Runny nose with a cold: how to treat it

Causes of a runny nose

A runny nose can occur for various reasons. The most common cause of a runny nose is infectious agents - viruses, bacteria and fungi. The most common cause is viruses from the group of rhinoviruses, coronaviruses and adenoviruses. The disease is then classified as infectious rhinitis.

Another cause of inflammation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa is an allergic reaction. Allergens enter the nasal passages during breathing, causing swelling, mucus, and nasal congestion. In this case, the disease is classified as allergic rhinitis.

Allergic and infectious rhinitis require different approaches to treatment - to mitigate the negative signs of the disease, in both cases, vasoconstrictors are used, which makes it possible to briefly ease the patient’s breathing and moderate the secretion of mucus. However, for infectious rhinitis, complex therapy with the use of antiseptic drugs is necessary, and hormonal agents and histamine receptor blockers are used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Possible causes of a runny nose:

Infectious rhinitis.

This type of runny nose is more common than others and is familiar to almost everyone. Infectious rhinitis occurs in an acute form, most often it is caused by bacteria, viruses, and less often by fungi. If the patient has a stable immune system, the infectious runny nose ends quickly and without complications.

Congenital causes.

Developmental anomalies in the prenatal period disrupt the normal functioning of the nasal cavity and cause chronic runny nose. Such reasons include structural disorders of the facial bones, curvature of the nasal septum, hypertrophy or deformation of the nasal cavities. Most often, a one-sided defect occurs when the deformed nostril does not function, and air flows unhindered through the other cavity.

A rare cause of chronic runny nose is Kartagener's syndrome. Another name for the pathology is primary ciliary dyskinesia. The disease disrupts the mechanism for removing mucus from the nasal mucosa due to improper functioning of the ciliated epithelium. The result of this is stagnation of mucus in the nasal cavity and bronchi, the development of bronchitis, and the transition of rhinitis to a chronic form.

Allergy.

One of the common causes of long-term chronic runny nose in children and adults is allergic rhinitis. It appears not only during flowering, but also in winter, when, it would seem, there should be no reason for allergies to appear.

Common allergens:

• Pet hair;
• Down and feathers of parrots;
• Book, household, industrial dust;
• Chemicals from detergents, varnishes and paints.

Drug-induced rhinitis.

A runny nose caused by taking medications occurs for two reasons:

• Rhinitis is a side effect of medications (eg, blood pressure medications);
• A rebound effect appears after an overdose of a vasoconstrictor for the common cold.

A “ricochet” runny nose can develop within 4-5 days after the start of treatment for ordinary rhinitis with drops with a vasoconstrictor effect. Untimely discontinuation of drops for a runny nose leads to the nasal mucosa becoming accustomed to them. Discontinuation of the drug leads to increased swelling; increasing the dose leads to resistance of mucosal cells to the active substance. The result of this situation is the persistence of rhinitis symptoms even at maximum doses. That is why it is not recommended to use vasoconstrictor drops for longer than the period specified in the instructions.

Adenoids.

The growth of adenoids located at the entrance to the nasal cavity from the pharynx becomes the cause of chronic runny nose in children. The hypertrophied palatine tonsil blocks the lumen of the nasal passages, thereby creating an obstacle to the flow of air. A combination of adenoid hypertrophy with otitis media, sinusitis, and chronic tonsillitis is often found. The proliferation of tonsil tissue provokes the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria that cause inflammation of the tissues of the nasopharynx. Read more: causes and symptoms of adenoids

Foreign bodies.

Most often, this cause of atypical runny nose occurs in children of early preschool age.

A child can place in his nose unnoticed by his parents:

• Small toys and their parts;
• Pencils;
• Food particles;
• Buttons;
• Vitamins and small candies;
• Stationery and small household items;
• Parasites (helminths).

A characteristic symptom of a foreign body in the nose is the discharge of liquid mucus from one nostril. With a long-term runny nose, an experienced otolaryngologist always first of all suspects the presence of a foreign body in the nasal passage. A case of chronic rhinitis lasting for 20 years was recorded, the cause of which was a button that got stuck in the nose in childhood. It was discovered in a woman completely by accident during an X-ray examination.

Nasal polyps.

