home Calculators Snotty but happy childhood: how to treat a runny nose in children. How to cure a runny nose in a child: methods and remedies Prolonged runny nose in a child: effective treatment

Snotty but happy childhood: how to treat a runny nose in children. How to cure a runny nose in a child: methods and remedies Prolonged runny nose in a child: effective treatment

- a problem familiar to everyone. But if in adults it most often passes without consequences and serious discomfort, then for children it can be much more dangerous. It is important to know how to recognize the disease and what measures to take to defeat it as quickly as possible.

At 3 years old, a child can already communicate what is bothering him. Therefore, it is much easier to determine than in a newborn.

Same as for adults:

. The child has difficulty breathing, eating, sleeping poorly and complaining of swelling. A painful symptom requires mandatory elimination.
Copious discharge. Snot always tells the mother that the child is getting sick. It’s good if by the age of 3 a child can already blow his nose normally. If not, you will have to suction it with an aspirator. Frequent nose blowing can increase swelling.
Frequent sneezing. Usually, after sneezing, a child’s snot flows especially heavily. Sneezing itself can be a sign of dry nasal mucosa.
Redness of the nose. The nose turns red both from swelling and from the fact that you are constantly wiping the child’s snot. To prevent irritation from getting worse, lubricate your nose with special moisturizing creams and use only soft handkerchiefs.
Other signs of ARVI. These include malaise, headache, loss of appetite. A runny nose is most often one of the signs of a viral infection. So if it appears, expect other symptoms. If they are not present, allergic rhinitis can be suspected.

It does not occur in children under 3 years of age, but once this age is reached, such a danger appears. Therefore, it is important to treat correctly and on time to prevent the spread of infection and inflammation of the maxillary sinuses.

When the nose swells, the auditory tube is blocked, so the inflammation can spread to the middle ear (), which will cause the child a lot of unpleasant sensations.

At first, the pain in the ear is quite severe.An infection from the nose can travel down into the pharynx, causing various complications. Therefore, you should not believe anyone who claims that there is no point in treating a runny nose. Even if it starts simply in a child, there is a risk of complications. It is necessary to contact a pediatrician who will tell you how to treat a runny nose in a 3-year-old child.

Nasal drops for runny nose for children 3 years old

It is advisable to have it prescribed to you by a doctor. They vary in price, effectiveness and purpose - vasoconstrictor, for rinsing, etc.

Vasoconstrictor drops differ in the main active ingredient. This is usually oxymetazoline or xylomatezoline. The first one lasts longer, up to 12 hours, and the second only 6-8 hours.

Vasoconstrictor drops include:

Children's Tizin
Snoop
etc.

When purchasing, be sure to specify what age they are intended for. These remedies are designed to alleviate symptoms such as. They relieve swelling, the child can breathe, eat, sleep normally, but only until the effect of the drops ends.

It is recommended to use them no more than 3 days and no more than 3 times a day. If after 3 days it is still there, the doctor may change to others. If overdosed or used for too long, these drops lead to addiction, allergic rhinitis and other complications. This does not mean that you should completely abandon these drugs, but they must be used according to the instructions.

Moisturizing drops are also necessary to treat children's runny nose.

They not only rinse the nasal cavity, but also prevent the proliferation of bacteria and help restore the mucous membrane. These drugs include drops such as,. They are harmless and non-addictive. They usually consist of purified water, sea salt and other additives.

More information about children's runny nose can be found in the video.

What to do if you have a headache from a runny nose: folk advice and medications

Among disinfecting drops, Protargol based on silver ions is popular. However, there is no consensus on whether these drops are dangerous for children or not. Typically, pediatricians try not to prescribe them to young children under 5 years of age. Although they have clear bactericidal properties, side effects are possible.

Children over 3 years old are allowed to instill Pinosol into their nose:

These drops are oily in structure and contain mint, eucalyptus, and pine oils.
This is undoubtedly useful for and, but at an early age they can cause a severe allergic reaction.

