever, the head must be cooled in every possible way.

With fever, the evaporation of fluid from the skin increases significantly. Therefore, the child must be given plenty of water to avoid life-threatening dehydration. Any liquid will do: compotes, fruit drinks, tea, juices and just pure water.

The story of how domestic pediatrics makes healthy children sick

Characters:

Mom is an average Russian mother who thinks she knows EVERYTHING about colds.
The baby is a normal, healthy five-year-old toddler who regularly attends kindergarten.
Pediatrician - recently completed his studies and was assigned to an average Russian clinic, full of knowledge about how Right treat a cold.

So. The baby returns from kindergarten lethargic, snotty, coughing and with a temperature of 38.50C. The next morning, Mom calls the clinic and calls the doctor at home.

The Pediatrician comes, examines the child and diagnoses: ARVI. He was taught that at this age, 90% of respiratory infections are viral, and therefore are treated as described at the beginning of this article. He prescribes paracetamol, plenty of fluids, and ascorbic acid, and leaves with a calm soul.

But the disease does not go away, the temperature remains around 390C, the child cries, refuses to eat, snots and coughs. Mom knows for sure that ascorbic acid is not a medicine at all, and paracetamol only brings down the temperature. She calls the clinic and swears at everyone and everything there, saying what kind of ignorant doctor you sent me.

In order to "not tease the geese", the manager leaves for the Kid. pediatric department or deputy. chief physician and prescribe antibiotics. The motivation is clear. Firstly, so that Mom does not interfere with work with hysterical calls. Secondly, if pneumonia does develop and an antibiotic is not prescribed, Mom will immediately sue. In general, we treat “not as it should”, but “as calmer”.

As a result, a cold that could have passed in 7 days flows for 3 weeks. During the fight against the disease, children's immunity is greatly weakened. The baby is taken to kindergarten, where someone will inevitably sneeze at him and the cold will return.

After a week of going to preschool, Baby again has a fever, runny nose and cough. Mom makes house calls again. The pediatrician was called “on the carpet” last time and explained “how to work with patients.” He comes to the Kid and prescribes an antibiotic from the first day. Everyone is happy: Mom - that the treatment is correct from her point of view, the Pediatrician - he will not be deprived of his bonus again, the management of the clinic - there will be no showdown with another complaint.

And again, the illness that could have gone away in a week lasts for a month. What kind of children's immunity can withstand this? Again kindergarten, again a cold and again a month of “treatment”. This is how our heroes turned a healthy toddler into one who was often and long-term ill (an official term, by the way). I hope you understand where frequent colds come from in a child?

Some of the most common parenting questions

Is it possible to bathe a child with a cold?

This question goes back 200 years, when there was no hot water in houses, and children were washed in a trough in the hallway or in a bathhouse, where they could get even more sick. In the 21st century, it is possible and necessary to bathe a child with a cold, but it is worth remembering that a hot bath at an elevated body temperature is strictly contraindicated. Enough to limit yourself to a warm shower.

How can you know that the child has recovered?

Positive dynamics can be considered 3 days of normal temperature. Also considered a good sign is the transformation of a dry cough into a wet one (provided that the discharge has not turned from transparent to yellow or green). But if a recovering child’s temperature rises again, then a bacterial infection can be assumed.

If a child is sick, should he eat better?

During a fever, all the body's forces are spent fighting infection, and digesting heavy protein foods requires a lot of energy. Therefore, at high temperatures, food should be light, as rich as possible in carbohydrates and vitamins, but a recovering child should be fed well and tightly in order to restore his strength.

"The child has a cold!" - a phrase that scares many parents. However, do not panic. You should control yourself and calm down, because a cold is not as scary as it seems at first glance. It can be dealt with quickly and easily, without even resorting to pharmaceutical preparations. Traditional methods of treatment will help your baby find restful sleep, good mood and excellent health.

What to do if the child has a cold?

If a child has a runny nose, it is best to rinse the nose. For this you will need half a teaspoon of salt. It must be mixed with another half teaspoon of soda and dissolve the whole mixture in a glass of warm water. A small pear is suitable for this, thanks to which parents can rinse the child’s nose. Immediately after this, it needs to be cleaned and instilled with plant-based pharmaceutical drops for a runny nose. But you can make them yourself by preparing them with aloe or Kalanchoe. So, the juice from it needs to be squeezed out and diluted with the same amount of any vegetable oil. Olive oil is best suited for this. It will not burn and will evenly contribute to the recovery of the nose from a cold.

You can help your baby get rid of a runny nose by warming his nose with dry heat. A boiled egg or table salt, preheated in a frying pan, must be applied to the area of the maxillary sinuses. If we talk about salt, then you can drop two drops of iodine into it, after wrapping it in cotton cloth. But it shouldn't be hot!