Due to chronic inflammation or allergic effects, benign polyps appear on the nasal mucosa. The formations reach a significant size, blocking the nasal cavities and blocking the flow of air.

Most often, polyps form in adults. If they are diagnosed in a child under 10 years of age, their possible cause is chronic sinusitis or cystic fibrosis. Often a combination of a polyp with bronchial asthma, an allergy to acetylsalicylic acid or yellow fruits.

Vasomotor rhinitis.

The cause of the pathology is a violation of the regulation of nasal vascular tone. With this pathology, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, the nerve endings of which exhibit a vasodilating effect. The vessels of the nasal mucosa become overfilled with blood, it swells greatly, and air does not pass through the nasal passages. Symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis are sneezing, stuffy nose, and secretion of large amounts of mucus. They intensify under the influence of stress, cold, intense odors, spraying of chemicals in the air, and strong emotions.

Atrophic rhinitis.

This type of runny nose is rare, its cause is the thinning of the nasal mucosa, its atrophy due to a rare type of inflammatory process. It is provoked by such types of bacteria as Proteus, Klebsiella, as well as hereditary predisposition. Symptoms of atrophic rhinitis are ozena (discharge with a foul odor), loss of smell, green mucus with the formation of crusts.

Runny nose as a symptom of other diseases.

One of the possible causes of a long-term runny nose is latent hypothyroidism - decreased function of the thyroid gland, insufficient production of hormones. For this reason, the connective tissues of the entire body, including the nasal mucosa, swell. Due to edema, air flow decreases and congestion occurs. The diagnosis can be clarified by taking a thyroid hormone test.

Another reason for the development of chronic rhinitis is autoimmune diseases:

• Psoriasis,
• Wenger's granulomatosis,
• Systemic scleroderma,
• Rheumatoid arthritis.

Reasons why adults have a long runny nose

The addition of bacterial infections is often associated with a decrease in local immunity in the nasopharynx due to ARVI or influenza. This is caused by sticky mucus building up in the airways. This often happens in the later stages of a cold.

Symptoms of a bacterial infection in the nose include:

• increase in body temperature;
• yellowish or greenish mucus discharge from the nasal cavity;
• runny nose lasts more than 14 days;
• Taking antiviral drugs does not improve the condition.

With this type of rhinitis, the tonsils and mucous membranes of the nose often become inflamed. This happens as bacteria migrate to neighboring organs. This type of runny nose after ARVI is called nasopharyngitis. In addition to a sore throat and nasal congestion, it is accompanied by a severe cough, which is caused by phlegm flowing into the throat.

Runny nose in adults after illness

To avoid complications such as bacterial rhinitis, it is important to ensure the drainage of mucus from the nasal cavity.

If a runny nose after the flu has already become complicated by a bacterial infection, then you need to visit a doctor. The process of spread of pathogenic microorganisms in the nose can lead to loss of smell, penetration of bacteria into the middle ear or sinuses, and the transition of rhinitis to chronic. The chronic form of the runny nose lasts a month or longer, characterized by exacerbations and relief.

Often the reason why a runny nose after the flu does not go away for a long time is sinusitis. This is an inflammation that occurs in the sinuses. Sinusitis is caused by bacteria or viruses. If the outflow of sputum is impaired, excellent conditions are created in the nose for the proliferation of microorganisms and the accumulation of pus. The outflow of mucous secretions may be impaired due to the presence of polyps, cysts, swelling of the nasal mucosa, or a deviated septum. All this increases the risk of sinusitis and complicates its course. Based on location, the following types of disease are distinguished:

• sinusitis - characterized by an inflammatory process in the maxillary sinuses;
• frontal sinusitis - occurs in the frontal sinus;
• ethmoiditis - bacteria spread in the mucous membrane of the ethmoid labyrinth;
• sphenoiditis - develops in the mucous membrane of the sphenoid sinus.