Folk remedies for children's runny nose

From the age of three, some of them are already considered safer:

. Our grandmothers' remedy. Each of us installed mustard plasters in childhood. You can simply pour mustard into the child’s socks, and before that, steam your feet if there is no fever. Rubbing your feet with badger fat or special baby cream Barsukor helps a lot with a runny nose.
If there is no swelling, but snot is flowing, you can warm your nose. Only if there are no hints. To do this, you can boil an egg, potato or salt in a rag bag and apply it to the bridge of your nose. Keep it like this until it cools down.
You can rub the child's chest and back with diluted essential oils of eucalyptus, mint, and pine. Never apply pure oil. To make a rubbing, add a few drops of essential oil to the base oil (baby oil, vegetable oil). This will make your baby's breathing easier.
Some mothers treat a runny nose with a mixture of honey and aloe juice. This method can be effective, but in other cases it can cause an allergic reaction, since honey is a strong allergen. If you want to use this method, apply the mixture to the crook of your child's elbow first and see if there is any rash or redness.
Children's runny noses are also treated with beet juice and they even put tampons in the nose from beet pulp for a long time. Using this method on a child can be dangerous; beets cause pain, irritation of the mucous membranes, and burns are possible. At best, you can dilute fresh beet juice with water and drop a couple of drops into the child’s nose.
Onion juice is known for its disinfecting properties. However, if you want to put it in the nose of a small child, try this method on yourself first. Pure onion juice will cause such pain, burning and irritation of the mucous membrane that you will want to climb the wall. The child can do it over onion steam or dilute the juice very much with water before use.

Modern medicine offers a lot of options on how to make it easier for a small child. These include special inhalations, patches, ointments, and rinses.

If you are afraid to anoint your child with eucalyptus oil, buy a Nozzle-type patch. It will emit a pleasant smell and free your breath. It can be attached to clothing during the day or at night. If your baby removes the patch from his clothes, tape it to the wall of the crib when he falls asleep. The smell is quite strong, so close proximity to your face is not necessary. It works for about 8 hours, then the smell disappears.

The “Clean Nose” cream helps relieve irritation, but it does more to moisturize the irritated skin around the nose. It cannot be applied to the mucous membrane.

There are also special rinsing solutions that already come with a device for the most convenient use.

If you have a nebulizer, this will help get rid of a runny nose much faster:

This is a portable inhaler. Usually it comes with a children's mask.
You put it on your child, pour saline solution, mineral water or medicine prescribed by the doctor into a special container, and turn it on.
The child breathes in vapors that penetrate deeper than any sprays or drops.
The mucous membrane is moistened, the nasal cavity and throat are disinfected.
The only problem with such devices is the high noise level. Children may be frightened by the buzzing sound. Try to explain to a three-year-old child that there is nothing painful or scary about this procedure.

If there is excessive mucus discharge from the nose, you can instill a soda solution. But this should not be done too often, so as not to dry it out.

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medications if really necessary. Do not refuse if the pediatrician insists. The faster you destroy the virus, the faster the recovery will come. Antiviral drugs are used in the form of suppositories (Viferon), tablets (Arbidol, Ergoferon) or nasal drops (Interferon powder is diluted with water and instilled into the nose every two hours).

Prevention of runny nose in children 3 years old

At 3 years old, children usually go to kindergarten, where they bring snot, colds, etc. very important to prevent persistent infections. The immune system is formed in sufficient volume only by 4-5 years. If you still had to send your child to kindergarten before this age, be prepared for the fact that he will end up in an aggressive microbial environment and begin to get sick.

Based on the above, we can conclude that:

The first rule of prevention is to find the right kindergarten. This is one where teachers monitor hygiene, ventilate the premises, and also send home a sick child.
The second rule is the right clothes. Children at 3 years old are very active, they run, jump, and therefore sweat. If you wear too much warm, and even synthetic, clothing, there is a high chance that your sweaty child will catch a cold. Choose clothes so that they are suitable for the weather, made from natural materials and do not allow cold air to pass through.