Another way to fight colds, very easy and high quality, is inhalation. It has an anti-inflammatory effect. It is best to make inhalations from sage. This amazing antiseptic disinfects the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, and fir oil promotes the removal of sputum. 10 minutes is the optimal amount of time that should be allocated for inhalation. During this time, the solution will not cool down, and the little one will not get tired.

Let's gargle. For this, parents will need herbal decoctions. It could be St. John's wort, sage, chamomile. Its temperature should not exceed 37 "C.

Cough is a rather evil “enemy” for the body of a small child. If you don’t take precautions in time and start coughing, your baby can get many different complications. Therefore, without delay we begin to fight it!

First of all, you will need breast tea, which can be easily brewed and made into an infusion. Then it can be given to the child warm 20 minutes before meals. In general, it’s worth saying that he should drink as much as possible. This liquefies the mucus and flushes out toxins from the body. And in order for the baby to sleep sweetly and peacefully, before going to bed you need to prepare warm milk with honey or raspberries. Children will love this delicious medicine.

We float our feet. If the child has a cold, then the procedure will undoubtedly bring only benefits. To carry out hot procedures correctly, it is best to increase the temperature gradually. For example, from 37 "C to 40 - 45" C. You can add a few drops of fir oil to the water and steam for at least 10 minutes.

We need to remember. Under no circumstances should you steam your feet, perform inhalations, or heat a child if he or she has a fever.

If an infant has a cold

The body of a baby in the first year of life is very fragile. And any disease, even the mildest one, can weaken it very quickly. Various complications may appear literally immediately. Shortness of breath, rough cough, difficulty breathing - these are the signs observed in infants.

Here's what you need to do first:

A sick child should definitely call a doctor!
Before he arrives, do not forget to provide first aid to the baby. It will consist of:
- providing the baby with fresh air and oxygen;
- ventilating his room, ensuring silence and cleanliness, dry clothes;
- “distracting” him from the attack (in medicine there is such a thing as “distraction therapy”). It consists of putting mustard plasters on the chest, back, and larynx area, making mustard foot or general mustard baths;
- immersing the child in a bath up to the neck in warm water, the temperature of which should gradually increase. After it, you should give the baby warm milk with baking soda or tea;
- providing your child with the long sleep he needs. This is a fairly powerful factor in the recovery of a weakened body. The baby needs to be put to bed 3 times;
- feeding a sick child, which at that time is an impossible task for his mother. Healthy children cannot be forced to eat. It is doubly unacceptable to force feed the sick. According to doctors, the number of feedings can be increased by correspondingly reducing the volume of portions;
- in love. After all, a small child, like no one else, needs affection, care and tenderness with his whole being. Therefore, the mother should be constantly nearby to ease the pain, reassure him, instill confidence, and bring him joy if the child has a cold.

Many parents do not know how and where to correctly measure a temperature that has suddenly appeared. And this is how you need to do it:

The first and easiest way to check temperature is by mouth. To do this, you need to let your child suck on a special so-called pacifier - a thermometer. The result will follow immediately. You will see him in just a couple of minutes.
A thermometer with an infrared sensor, which is designed to check the temperature of a child's ear, is suitable for all children, regardless of their age and gender. With its help, you can see accurate data, despite the fact that it is inserted into the ear for only a couple of seconds.
For infants, the only place where the temperature can be measured most conveniently and painlessly is the groin. To do this, you need to make sure that there is no diaper rash or sweat on the baby's skin. An electronic thermometer will be very suitable for this. This will take no more than 30 seconds.

If a newborn baby has a cold

If your newborn baby has a cold, it is advisable to consult a doctor immediately! You should not wait until the child starts coughing and the temperature rises. The sooner a doctor examines him, the better. Please note: if there are signs of a cold, but the temperature does not rise, this is not a good sign!

What can you do before the doctor sees you?

Do not start treating your son or daughter with adult medications. Not only will they not provide him with any help, but on the contrary, they will significantly harm him.
Try to lay your baby down so that he can breathe as easily as possible. To do this, you can use a pillow on which to place it, first raising the chest higher. Place it so that your baby’s breathing is not difficult.
Do your best to clear his nose. You can do this using ordinary cotton wool. Tear off a piece of cotton wool, first stretching it a few centimeters, and roll it up so that you get a cotton swab. Do not confuse with ready-made cotton swabs. They are suitable for adults only. Then, after moistening the stick with your breast milk, gently clean out the spout. Milk can be replaced with beet juice. But know that you shouldn’t use it immediately after spinning. Let it sit open for at least a few hours. This juice can also be used instead of drops. If the discharge from the nose is abundant, then you can remove it from the nose using a pharmacy bulb.
When you have a cold, bee honey can come to the rescue. But before you try it, do a test. To do this, take a little natural honey on your finger and apply it to the child’s skin and bandage it. The next day, look at the results. If no inflammation or rashes have appeared in the place where you smeared honey yesterday, you can safely use it if the child has a cold.