Sinusitis is one of the most common causes of a long, persistent runny nose. The maxillary sinuses are located in the maxillary bone on both sides of the wings of the nose. With this disease, a person feels pain under the eyes, radiating to the teeth. When the patient bends forward, a nagging pain is felt in the back of the head and high pressure in the eye sockets. Often with sinusitis, body temperature rises

Any sinusitis requires medical attention. Self-medication is dangerous and can worsen the condition. To cleanse the sinuses, therapeutic and surgical therapy is used, which includes rinsing with antiseptics, pumping out accumulated pus, prescribing antibiotics and other medications. It is important to follow all the doctor’s instructions; if treatment is not completed, relapses may occur and sinusitis may become chronic.

Surgical therapy for sinusitis is needed if the exit from the sinus is blocked, which leads to the accumulation of pus. There is a high risk of pus penetrating into the eye sockets, middle ear, and brain. The operation consists of a small puncture of the bone tissue, through which purulent discharge flows out, after which the sinuses are washed out using antiseptics and antibiotics. This procedure provides rapid improvement.

• Allergic rhinitis.

The next reason why a runny nose does not go away in children and adults is improper treatment. For example, this happens when a person treats a runny nose that is allergic in nature with antibacterial agents. Allergic rhinitis is expressed by similar symptoms, but is caused by completely different reasons.

Signs of allergic rhinitis are:

• discharge of clear and watery mucus from the nose;
• sneezing;
• the appearance of swelling and itching in the nasopharyngeal mucosa;
• presence of cough and sore throat;
• body temperature does not rise.

Symptoms worsen when an allergen is present and appear in the form of short attacks, but rhinitis lasts for a month or longer. If you suspect an allergic rhinitis, you need to do a blood test for immunoglobulins E to a possible allergen.

Other ways to determine allergies include allergy tests and provocative tests. The optimal diagnostic method in each individual case is prescribed by the doctor. To improve the condition of allergic rhinitis, you need to avoid contact with allergens and take antihistamines prescribed by an allergist.

This type of persistent runny nose is also caused by non-infectious causes. It develops during the process of disruption of the functioning of nerve cells, receptors of the mucous membrane and disturbance of vascular tone in the nasopharynx. At the same time, overly sensitive receptors react very strongly to changes in ambient temperature, odors and other irritants. The reaction occurs to both allergenic and non-allergenic substances.

Causes of vasomotor rhinitis:

• disruptions in the functioning of the thyroid gland;
• lack of iodine;
• long-term use of vasoconstrictor medications for the common cold;
• nasal injury;
• the formation of various neoplasms in the tissues of the nasal cavity;
• hormonal changes during childbearing, menopause, adolescence;
• life in conditions of very dirty air.

A combination of several factors can lead to vasomotor rhinitis, which often occurs in a chronic form and can trigger the onset of bronchial asthma.

To treat this disease, surgical methods are used in the form of surgical correction of the mucous membrane. To diagnose the pathology, a consultation with a doctor with a detailed examination is necessary.

ARVI and flu: what to do with a runny nose?

In addition to a runny nose, the flu can be accompanied by high or low temperature, sore throat, general malaise, aches throughout the body, stuffy ears, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to treat not only a runny nose, but also a comprehensive fight against the virus.

The upper respiratory tract is lined with epithelial tissue or mucous membrane. When a virus enters it, the body becomes infected. Under the influence of the inflammatory process, the epithelium in the nose increases in size, thereby preventing free breathing.

If you try to relieve inflammation using the simplest methods and medications, you can only make the situation worse. For example, hot steam from potatoes will further spread the virus quickly, creating a humid and warm environment for it. And frequent use of Naphthyzin drops leads to addiction and fragility of blood vessels, which in the future threatens frequent nosebleeds.

Therefore, if you have a runny nose due to the flu, treatment should be strictly qualified.

• Take vitamin C in the form of rosehip decoction.
• During the course of the disease with elevated temperature, drink plenty of warm drinks, preferably lingonberry juice.
• If possible, rinse your nose with salt water and use vasoconstrictor drops, but no more than three days.

If a runny nose does not go away for more than 5-7 days, subject to all medical prescriptions, then, most likely, it is no longer a consequence of the flu, but a manifestation of sinusitis, sinusitis, etc.

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the maxillary sinuses, which are located above the upper jaw in the cheekbone area. They are connected to the nasal cavity by narrow openings, which become impassable during a runny nose, and congestion leads to inflammation.