At home, rooms need to be ventilated, especially in winter, when radiators actively burn oxygen and dry out the air. Open windows when you go somewhere, and also buy a humidifier. It will help create comfortable conditions for the child.

Proper nutrition, rich in vitamins and microelements, as well as vitamin complexes, walks in the fresh air, away from dust and cars, will help strengthen your immune system.

You can begin to harden the child. But you don't need to water it with cold water. It is enough to reduce the water temperature. For this purpose, you can send your child to a toddler pool, where the temperature difference is created by the air temperature being lower than the water temperature.

Causes

It is worth talking about the etiology of rhinitis in detail - this familiar and simple, at first glance, phenomenon, be it physiological or pathological, has features that determine its place among diseases and age-related changes in the respiratory tract.

Viral rhinitis can provoke complications, which, like any others, are much easier to prevent than to treat. At the same time, active therapy of physiological rhinitis can transform it into pathological rhinitis with irrational use of medications and methods.

As already mentioned, infections are the leading cause of rhinitis. Infectious agents can be:

viruses;
bacteria;
mushrooms.

Also, a runny nose in children occurs due to:

teething;
allergies;
hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil.

Teething in a three-year-old child may be accompanied by a moderately severe runny nose, during which a mucous secretion without pathological impurities is released.

Allergic reactions can develop to any substance - including food antigens, pollen, animal dander, medicines and even house dust. Hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil (adenoids) is a proliferation of lymphoid tissue.

Rhinitis due to respiratory infection

In addition to the pathogens of acute respiratory viral infections (influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, etc.), infection of which occurs by airborne droplets (by inhaling infected secretions) or through household contact (applying secretions containing the virus to the mucous membrane of the nose, eyes), rhinitis can be caused by bacteria - streptococci, staphylococci. In newborns and infants, manifestations of rhinitis are often associated with intrauterine infections.

A 3-year-old child experiences snot at least several times a year. The reason for this is a sharp increase in social activity - at this age children begin to attend preschool institutions, travel with their parents, and spend a long time in an isolated group, often in a closed, unventilated room.

All this contributes to a significant increase in the risk of infection.

Viral rhinitis can be combined with pharyngitis (inflammation of the pharynx) and laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx). In this case, in addition to snot and fever, a child aged 3 years also experiences a sore throat, hoarseness, a feeling of stuffiness in the ears when swallowing, and a dry cough.

A common infection in children aged 2 to 5 years is ARVI caused by the parainfluenza virus.

It is characterized by symptoms such as:

significant nasal congestion leading to impaired nasal breathing;
mucous discharge from the nose, followed by mucopurulent discharge;
fever;
a sore throat;
rough "barking" cough.

The danger of parainfluenza infection is not a runny nose, but the risk of developing false croup, or laryngeal stenosis. This condition typically has an acute onset, most often at night. The child wakes up from a coughing attack, it becomes difficult for him to breathe, his voice is hoarse, and with severe swelling it disappears completely.

Features of polio

Poliomyelitis is a severe infectious disease, which is accompanied by the presence of neurological disorders during the development of a typical form. The variant of polio without damage to the nervous system is called atypical. Due to mass vaccination against polio, the disease is considered rare.

Rhinitis, manifested by a small amount of discharge, hyperemia and swelling of the mucous membrane of the nose and pharynx, is one of the symptoms of the preparalytic period. In addition to this, there are:

The initial period of polio can be confused with manifestations of ARVI (provoked by a pathogen from the group of respiratory viruses) or an intestinal infection.

The leading difference is pain in the extremities, paralysis of which is observed at a later stage of the disease.

The duration of the preparalytic period is from 2 to 5 days. This is followed by a paralytic stage - the muscles of the lower extremities, as well as the arms and neck with breathing problems are most often affected.

What are adenoids

The pharyngeal tonsil is localized in the vault of the pharynx and consists of lymphoid tissue. If its size increases, this process is called hypertrophy. Adenoids and hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil are different definitions of the same pathology.