If a month old baby has a cold

Many people believe that traditional medicine is extremely harmful for children. But if you use it in moderation, then there is no need to worry. After all, all the remedies are natural, which means they do not cause harm. But we repeat once again, you must definitely call a doctor and be sure to consult with him about the use of certain folk remedies. The main principle, both in medicine and in any other field: “Do no harm,” so that doctors, in the event of protracted troubles, do not find themselves powerless in the face of the emerging disease.

Some mothers do not use chamomile for treatment for their babies, because their children get diarrhea from it. Others, if the child has a cold, boldly use it. Some believe that an allergic reaction may be caused in a one-month-old baby. Therefore, it is not recommended to give Kalanchoe juice to babies. It can cause severe irritation to the mucous membrane; salt water and breast milk are used to rinse the nose. The second use drops. The rest of the mothers are not keen on them, believing that any vasoconstrictor is dangerous due to addiction and its effect on the mucous membrane. They are not afraid, seeing how their child safely accepts the juice of Kolanchoe, which is dripped (as a rule, it is diluted 1:1 with boiled water), as a result of which his nose is cleared of snot.

If a child has a cold for 2 months

The main thing is not to panic. Any deviation from the norm is normal. Just a child growing, maturing, adapting to the reality around him. It is believed that calm mothers have calm children.

The first thing to do if your child has a cold is to follow the doctor's instructions.
Avoid any walks in the near future. You can do without them. The main thing is to periodically open the windows and ventilate them so that there is fresh air.
It is not recommended to wrap your child up too much. Be careful and observant. The child should not sweat or lie wet. It must be kept warm. The temperature of the arms and legs will be a signal for you. They must be warm.
At this stage, many parents have a question: “Is it worth giving a lot of liquid at a temperature?” Liquid is undoubtedly necessary, but in moderation. The baby should not be offered a lot of water at once, otherwise he may vomit. It is best to give it in doses, drop by drop from a pipette, wiping his lips with water if they are red. But it is better to do this regularly. The same can be said about food: if the child does not resist breastfeeding or formula, then give it in small quantities. The child must be undressed so that he is not so hot by removing his diaper. The house should not be too hot and stuffy. It is worth ventilating the room periodically.
Only in case of urgent need, you can give your child an antipyretic. If your baby has a fever, be sure to call a doctor at home so that he can understand what is causing it. And only after that, you can give antipyretics. And before his arrival, you can do a rubdown, after undressing the child. Remember, when a baby has a cold, it is important to bring down the temperature in a timely manner.

If a child has a cold for 3 months

If a child has a cold or a stuffy nose, then preventive treatment methods are needed. So here are some of them:

Sometimes it happens that his nose can become clogged with a crust, which remains when he regurgitates. Then, getting into the nose, it prevents smooth and clean breathing. This may cause the child to snort. It even looks like he has a runny nose. Therefore, in order for your baby to breathe freely and without difficulty, his nose needs to be cleaned daily using a cotton wick, preferably made with his own hands and pre-moistened in baby oil.
If a baby’s runny nose is a consequence of ARVI, then you can drip safe products based on sea water into his nose. As for other treatment methods, they can only be used with the permission of the attending physician.
Do not forget to clean the baby's nose during the time, especially when it comes to feeding. The nose of the crumbs can be cleaned thanks to the same cotton wicks.

If the temperature rises and persists for several days, then this is a cause for concern. Another question arises: “How many times a day and in what quantity can antipyretics be given?” You definitely shouldn't give them too much. They can be given no more than a couple of times a day, for 2-3 days. The fact is that with a normal infection, the high temperature usually lasts no more than two days, and on the third day it decreases. If the temperature is elevated for more than 3 days, then this is already an extreme reason to contact a specialist again. This indicates that a so-called secondary infection has begun, or rather complications or any manifestations from the nervous system. In this case, the child will already need special treatment.

If a 4 month old child has a cold

If your child has caught a cold, suddenly becomes lethargic, moody and has completely lost his appetite, pay close attention to his health. Take your temperature, watch your runny nose and throat. If at least one of the listed symptoms is present, you should worry and take appropriate measures.

So, what to do if a 4-month-old baby has a cold. Here are simple rules that will help him recover faster.

Give your baby more fluids. For up to 6 months, it should be fed preferably only with warm boiled water. If the little one is breastfed, then this is very good for his health. Since this milk contains immunoglobulins, they help the body fight infections. If the baby has already begun to be fed with additional formulas, then he will benefit from all kinds of purees made from fruits and vegetables, which are rich in various vitamins.
If a child has a fever, then do not, as we have already repeated, wrap him up and put as many things on him as possible. On the contrary, he should be dressed in breathable cotton clothing and simply covered with a light blanket.
You should not go outside with your baby until the temperature returns to normal. You should also avoid daily bathing during this period. If the temperature is 38° and above, then it is worth giving him an antipyretic drug in a small dose, characteristic of the child’s age. In case of vomiting, the baby must be given an antipyretic in the form of rectal suppositories. If the temperature has risen above 39°, then the best folk remedy for this is to wipe the child with vodka or vinegar, which is first diluted with water in the correct proportions. Many parents also advise placing a wet wipe on your forehead.