With sinusitis, a runny nose is accompanied by a “bloating” in the bridge of the nose and between the eyebrows, fever, and headache.

In addition to sinusitis, complications after a runny nose with the flu can include:

• Frontit.
• Ethmoiditis.
• Sphenoiditis.

Along with sinusitis, all these are types of sinusitis. These diseases are distinguished by the location of the inflammatory process - the frontal sinus, the cells of the ethmoid bone, or the sphenoid sinus.

• Elimination of infection.
• Reduction of swelling.
• Eliminating secretion stagnation.
• Elimination of nasal discharge.
• Draining the sinuses.
• Normalization of natural axillary drainage.

Acute forms of sinusitis last no more than 7-10 days. They are treated with saline solution, nasal irrigation, steam inhalation and decongestants.

If after two weeks there is no cure, then they speak of a chronic form, for which antibiotics are prescribed.

The disease is difficult to treat, so frequent changes in medications are needed.

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Symptoms of a runny nose

Symptoms of a runny nose vary depending on the stage of the disease:

• The first stage lasts from several hours to two days. At this time, the patient feels dry mucous membranes, a burning sensation in the nose and continuous itching. Already at this time, breathing through the nose becomes difficult, the perception of tastes and smells is impaired. The temperature is usually normal, but occasionally (more often in children) slight hyperthermia may be observed.
• At the second stage, the virus actively multiplies, heavy discharge begins from the nose, and it is impossible to breathe through the nose. Often the patient’s ears become blocked, the temperature rises, lacrimation and frequent sneezing begin. The disease is accompanied by headache, loss of appetite and other symptoms.
• The third stage occurs 4–5 days after infection. The mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, damaged by viruses, is colonized by various bacteria, as a result of which mucopurulent discharge from the nose appears.

If a person's immune system is in good shape, the body is activated to fight infection. The swelling gradually subsides, the sense of smell improves and nasal breathing is restored. After a few days the person recovers. If a person’s body is weakened, without adequate treatment he may not be able to cope with the disease, in which case the worst thing is that various, including severe, complications may develop.

Diet and proper nutrition when treating colds

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.

Runny nose without fever - what does it mean?

A runny nose that is not accompanied by an increase in body temperature may be a sign of a viral infection, in particular this is typical for rhinoviruses. Nasal congestion, copious mucus discharge and difficulty breathing are the main symptoms of this disease. These may include headaches, sore throat, congestion in the ears and decreased hearing. Most often, this type of runny nose appears in adults and is a sign of good immunity, because the process of fighting infection does not affect the hypothalamus, where the thermoregulatory centers are located.

The cause of a runny nose without fever is considered to be hypothermia of the body, as a result of which it becomes more susceptible to infection.

Another reason for a runny nose without fever is the individual characteristics of the patient’s condition. Thus, rhinitis can appear in women in the first trimester of pregnancy and in young children when they are teething. Treatment in this case is purely symptomatic, since a runny nose is not a sign of a serious pathology, but develops due to a weakened immune system.

Factors that provoke the development of a runny nose without fever:

• Air pollution with dust, toxic and irritating substances. Thus, allergic rhinitis often develops as a result of constant contact with animals, passive or active smoking, and staying in a dusty room;
• Hot spices, if they get into the nasal cavity, can provoke irritation of the mucous membrane and in the future cause the development of a runny nose;
• Sudden changes in temperature and air humidity - for example, during the cold season there is often a difference between low air temperature outside and high temperature indoors;
• Adenoid growths of the tonsils are a common cause of runny nose in children;
• When foreign bodies enter the nasal cavity, a runny nose acts as a symptom; this cause is also more common among children;
• Polyps and other neoplasms in the nose, as well as abnormal structure of the nasal septum can cause chronic rhinitis.

How to properly treat a runny nose?

There are certain rules, following which you can quickly and effectively cure a runny nose.

How to properly treat a runny nose in adults?