Adenoids are manifested by the following clinical signs:

The child also complains of constant headaches and often suffers from viral infections. Since he breathes through his mouth most of the time, he snores during sleep and his face becomes puffy. Before treating snot in a child aged 4 years with chronic runny nose and frequent ARVI, you need to be examined by a pediatrician or pediatric otolaryngologist.

Treatment

Treatment of rhinitis in children with ARVI consists of the following stages:

correction of temperature and humidity in the room (use of humidifiers, ventilation);
cleansing the nasal cavity of mucus and crusts by rinsing with saline;
using saline nose drops.

In case of an allergic reaction, antihistamines are indicated. It is necessary to choose how to treat snot in a 3-year-old child in a face-to-face consultation with a pediatrician or allergist who has confirmed the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. For the symptomatic treatment of children over 2 years of age, levocetirizine in the form of drops is approved.

There is no specific treatment for polio. You can only protect yourself from infection by vaccination with oral polio vaccine according to the vaccination schedule.

The source of infection is a sick person, and unvaccinated children are at risk. The first vaccination is given to a child at the age of 3 months.

For adenoids, conservative therapy is used:

nasal rinsing;
multivitamins;
immunostimulants;
balanced diet;
ensuring comfortable humidity and temperature in the room;
prevention of ARVI.

How to cure snot in a 3-year-old child if these methods are ineffective? Surgical treatment is necessary for a significant degree of hypertrophy, when serious hearing and nasal breathing problems are observed. After surgery, there is a risk of relapse, since the lymphoid tissue is not completely removed.

To prevent re-growth of adenoids, it is necessary to monitor the child’s nutrition, consult with your doctor about ways to prevent viral infections and normalize the immune status. Watchful waiting tactics for adenoids can lead to the formation of permanent health problems.

A child has a runny nose for various reasons. It can be one of the leading symptoms in acute respiratory viral infections and allergies, or appear as a harbinger of a more serious pathology in the case of polio.

The formation of the dentition is also accompanied by rhinitis. To correctly assess nasal congestion in a child, an examination by a pediatrician or otolaryngologist is necessary.

A runny nose, or rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal mucosa), most often occurs in children as a manifestation of acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) as a result of damage to the nasal mucosa by viruses.

When hypothermia leads to a decrease in the body's defenses, or when immunity is reduced for other reasons, viruses and microbes in the air, getting on the first protective barrier of our body - the nasal mucosa, damage it, actively multiplying in the surface cells, which leads to inflammation, swelling and excess mucus production. Damage to mucosal cells disrupts the natural mechanism of cleansing the nasal cavity, because thanks to the oscillatory movements of the cilia, which are located on the surface of the mucosal cells, the nose is constantly cleansed of foreign agents (dust, viruses, microbes). The mucous membrane of the nose in young children has its own characteristics (very thin, rich in blood vessels and many nerve endings associated with various organs and systems), and the nasal passages are still very narrow and short. Therefore, the slightest disturbance in nasal breathing in a baby causes irritability, restless sleep, difficulty feeding, and sometimes refusal to eat (during feeding, the baby is forced to give up the breast or bottle in order to breathe through the mouth). In addition, swelling of the nasal mucosa impairs the sense of smell (smell) and taste, and poor appetite and malnutrition in young children can lead to poor weight gain and even weight loss.

How to alleviate the baby’s condition and what means can be used to improve and restore nasal breathing?

How to treat a runny nose in children?

Treatment of a runny nose in young children is aimed at quickly restoring nasal breathing, combating swelling of the mucous membrane, reducing the formation and improving the discharge of mucus, preventing the spread of inflammation to other parts of the respiratory tract (nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, lungs), the addition of microbes and the development of complications such as inflammation of the auditory tube (otitis media), paranasal sinuses (sinusitis).

Nasal cleansers. Since for young children a significant problem is the ability to independently clear the nose of mucus (the baby cannot blow his nose on his own), the first means to make breathing through the nose easier are drugs that can remove accumulated mucus and crusts.