If a 5 month old child has a cold

If your child has a cold and has a stuffy nose, try clearing it yourself. There are many ways to do this, but let’s talk about one more that was not mentioned in the previous subheadings.

To do this, you will need a chamomile solution, which is important to drop 1 pipette into each nostril. After which you should clean your nose. This is quite easy to do. Pinch one nostril and use a prince to draw out the contents from the other. Then give the child vasoconstrictor drops. But don’t forget and know when to stop. Such drugs can be used no more than 3 times a day and no longer than 5 days in a row. If after these few days the runny nose does not go away and causes inconvenience to your baby, then you should immediately call a doctor.

If a 6 month old child has a cold

Children get sick often and a lot. At any age, almost every month, he is haunted by some kind of cold. If at the age of 6 months a child has a cold, then in order to bring down the temperature, get rid of a runny nose and improve overall health, it is useful for the child (if he is not allergic) to give cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks, rosehip infusion, and dried fruit compote. It is better to drink in small portions, but as often as possible.

Chamomile decoction, which has an anti-inflammatory effect, will also help if the child has a sore throat. You can give it to a child older than six months, 1 teaspoon 3 times a day. If he starts coughing, it is very important to consult a pediatrician before using any medications, since the choice of medications is related to the nature of the cough.

It’s sad that ARVI is dangerous not so much for its manifestations as for its consequences. For example, a harmless runny nose or cough in children can soon turn into otitis media, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Therefore, if you notice cold symptoms in your child, it is better to immediately contact a pediatrician who will examine the baby and prescribe the appropriate course of treatment.

The most important thing before his arrival is not to self-medicate, which consists of the seemingly simple use of antibiotics. Many doctors believe that parents are harming their child by doing this. The baby’s liver is weak and cannot bear the load yet. Therefore, in order for the cold to go away without any complications, do not act arbitrarily, so as not to end up becoming the enemy of your own blood.

If a 7 month old child has a cold

Approaches to the treatment of ARVI can be completely different from different doctors. Some believe that it is better to play it safe and prescribe more medications, while others, on the contrary, prefer to wait and give the body the opportunity to fight the infection alone, believing that gentle methods of treatment are most optimal for the child. Therefore, if a child has a cold, but does not have severe serious illnesses, then they do not pose much harm. Light food, warm drinks and rest, as well as “folk methods” of treatment will be enough to help the child overcome the disease and bring his body back to normal.

If a child has a cold, then, as a rule, his temperature rises, which is a signal for immediate action. This means that the body is fighting infection, since it has been proven that when the temperature rises, metabolism accelerates, making the immune system work much better and more efficiently.

Despite the fact that when a patient’s temperature rises, it is recommended to bring it down to alleviate his condition, some pediatricians insist that it is necessary to reduce the child’s temperature only if it exceeds 39 “C. Therefore, if the child does not have severe chronic illness, then it is better to monitor not the thermometer readings, but his well-being and, if possible, if the temperature is not so high, be patient.

It is important to monitor what the baby himself requires: if the temperature quickly becomes elevated, he is shivering, then you need to help him warm up as soon as possible. Warm clothes, a blanket and plenty of hot drinks in small portions are perfect for this. During the period when the temperature reaches its maximum, the chills will disappear, the child’s skin will turn a little red, and sweat will appear on the forehead; it would be good to open it if possible, so that it is easier for the baby to tolerate the heat. You can also move on to rubdowns or a warm bath. All this will help lower the temperature even more. But we should not forget that a sharp drug-induced decrease in temperature can be replaced by a sharp increase, which is fraught with febrile convulsions. Among other things, with strong temperature changes, the load on the heart becomes higher and stronger.

The conclusion suggests itself. The temperature should begin to be reduced when it rises above 38 - 39 degrees. It is better to use suppositories or syrups in an age-appropriate dose for this procedure, but using aspirin and analgin to lower the temperature in young children is very risky.

If your child has a cold at 8 months

If a child has a cold at the age of 8 months, then you should immediately pay attention to the following signs: change in skin color, breathing problems, cough, weakness, disruption of feeding habits. All of the above include: changes in body temperature, the appearance of a rash, loss of appetite and bowel movements. The mother should certainly notice and take appropriate measures if the child seems more excited than usual, or, on the contrary, too lethargic and motionless. Long sleep, screaming in a dream are also not the most pleasant signs and signals to start fighting a cold.

Temperatures above 38.5" C and below 36" C deserve special attention. They are the most dangerous of all. In addition, if a baby has a temperature of 37.1-37.9" C for more than 3 days, this is another worrying symptom, which can sometimes indicate a slowly developing inflammatory process.