• It is important to learn how to blow your nose correctly so that blowing your nose does not lead to complications. Increased pressure in the nasal cavity can cause bacteria to enter the Eustachian tube. Pathogenic microorganisms can easily cause otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear). Blowing your nose incorrectly can damage the already irritated lining of the middle ear. The correct technique is to gently blow your nose through each nostril separately, while opening your mouth so as not to increase the pressure in the nasal cavity.
• To effectively treat a runny nose, do not irritate the mucous membrane by exposure to cold, tobacco smoke, strong odors, dust, or intense sneezing. Physical activity increases the power of breathing, so even in the warm season you can worsen a runny nose with fast walking and exercise.
• It is impossible to increase the period of use of drugs with a vasoconstrictor effect without a doctor’s prescription. By following the instructions, you can significantly reduce the risk of a “rebound” runny nose from using drops for more than 4-6 days.
• Naturally based drops such as Pinosol effectively eliminate the symptoms of a runny nose. Its components (essential oils of eucalyptus, mint and pine) act as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent.
• Rinsing the nose with salt water removes dust, allergens, excess mucus, pathogenic microorganisms, and dried crusts from the nasal mucosa. This procedure is carried out at least 3 times a day, the optimal amount is 150-200 ml for each nasal cavity.

How to properly treat a runny nose in children?

• It is important to maintain optimal temperature (+20+22°C) and humidity in the room where children are. Too dry air in a home with central heating irritates the nasal mucosa, so you must use humidifiers. Be sure to ventilate the room when removing children from it.
• Children of primary preschool age do not have the opportunity to blow their nose, so accumulated mucus makes breathing difficult when they have a runny nose. Their nasal mucus is removed with special devices. Children are allowed to rinse their nose in the same way as adults, no earlier than 3 years old.
• Proper treatment effectively relieves the symptoms of rhinitis. Since the nasal mucosa in children quickly absorbs the active ingredient of drugs, it is better to use natural-based products. Ointment and drops are used to treat children from 2 years of age, spray - from 3 years of age. The drug is not addictive, acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, its natural components and oil base perfectly moisturize the nasal mucosa.
• To prevent adenoids in children from becoming a source of complications in the form of relapses of rhinitis and the appearance of complications, they are removed in a timely manner. The spread of pathogenic bacteria slows down the normal physical development of children.

How to properly treat allergic rhinitis?

• The main rule is not to provoke allergic rhinitis by contact with an allergen. Long-term inflammation of the nasal mucosa is complicated by sinusitis, the appearance of polyps, and hypertrophy of the mucous membrane. If an allergen gets on your skin or clothing, remove it immediately.
• To remove allergens from the nasal mucosa, it is washed with a 1% salt solution; it is important to carry out this procedure before going to bed.
• To prevent complications, you should take modern antihistamines (Zodak), which help stop the process and prevent it from becoming severe.

How to properly treat chronic runny nose?

• You should clarify the diagnosis and consult an otolaryngologist.
• There is no need to provoke an increase in the symptoms of any type of runny nose by exposure to smoke, dust, or spraying of chemicals.
• If it is impossible to accurately determine the cause of a runny nose, the patient’s condition will noticeably improve by rinsing the nasal cavity with salted water.
• If a runny nose occurs as a reaction to medications (blood pressure medications, contraceptives), you need to find analogues without side effects;
• Somatic diseases, the manifestations of which may be a runny nose, should be carefully treated.
• The negative effect of vasoconstrictor drugs for the treatment of rhinitis is eliminated with drops on a natural basis, which do not cause addiction, acting as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent at the same time.

Severe runny nose with a cold

When the body fights an infection, an excess of mucus containing dead bacteria flows from the nose. Sneezing, coughing and runny nose are signs of a cold.

A severe runny nose during a cold is good, because thanks to it, everything unnecessary comes out of the body. Initially, itching, burning and dryness appear, which are accompanied by sneezing, headache and redness of the eyes. After a few hours, liquid mucus begins to flow from the nose, the voice changes and the nose becomes stuffy. With the flu, streaks of blood are observed in the mucus, which appear there due to damage to the blood vessels. A week later, the amount of sputum decreases, breathing returns to normal and the disease goes away.

In order for a cold to go away quickly, you need to start taking antiviral drugs on the first day. You also need to do something to help your immune system. Doctors most often prescribe Anaferon, Echinacea tincture, Amiksin, and so on. It is necessary to take medications that strengthen the immune system even after the signs of a cold disappear, since the virus can return and become more active.