For this purpose, you can use ordinary saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride solution), as well as various salt solutions based on sea water, such as AQUAMARIS, SALIN, PHYSIOMER, AQUALOR, etc. These solutions can be used from the first days baby's life. They are sterile, their composition is close to an isotonic (neutral) solution, and they do not contain substances that can cause adverse reactions and addiction in the baby. The salts and microelements contained in sea water (calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, copper, etc.) not only soften crusts well, thin out mucus, facilitating its removal, but also maintain the natural moisture of the nasal mucosa, accelerate recovery processes in the cells of the mucous membrane, help to increase the motor activity of the cilia of the mucous membrane, normalizing its protective functions.

However, taking into account the anatomical features of the development of the respiratory tract, in children under 2 years of age, nasal rinsing solutions can only be used in drops, while in children over 2 years of age, solutions in the form of a spray can be used. A fast stream of water entering the nose of a small child can lead to the throwing of mucus and microbes from the nasopharynx into the opening of the auditory tube (in small children it is wide and short), with the subsequent development of inflammation in the middle ear (otitis media). For the same reason, you should not rinse the nose of a child under 2 years old with a small enema.

It is advisable for the baby to instill warm drops after preheating the bottle in a cup of warm water. For children of the first year of life, saline solution is instilled using a pipette, 3-4 drops alternately into each nostril in a supine position with the head slightly tilted back and slightly turned to the side. It is necessary to rinse your baby’s nose so often that mucus and crusts do not impede the baby’s breathing and do not accumulate in the nasal cavity, creating a favorable environment for microbes. If necessary, you can rinse the nose every hour or more often, easing the child’s condition. It is necessary to use the drugs until the baby’s nasal breathing normalizes.

It should be remembered that solutions of sea water can be used not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of runny nose in children, especially during the cold season - a period of high incidence of colds. For the purpose of prevention, it is enough to rinse the baby’s nose with saline solution 2 times a day, as well as after a walk or visiting public places (clinic, kindergarten, store, etc.).

Vasoconstrictors. For infants whose difficulty in nasal breathing interferes with their general well-being, sleep, and breastfeeding, the doctor may prescribe vasoconstrictor medications. When instilled, they affect the nasal mucosa, causing constriction of blood vessels, which reduces swelling and redness of the mucous membrane, reduces the formation of mucus, thereby improving nasal breathing.

In children from the first months of life to 2 years, it is preferable to use short-acting vasoconstrictors: they are quickly destroyed in the baby’s body, which means there is less likelihood of side effects. These drugs include products containing phenylephrine: NAZOL BABY, VIBROCIL, the effect of which lasts up to 4-6 hours after instillation. For children of the first year of life, NAZOL BABY or VIBROCIL is prescribed 1 drop in each nasal passage. They need to be instilled with the baby's head slightly tilted back and turned to the side, no more than 3-4 times a day. In children over 2 years of age, vasoconstrictor drugs of medium duration of action (up to 6–8 hours after instillation) can be used - NAZIVIN (0.025% solution), OTRIVIN, XYMELIN, TIZIN (0.05% solutions), etc. These drugs Children are prescribed 1-2 drops in each nasal passage no more than 2-3 times a day. It should be noted that NAZIVIN (a drug of medium duration of action) in the form of a 0.01% solution can be used in children from the first weeks of life, 1 drop in each nasal passage 2 times a day, in children from 1 month to 1 year - 1-2 drops 2-3 times a day only after a doctor’s recommendation. This is due to the fact that NAZIVIN in the form of 0.01% not only contains a very small dose of the active substance, but is also available in drops that are convenient for use in infants.

Vasoconstrictor drugs have their disadvantages and side effects. The use of vasoconstrictor drops only temporarily improves nasal breathing, but does not cure a runny nose. In addition, their frequent use (failure to comply with the recommended frequency of use during the day) reduces the secretion of mucus, leading to the appearance of thick, difficult-to-discharge nasal discharge.