Other dangerous symptoms include: a sharp cry, pallor, sudden lethargy with low temperature. An unusual rash may appear, vomiting repeatedly, and stools may become loose and frequent. It’s scary to say, but a child may suddenly begin to have convulsions, fainting, and disturbances of consciousness. The baby's voice may suddenly become hoarse, breathing may be impaired, swelling may appear on the face, and sharp pain in the abdomen.

If your child has a cold and you notice any of these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. And if they also increase sharply, then it is better in this case to call an ambulance. This will prevent dangerous complications from the child’s body, or even worse, a situation that could become a threat to the child’s life.

But the main thing is not to worry, not a single baby has ever developed without a cold. Therefore, in the case of ARVI, be patient, any disease can be treated, the main thing is not to start it, but to provide the child with help, both the first urgent one, which the parents themselves can do, and the second, from a qualified doctor who will give useful recommendations for further treatment and successful recovery.

How to treat if a child has a cold?

So, let's summarize. Don't worry or create panic if you suddenly feel that your child has caught a cold. At the first cold in his life, you should definitely consult a doctor, then depending on the baby’s condition.

No matter what age the child is, it is important to create favorable conditions for him, ventilate the room and not lower the temperature unless absolutely necessary. Also, following a daily routine, good nutrition and hardening will help avoid endless colds. These are general conditions for a speedy recovery, and what to treat more specifically if the child has a cold, in more detail in these tips:

As soon as parents notice that the baby’s condition has worsened, they immediately have a desire to follow the advertisement and buy something that will quickly help get rid of a cough or runny nose. But this is the wrong decision. Fast does not always mean high quality. Yes, pharmaceuticals can relieve a symptom, but they are not able to cure the disease as a whole. This is especially true for coughs, which are strictly prohibited from suppressing. The child must cough out all the mucus from the lungs, and this takes time. All these medications can only reduce immunity, but not vice versa. Herbs may come in handy for this, after all.
Infants are very mobile, this has a beneficial effect on the disease, as it promotes effective drainage of the lungs. Drinking plenty of fluids, a decoction of rose hips, and St. John's wort are good for colds.
If the child has a cold or the temperature has risen, you should remove all excess clothing from him, and then change him into light cotton clothes. If the temperature reaches 38.5" C, then it is necessary to carry out air baths; periodically it is worth wiping the baby with a diaper, which was previously soaked in water at room temperature. You can put a damp cloth on the baby's head. If the temperature does not decrease, but rises every hour, you can carry out a wet wrap on the baby's entire body. If desired, rub it with vodka. At high temperatures, an enema with water at room temperature will be useful.
During illness, many babies do not want to eat. Don't force him to eat. You can simply apply it to your chest or drink plenty of it. You can use juice, decoctions of berries, compotes, tea.

If you have a runny nose, it is important to clear it of mucus by dropping breast milk into it. If it is absent, vasoconstrictor drops can be used for these purposes. Which ones are best to use can be suggested by the attending physician, who will take into account the condition and age of the child before writing a prescription. In order to put drops into the baby’s nose, you need to lay him on his side in the direction in which half of the nose you will be dripping, and then change position. Place 1-2 drops in each nostril.

Also, it is very important for any child, no matter what age he is, to feel a positive attitude and the support of his parents, and then recovery will come immediately. Play doctor and hospital with your baby more often. Soothe his legs with funny toys, distract him by launching boats, instill confidence in him that it’s just a cold. This feeling of security will be transmitted to the little one and any disease of the throat or nose will pass quickly and without sad consequences.
Taking care of your feet is also important. Before your child falls asleep, prepare a bath for him to stimulate the reflexological points on his small feet. After this, wipe the legs by putting socks on them, in which you can put dry mustard in advance.

For a runny nose in folk medicine you can use:

pieces of cotton wool, pre-moistened with onion juice, which are also placed in the nose several times a day for 10-15 minutes;
carrot juice and vegetable oil (in a 1:1 ratio) will also be an excellent aid for fighting a runny nose. All this must be mixed with a couple of drops of garlic juice and dripped into the nose several times a day;
3 tablespoons of finely chopped onion are poured into 50 ml of warm water, combined with half a teaspoon of honey. The mixture is infused for 30 minutes.

If, having applied all these useful and at the same time simple recommendations, your child’s mood has improved, appetite has appeared, temperature has stabilized and activity has increased, and he is no longer bothered by a runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, vomiting or diarrhea, then we can consider that treatment disease was successful.

Colds in children during viral epidemics are quite common. With timely measures taken, the viral infection disappears after 7-10 days, unless complications arise.

Instructions

Cold includes a number of infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract, occurs for the simple reason that during hypothermia or in another situation that depresses the immune system, those viruses and bacteria that were easily restrained by the immune system are activated.

Causes of colds

Fluctuations in air temperature and humidity and associated hypothermia of the entire body or its individual parts; low body resistance. Children are more susceptible to colds in spring and autumn.

Cold symptoms

General malaise, cough, runny nose, sometimes fever. Symptoms of a cold, or, more correctly, ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection) do not appear all at once and do not go away immediately; some, such as a runny nose or cough, can last for quite a long time.