Phytoncides, which are found in garlic and onions, cope well with viruses. You can grate these vegetables and place them around the house in plates. Some people put crushed garlic in a jar and close the lid, then open it and breathe several times a day.

A viral runny nose should be washed with sea salt. The solution allows you to cleanse the mucous membrane of microbes. The spray can be bought at a pharmacy, or you can dilute it by adding a teaspoon of sea salt to 500 milliliters of warm boiled water yourself. Rinse the nose with a syringe or a special device called “Dolphin”.

When you have a runny nose, you need to breathe moist, cool and clean air. That is why the room needs to be regularly ventilated and a humidifier turned on.

Inhalations with natural essential oils will help. In order to get rid of a runny nose, you need to pour hot water into a bowl and add five drops of fir or eucalyptus oil, then lean over the plate and breathe in the steam.

Doctors do not recommend immediately warming up the nose, as this can lead to swelling. At the initial stage, oil inhalations should not be done, since this procedure inhibits the cleansing and excretory functions of the nasal mucosa.

What remedies are used to treat a runny nose?

If left untreated, a runny nose can lead to serious complications - inflammatory processes in the maxillary sinus, mucous membrane of the pharynx and larynx, acute or chronic otitis media, ethmoiditis.

But how to treat a runny nose? In the early stages of a runny nose, it is recommended to leave the house less often and have contact with others. Although a runny nose in itself is not dangerous, if it is not treated correctly or is not treated, it can incapacitate a person for several days or even weeks. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid the spread of infection and create all conditions for a speedy recovery.

Therapeutic measures in the early stages include warming procedures for the feet, inhalation of medicinal solutions with salt or essential oils, taking large amounts of liquid - tea, lemon drink with ginger, infusion of medicinal herbs, rosehip decoction.

You should follow all the rules of hygiene of the nasal cavity and constantly clean it of excess mucus using disposable nosepieces. Care should be taken to clean the nasal passages under running water, since increased pressure in the nasal cavity can contribute to the spread of infection, causing otitis media, pharyngitis, laryngitis, and inflammation of the maxillary sinuses. You need to clean the nostrils one at a time, since if they are cleansed at the same time, there is a risk of damage to the blood vessels and the formation of rosacea stars.

At the second stage of the disease, if all preliminary procedures are ineffective, you can start using medications prescribed by your doctor. Vasoconstrictors for emergency treatment of nasal congestion are used for no longer than five days to avoid addiction.

To thin the mucus, it is important to constantly ensure the flow of fluid into the body; taking medications with mucolytics also helps with this. Too viscous and thick mucus is difficult to separate from the nasal cavity, makes breathing difficult and prolongs the time until recovery.

Vasoconstrictor drugs for the common cold. The largest group of drugs are vasoconstrictors, after the use of which the swelling of the mucous membrane almost instantly decreases and the patient’s subjective condition is alleviated. However, vasoconstrictor drugs have their own contraindications and features of use, so in the fight against the disease you should not rely only on this group of drugs.

Vasoconstrictors are usually released in the form of drops or a spray, getting into the nasal mucosa, these drugs constrict the blood vessels, which is why swelling disappears, nasal congestion disappears and the person can breathe normally.

Another useful property of vasoconstrictors is the ability to influence the amount of mucus and the rate of its production, which eliminates the symptoms of a runny nose. The main active components of vasoconstrictors are naphazoline, xylometazoline, oxymetazoline.

Depending on the main active ingredient, three groups of vasoconstrictors are distinguished:

• Xymelin, Dlyanos, Rinonorm - drops based on xylometazoline, Galazolin in the form of drops, spray or gel - a drug based on xylometazoline, the duration of exposure is up to 4 hours;
• Fervex, Nazol, Nazivin - contain oxymetazoline in different concentrations, which allows them to be used to treat runny nose in both adults and children. The validity period is longer - up to 12 hours. There are contraindications for patients with renal failure, women during pregnancy and diabetics.
• Naphthyzin, Sanorin are drugs based on naphazoline. The validity period after a single use is 6 hours. Drugs in this group are affordable and do not damage the nasal mucosa. Sanorin is considered one of the safest vasoconstrictors, since it contains natural components (eucalyptus aromatic oil) as excipients, which enhances the therapeutic effect and prevents complications.