Long-term (more than 5-7 days) use of vasoconstrictor drops can lead to the development of addiction of the mucous membrane and a decrease in the effect of the drug, the development of drug-induced rhinitis (swelling, redness and even death of cells of the nasal mucosa). If instilled incorrectly (in a supine position with the head strongly thrown back, not turned to the side), especially in young children, drops can immediately flow down the bottom of the nasal cavity into the pharynx, entering the stomach and being absorbed into the blood. In this case, not only will there be no proper result, but an overdose of the drug and the appearance of its side effects are possible. Such undesirable effects include heart problems (heart rhythm disturbances, rapid heartbeat), the appearance of pale skin, agitation, anxiety, increased blood pressure due to the vasoconstrictive effect of the drops not only on the nasal mucosa, but also on the vessels of other organs and systems of the baby’s body .

In this regard, vasoconstrictor drops are contraindicated or their use should be strictly limited and carried out only as prescribed by a doctor in children suffering from cardiac arrhythmias, high blood pressure, thyroid diseases and diabetes mellitus.

How not to treat a runny nose in young children

You should not instill breast milk into your baby's nasal passages: this can only worsen the course of rhinitis. Firstly, milk is a breeding ground for microorganisms; secondly, the resulting crusts from dried milk will further interfere with nasal breathing and cause anxiety in the child.

Antimicrobial drugs. As already mentioned, in the treatment of a runny nose that is not accompanied by severe disturbances in the general condition (fever, purulent nasal discharge, etc.), the use of saline solutions for rinsing the nose and short-term use of vasoconstrictor drops (no more than 3–5 days) is often sufficient ). However, if these measures do not bring adequate success, and signs of microbial inflammation and the spread of infection increase or appear (fever, even greater loss of appetite, weakness, lethargy, the appearance of yellow-green or purulent nasal discharge), a mandatory examination is necessary child by a pediatrician. Your baby may need to be prescribed drops that have an antiseptic and antimicrobial effect.

Drugs with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects include PROTARGOL, which contains silver ions. In children from the first year of life, a 2% solution of PROTARGOL is used, instilling 2 drops into each nasal passage 2 times a day for 7–10 days. PROTARGOL is used, as a rule, in combination with other drugs. Drops are prepared directly in pharmacies from powder, so for children only a freshly prepared solution of PROTARGOL is used, which must be stored in a dark glass bottle in the refrigerator for no more than 10 days from the date of manufacture. A side effect of using PROTARGOL may be the development of allergic reactions to the drug in the form of burning and itching in the child’s nose, which requires discontinuation of the drops.

Herbal preparations used in the treatment of runny nose in children include PINOSOL, which contains a complex of vegetable oils (pine, mint, eucalyptus), vitamin E, etc. It has an anti-edematous and antimicrobial effect, accelerates the process of restoration of the nasal mucosa. The drug is approved for use in children over 2 years of age. Children are recommended to instill 1-2 drops into each nasal passage 3-4 times a day for 5-7 days.

It is necessary to be careful when instilling drops into small children, since PINOSOL getting into the respiratory tract can cause the development of bronchospasm (difficulty breathing, suffocation). If this happens, it is necessary to provide free access to oxygen (open the window and free the baby’s neck from clothes) and urgently call an ambulance.

When using PINOSOL, individual intolerance to the components of the drug is possible, which is manifested by the appearance of redness, burning and itching in the nose.

Among the antimicrobial drugs approved for use in children over 2 years of age, ISOFRA SPRAY, containing an antibiotic from the aminoglycoside group, should be noted. However, only a doctor can prescribe the drug after a thorough examination of the baby. Prescribe the spray, 1 injection into each nostril no more than 2-3 times a day, after clearing the baby’s nose of secretions. The duration of treatment should not be more than 7 days, since long-term use may reduce the sensitivity of microbes to the drug and reduce the effect of treatment. The drug is contraindicated in children intolerant to aminoglycoside antibiotics.