Cold treatment

For colds, bed rest is indicated. If you suffer from a cold on your feet and do not treat it, complications on internal organs are possible, and these consequences will affect you in adulthood.

Here are some tips from your doctor to help you cope with a mild cold:

We constantly monitor the temperature during colds, if it does not rise above 38 and you feel normal, do not take antipyretic drugs, fever destroys viruses and microbes. It is necessary to resort to antipyretic drugs for the treatment of colds only in cases where the temperature is above 38 ° C.

More fluid: give your child a cold with hot tea, rosehip infusion, cranberry juice, warm milk. Along with the fluid, viruses and their toxins will be washed out of the body’s cells. It is not advisable to drink plain water so as not to reduce the supply of salts in the body. To manage the chills, put your child in cotton underwear and something warm. Firstly, multi-layer clothing retains heat better, and secondly, the components of such a “wardrobe” can easily be varied depending on body temperature.

At the first symptoms of a cold and runny nose irrigate the nasopharynx with saline. Then the runny nose will pass not in a week, but in two days. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of boiled water and use a syringe to rinse your nasal passages one by one. At the same time, you cannot throw your head back - you need to stand directly over the sink so that the water pours back out. You can use a very weak infusion of garlic to irrigate the nasopharynx; when preparing the infusion, try it on a healthy person; the infusion should not sting the non-inflamed nasopharynx.

Before going to bed, if you have a cold with a runny nose, place an extra pillow under your head.- this will facilitate the outflow of mucus, and a runny nose with a cough will not be too strong in a dream. You can simply raise the head of the bed.

Feeling the onset of a cold, the child should spend a couple of days at home in bed. This is both the warmth necessary when fasting and saving energy, which is better spent on fighting the virus.

If during the treatment of a cold, the child lost his appetite, don't force him to eat. Ideal for treating colds are products such as kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk. Bacteria contained in lactic acid products help fight colds. Use immunomodulators such as garlic, onions, fresh lard. Onions baked, unlike raw, can be eaten in any quantity.

If your cold lasts more than a week, you can’t do without medications. It is necessary, of course, that they be selected and prescribed by a doctor to treat a cold. However, surveys show that most people prefer to treat colds without seeking help from doctors. Just buy medicines from trusted pharmacies, because the market is flooded with counterfeit medicines. Moreover, the most popular ones are especially often counterfeited: analgin, aspirin and other popular painkillers and antipyretics.

When treating a cold, you cannot suppress a cough with tablets., with the help of coughing, the lungs and bronchi are cleared of mucus and germs. Expectorants are recommended: mucaltin, licorice root, plantain.

Acupressure is recommended in the treatment of colds. When a runny nose begins, experts advise pressing on points located near the wings of the nose, under the nose, between the eyes and in the center of the chin. To reduce chills, apply pressure to the point just below the elbow joint. For headaches, massage the area between your thumb and index finger (if you bring them together, the desired point will be on top).

Treatment of colds with folk remedies

Most parents treat a cold as an inevitability and do not even try to cure it, believing that no matter how you treat it, the cold will still disappear no sooner than in a week. In fact, you can cope with the disease if you catch a cold at the very beginning and do not allow it to take over the body. In addition, at the initial stage, not only is it not necessary to swallow pills, but it is also not necessary because there are many other effective methods of treatment.

In folk medicine, there are a lot of remedies and recipes for colds, but not all of them are applicable when treating a cold in a child.

Herbs and fees for a cold in a child

Herb motherwort and powdered chicory root 1:1. Brew 1 cup boiling water 1 teaspoon of the mixture and leave for 1 hour. Drink 0.5 glasses 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals for colds for children over 3 years old.
A good antipyretic: 1 tablespoon of dry crushed burdock leaf, pour 1 cup of boiling water, leave in a sealed container in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes, cool at room temperature, strain. Take 1 tablespoon of warm infusion 4-6 times a day after meals. If you have a sore throat, gargle with this infusion several times a day if you have a cold.
All parts of dandelion have good anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and diaphoretic effects. Pour 1 teaspoon of dry crushed herbs or dandelion roots with 1 glass of boiling water, leave, wrapped, for 30 minutes or in a water bath, strain. Give your child 1 tablespoon 4-6 times a day, an hour after meals, for colds. Age limit - over 3 years old.
With a runny nose, it is useful to take a fruit drink from strawberries or raspberries. It is recommended to do steam inhalations at the same time: pour a little boiling broth into a flat bowl and breathe, covering your head with a terry towel. Take fruit drink 2-3 times a day, 1 glass after meals, inhalation 2-3 times a day, always at night. Inhalations for children under 3 years of age are contraindicated.
Infuse 2 tablespoons of dry or 100 g of fresh raspberries in 1 cup of boiling water. After 10-15 minutes, add 1 tablespoon of honey, stir. Take warm as a diaphoretic at bedtime. Children with caution, raspberries are allergic.
Linden blossom tea is very good for colds.