Other means. In the complex treatment of uncomplicated rhinitis (absence of otitis - inflammation of the ear, sinusitis - inflammation of the paranasal sinuses) in children, a homeopathic drug such as EUPHORBIUM COMPOSITUM is widely used. This is a complex homeopathic preparation containing substances of plant origin and minerals. Facilitation of nasal breathing occurs due to moisturizing and cleansing the nasal mucosa, improving the nutrition of mucosal cells. The drug is used in children after 2 years of age, as it is available only in the form of a spray. Prescribe the medicine 1 dose (injection) 3-4 times a day.

EUPHORBIUM COMPOSITUM can be used for a long time (more than 7 days), as it does not cause addiction. However, with individual intolerance, it is possible to develop allergic reactions to the drug (redness, burning, itching in the nose).
Drugs widely used for the prevention and treatment of runny nose in children include drugs containing interferons (protection factors that are produced in the human body), for example GRIPPFERON. Its action is based on preventing the proliferation of viruses, strengthening the protection of cells of the nasal mucosa from the penetration of viruses into the body. Its most effective use is from the first hours of the onset of ARVI symptoms (sneezing, the appearance of mucous discharge from the nose).

GRIPPFERON can be used in children from birth both for the treatment and prevention of runny nose, especially during epidemics of respiratory infections. For children of the first year of life, when treating a runny nose, instill 1 drop into each nasal passage 5 times a day, for children from 1 to 3 years old - 2 drops 3 times a day for 5 days. After instillation, it is necessary to massage the wings of the baby’s nose with your fingers for a few seconds to better distribute the drug on the mucous membrane. When using GRIPPFERON, it is possible to develop individual intolerance to the drug, which will require its immediate discontinuation.

When deciding on the choice of certain medications to treat a runny nose in a baby, try to show the child to the doctor as early as possible and listen to his advice.

For skin irritation

If redness appears around the nose, which often occurs as a result of skin irritation with mucous secretions and frequent wiping of the child’s nose with a handkerchief, it is possible to use wound healing creams based on dexpanthenol (BEPANTHEN, D-PANTHENOL, PANTHENOL). This cream has a wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and nourishing effect, which helps cope with skin irritation in children.

Tips for parents:

For children from the first months of life to 2 years, medications can only be used in the form of drops. Spray preparations can only be used for children aged 2 years and older due to the possibility of developing otitis media.
For children from the first days of life, use ready-made saline solutions (saline solution, AQUAMARIS, PHYSIOMER, SALIN, etc.) to rinse the nose: they are sterile, balanced in the composition of microelements, and easy to use.
It is unacceptable to use vasoconstrictors for a runny nose for more than 5–7 days without re-consulting a doctor due to the possible development of unwanted reactions.
You cannot use several vasoconstrictors at the same time to avoid enhancing their effect and developing side effects.
It is unacceptable to put medications containing antibiotics or self-prepared complex drops into the nose of children without a doctor’s prescription.
If side effects occur from taking medications to treat a runny nose, you must stop taking the drug and be sure to inform your doctor.
Before using any drug, carefully read the package insert, paying attention to the appearance, dosage, and expiration date of the drug.
You should strictly adhere to the recommended single dosage of the drug depending on the age of the child, without in any way exceeding the permissible daily dose.
A bottle of drops must be used individually (i.e. only for the baby) to avoid the spread and transmission of infection from other people.
After opening, the bottle with drops is suitable for use for 1 month.
The drops should be stored in a place protected from light, out of the reach of children.

Rhinitis and nasal congestion in young children becomes a real problem, since the baby does not yet know how to blow his nose, which increases the risk of complications and activation of bacterial flora.

The pathological condition is aggravated by an immature immune system and a small number of drugs that can be safely used. We will talk in detail about the causes of rhinitis and how to treat a runny nose in a 3-year-old child in this article.

Inflammation of the nasal mucosa occurs for a dozen different reasons, but the leading ones are:

viral infection;
bacterial infection;
allergic reaction.