Folk remedies for the treatment of a cold in a child:

All these recipes can be applied to a cold child older than 3 years.

Home remedies for colds

Runny nose with a cold

There is a saying: if a runny nose is not treated, it will go away in a week, if treated, it will go away in 7 days. This is far from true. If you start treatment on time, you can get rid of a runny nose in just a couple of days or even prevent its occurrence.

One of the most effective ways to combat a stuffy nose is steam inhalation. Add a few drops of menthol or eucalyptus essential oil to boiling water, cover your head with a towel and breathe over a bowl of boiling water. Eucalyptus and menthol have anti-inflammatory properties and significantly ease breathing. If you add a little dry cinnamon to this water, it will help you warm up and sweat, or 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, which improves blood circulation and copes with viruses.

Another well-known remedy for runny nose and colds is to thoroughly steam your feet before going to bed. Foot baths really help, but only if you soak your feet for no longer than five minutes. The fact is that the effect of foot baths is based on the mechanism of vasoconstriction (most nasal drops have approximately the same effect). When you hover your legs, blood rushes to the lower extremities, the vessels of the head begin to narrow, and the runny nose disappears. If you keep your feet in the basin for a long time, say half an hour, the vessels will begin to dilate again, blood will again flow to the nasal cavity, and inflammation may develop that significantly exceeds the initial one. That is, instead of disappearing, the runny nose will get worse. Soaring your feet for a long time is useful for colds without a runny nose, thereby increasing body temperature and helping the immune system cope with viruses. Attention! Any hot baths are contraindicated at elevated temperatures!

Folk remedies for colds in children

For a runny nose, instill 3-5 drops of aloe into each nostril 4-5 times a day, tilting your head back and massaging the wings of the nose after instillation. For children under 3 years old, dilute the juice halfway with water.

The remaining recipes are suitable for children over 3 years old.

Rinse your child's nose with warm, slightly salted water with the addition of calendula or eucalyptus tincture (1 teaspoon per 0.5 liter of water). To do this, the child needs to bend over the vessel, suck in the solution with his nose and release it from his mouth. Thus, rinse your nose with the entire solution without raising your head. Blow your nose. Do this procedure twice a day, morning and evening.
Mix 30 g of sea buckthorn oil, 20 g of fresh calendula juice, 15 g of melted cocoa butter, 10 g of honey, 5 g of propolis. If you have a runny nose, soak a cotton swab in this mixture and insert it into your nose for 20 minutes.
If a child has a prolonged runny nose, sew a narrow bag of linen fabric, fill it with warm, hard-cooked millet porridge and place the bag on the nose area so that it covers the maxillary sinuses. Keep it as long as it stays warm.
For a runny nose, decoctions of eucalyptus and marshmallow leaves are very helpful. Eucalyptus has effective disinfectant and astringent properties, and marshmallow has anti-inflammatory and enveloping properties. You need to prepare decoctions separately: take 10 g of crushed eucalyptus leaves and 20 g of marshmallow leaves per glass of boiling water. Boil them for 5-10 minutes and strain. Mix the decoctions in equal proportions, pour into a teapot and rinse your nose 5-6 times a day, 2-3 times each time.

Cough with a cold

At the first signs of a cough, your main task is to warm the child well and strengthen the immune system to help the body get rid of this scourge.

Peppermint infusion has a good warming effect. Pour a tablespoon of mint into a glass of boiling water, heat for 5 minutes over low heat, strain. Then stir a teaspoon of honey and the juice of a quarter of a lemon into this infusion and drink the infusion hot before bed. In most cases, after such treatment, the cough disappears literally overnight. To consolidate the effect, it’s a good idea to make a hot compress by mixing three parts hot water with one part apple cider vinegar. The compress is applied to the throat and chest for 15–20 minutes.

Sore throat due to a cold

Gargling with warm water with a few drops of eucalyptus, thyme or cypress oil will help you quickly cope with a sore throat. All these plants have an antibacterial effect and help fight infection.

A hot bath with 10 drops of lavender oil and 5 drops of cinnamon oil also helps. However, if, in addition to a sore throat, the child also has a fever, it is better to cancel the bath - hot water in combination with heat puts too much strain on the heart. Therefore, instead of a bath, it is better to simply rub your feet with a hard towel.

Vanga's recipes for a cold in a child

Give your child juice from fresh and green oats, a tablespoon 3 to 4 times a day.
Vanga advised a child who had a high fever for three months to bathe in water in which sour grapes had been boiled.
Collect hay in a mountain clearing, make a decoction of it, and bathe a sick child in it.

Prevention of colds and ARVI

Here are some fairly simple rules that will help you avoid ARVI.

A good barrier to infection is a gauze bandage or mask. It will protect the child in crowded areas. But don’t forget: the mask only protects for 2-3 hours, after which it should be replaced with a fresh one.

Research has proven that during the day, a person’s hands come into contact with discharge from the nose, mouth, and eyes hundreds of times. Handshakes, touching door handles, handrails on public transport are all ways of transmitting infection through the hands. Through hands, germs enter the nose, mouth, and eyes. Therefore, it is advisable, if possible, to refuse handshakes altogether (especially during epidemics of viral diseases). Hands must be washed frequently, especially during periods of unfavorable epidemiological conditions, not only for children, but for all adults.

In order to prevent influenza and ARVI, it is very important to limit contact with sick people, this especially applies to children. It is advisable to avoid crowded places and use public transport as little as possible. Long walks in the fresh air are beneficial.

Among the traditional medicines for the prevention of colds and acute respiratory viral infections in preschool children, we can recommend immunomodulatory drugs that reduce the risk of illness even when a child visits a kindergarten or other crowded places.

General strengthening measures

One of the important methods of preventing acute respiratory diseases (in this case we are not talking about the flu) is hardening, which is aimed at normalizing the function of the human respiratory system under conditions of exposure to low temperatures, which reduces the risk of infection.

For the purpose of prevention, it is recommended to take multivitamins with a high content of vitamin C. Ascorbic acid has a general strengthening effect, as it participates in redox processes, carbohydrate metabolism, and regulation of the blood coagulation system. Citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, grapefruits, tangerines) are rich in vitamin C; sauerkraut contains a lot of it. Ascorbic acid is taken orally 0.5–1 g 1–2 times a day.

Garlic and onions are a very affordable and indispensable means of prevention during periods of mass incidence of influenza and colds. Every day it is enough to eat 3-4 cloves of garlic or 1 fresh onion.

Additional preventative measures include gargling and nasal rinsing. For rinsing, you can use solutions of furatsilin, soda, infusions or decoctions of medicinal plants (chamomile, sage, eucalyptus).

To toilet the nose, the anterior sections of the nose are washed with plenty of water and soap. In this case, mechanical removal of foreign elements occurs. You can lubricate the nasal mucosa with an oily onion-garlic infusion. Recipe: 0.3 cups of vegetable oil, 3-4 cloves of garlic, 0.25 onions.
Soak the vegetable oil in a glass container for 30–40 minutes in a boiling water bath. Finely chop the onion and garlic, pour in chilled oil. Infuse the mixture for 2 hours and strain.
For preventive purposes, you can take 10–15-minute warm foot baths with the addition of dry mustard, after which it is very useful to rub your feet with any warming ointment.

During a flu epidemic, it is useful to perform the following procedure for preventive purposes. Grate the onion and inhale the smell of freshly prepared gruel for 10–15 minutes.

It should be remembered that traditional methods of prevention will be effective only if they are used systematically. We must not forget that during periods of epidemics, weakened children primarily become victims of disease.

You need to be especially careful with your child in the spring, when the body is in a weakened state after a long cold period. At this time, when everything in nature comes to life, a person often begins to experience so-called spring depression. The causes of spring fatigue may be the consequences of previous colds, lack of sleep, lack of sunlight, and vitamin deficiency.

Diet for colds

An “anti-cold” cocktail is suitable as an addition to the treatment: take a teaspoon of rosehip syrup, 2 tablespoons each of beet juice and kefir, squeeze the juice of half a lemon into this mixture.

If you have a very severe cold with a high temperature in the first days, you need to abstain from food, drink plenty of fluids, fruit and vegetable juices diluted with water. It is recommended to increase the body's resistance and reduce the duration of the disease 1-2 times a day to drink the juice of one lemon (vitamin C), dissolved in a glass of water with a teaspoon of honey. It is useful to take garlic broth once a day (pour 3-4 crushed cloves of garlic into a glass of water and boil), which has an antispasmodic and antiseptic effect, flushes out toxins from the body and relieves fever. After the acute stage of the disease is over, you can gradually move on to a balanced diet, initially limiting the consumption of meat, eggs, cheese and starchy foods.

Drug name	Action	Features of application
Genferon, Derinat	Antiviral agents.	Effective in the early stages of the disease
Nasal drops Collargol, Pinosol	They are used for the accumulation of purulent discharge and have an antimicrobial effect.	It is not advisable to use longer than 7 days - they are addictive
Doctor Mom, Hexoral, Herbion, Alteyka, Bo the Bear	Ready-made pharmaceutical syrups for different types of cough	It is advisable to use it in a minimum dosage. The drugs 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 and act effectively by diluting sputum.
Efferalgan, Paracetamol, Nurofen, Ibufen, Ibuprofen, Panadol syrup (we recommend reading:)	Reduce temperature	It is recommended to lower the temperature above 38°C
Chlorophyllipt, Lugol	Used to destroy bacteria, relieve inflammation and cleanse mucous membranes	It is necessary to treat the mucous membrane of the throat
Isofra, Polydexa	Antibiotics	Very rarely prescribed
Anaferon, Viferon	Strengthening the immune system	It is better to use after consultation with a specialist