In addition, snot in a 3-year-old child can be the result of small parts of toys or construction toys getting into the nasal cavity. The foreign body gets stuck in the upper respiratory tract, which causes tissue swelling and increased mucus production in response to irritation.

Medicines are not effective in this situation; the child needs the help of an ENT specialist or surgeon.

Viral rhinitis

Most often, a runny nose in a 3-year-old child is initially caused by a viral infection. Influenza, parainfluenza, and adenovirus viruses enter the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity and upper respiratory tract, provoking the development of an inflammatory process.

Symptoms of viral rhinitis persist for 5-7 days, and if the child is not treated or treated incorrectly, the risk of a secondary bacterial infection increases.

This likelihood is higher if the baby suffers from adenoids or other chronic inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx.

Immunity is formed only at eight to ten years of age; children in the first years of life are practically defenseless against pathogenic microorganisms.

Bacterial form

Bacterial rhinitis develops in most cases as a complication of an untreated viral disease against the background of the addition of pathogenic microflora. Only in rare cases is this the primary process.

Bacteria multiply when the inflammatory process in the nasal cavity drags on for 10 days or longer, and also spreads to the sinuses and pharynx.

A bacterial runny nose in a 3-year-old child is more difficult to cure, which often leads to chronicity of the pathological process and complications in the form of sinusitis, adenoiditis, and sinusitis.

Runny nose with an allergic component

Allergic rhinitis develops against the background of exposure of the body to potential allergens and irritants.

They can be pet hair, indoor plants (their pollen), mold fungus, feather pillows, fabric softeners and washing powders, and air fresheners.

Features of bacterial therapy

To treat bacterial rhinitis, in addition to the drugs described above, agents with antibacterial properties are prescribed, for example, Collargol or Protargol drops.

These drugs contain colloidal silver, a powerful natural antiseptic that has a detrimental effect on gram-positive and gram-negative microflora, fungi and some viruses.

In the event that the inflammatory process in the nose involves all the sinuses and cavities, the child is additionally prescribed plant-based drops Sinupret for oral administration.

In especially severe cases, when the infection has spread to the throat, a course of antibiotic therapy is recommended. Specific names of drugs are selected by a pediatrician after determining the sensitivity of pathogens to a particular bacterial agent.

It is strictly forbidden to instill antibiotic solutions or homemade antibiotic drops into a child’s nose - this can cause a serious allergic reaction (Quincke’s edema and anaphylactic shock).

Eliminating the allergic component

If rhinitis of allergic origin is detected, the main drug will be a spray or aerosol based on hormones:

Avamis;
Allergodil (at 3 years of age, prescribed by a doctor carefully, in case of emergency. According to the instructions, the medicine is intended for children over 6 years old).

The huge advantage of these drugs is that the medicine acts only locally, that is, it is practically not absorbed into the general bloodstream, thereby minimizing the risk of side effects and overdose.

However, all drugs in this group are prescribed only by a pediatrician and are not intended for independent use.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

Physiotherapeutic methods for treating runny nose in children 3 years old include:

Inhalations - carried out through a nebulizer or thermal, using medications (for the first) and herbal decoctions or essential oils for thermal inhalers or adding them to a basin of hot water. Inhalations for a runny nose can only be carried out at normal body temperature, after first clearing the nasal cavity of mucus and crusts with a saline solution. During the procedure, you need to breathe calmly through your nose, do not talk, do not spin, so as not to injure yourself (when inhaling over hot steam) and not to damage the device (when using a nebulizer).
UVR – an ultraviolet ray is directed into the child’s nose, which helps eliminate tissue swelling, reduces the amount of discharge, and stimulates the process of regeneration (rapid healing) of microscopic cracks in the nasal mucosa.
Laser therapy is a method effective for acute and chronic forms of treatment. After the procedure, tissue swelling is significantly reduced, nasal breathing is facilitated, and signs of the inflammatory process are reduced.

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