Other active components of vasoconstrictors - tetrizoline, pheninephril - are used less frequently, but have the same mechanism of action on the nasal mucosa. Read more: vasoconstrictor nasal drops for a runny nose

It is important to know! Most drugs for the treatment of the runny nose contain vasoconstrictors, which quickly achieve an effect - relieve nasal congestion, ease breathing and reduce the amount of discharge. However, with constant use they can be unsafe - addiction develops to vasoconstrictor drugs, as a result of which relief does not occur even with increased dosages.

Regular use of vasoconstrictors can lead to complications such as loss of nasal sensitivity, disturbances of taste and smell.

Recommendations from experts regarding the use of vasoconstrictors:

• Nasal drops and sprays are not used every time there is a feeling of nasal congestion, but in critical situations when other means do not help;
• You cannot use vasoconstrictors regularly for self-treatment of a runny nose - this task is better handled by complex drugs that do not lead to complications and side effects.
• If you feel a deterioration in your health while using vasoconstrictors, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Medicines for the common cold are selected and prescribed by the doctor, taking into account the characteristics of the disease - this way the treatment is more effective and side effects are minimized.

Treatment of rhinitis (runny nose)

As we already know, rhinitis (runny nose) is a symptom, therefore, to treat it, it is necessary to identify the disease that caused the runny nose. It is also worth noting that some types of runny nose do not require treatment as such, but simply the prevention of its irritants. For example: sometimes, to stop a runny nose, it is enough to wet clean the living room and remove the source of the pathogen (an animal, some flowering indoor plants, an old carpet, or even change the pillow).

To correctly determine the diagnosis and correct treatment, you must consult a doctor.

To treat a runny nose, vasoconstrictor drops and sprays are mainly used, as well as antiviral drugs that are effective against many types of ARVI viruses.

Vasoconstrictor drugs against the common cold

Various drops and sprays against the runny nose, getting on the nasal mucosa, cause a narrowing of the blood vessels. The swelling in the nasal cavity, which blocked the air, decreases. The rate of formation of new mucus decreases and it becomes thicker.

If you choose between drops and spray, then it is better to give preference to the spray, since it has an exact dosage of the medicine, which is why it is more economical, prevents overdose and side effects from it.

Products containing xylometazoline: “Galazolin”, “Dlyanos”, “Rinonorm”, “Ximelin”, “Farmazolin”.

Read also Vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD). Symptoms, causes, types and treatment of VSD

The duration of action of drugs with xylometazoline is about 4 hours.

Products containing oxylometazoline: Nazivin, Fervex, Nazol, Noxprey, Fazin.

The duration of action of drugs with oxylometazoline is 10-12 hours.

Drugs containing oxymetazoline are strictly contraindicated in: pregnancy, diabetes, renal impairment and children under 1 year of age.

Products containing naphazoline: “Sanorin”, “Naphthyzin”.

The duration of action of drugs with naphazoline is 4-6 hours.

All vasoconstrictor drops and sprays against the runny nose are not recommended for use for more than 7 days in a row. With weekly use of such drugs, no side effects are observed, but with regular long-term use, the vessels become dependent on the medication.

Tablets against runny nose

"Sinupret" . Used to treat colds in the bronchi, lungs and nasopharynx. They have mucolytic, expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects. Contains extracts of gentiana, shevel, verbena, elderberry, primrose flowers with a calyx. Contraindicated in children under 3 years of age.

"Koldakt" . A complex preparation based on chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride. It is used to eliminate the symptoms of many colds, accompanied by allergies, swelling of the respiratory tract and nasopharynx, and runny nose. Contraindicated for children under 12 years of age, pregnant women, those suffering from coronary heart disease and hypertension. With the permission of a doctor, take for bronchial asthma, glaucoma, diabetes and the elderly.

"Rinopront" . A vasoconstrictor and antihistamine, it relieves any type of runny nose for up to 12 hours, reduces the permeability of capillary walls and exudative manifestations. Contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women suffering from glaucoma, arterial hypertension and prostate enlargement.

To correctly determine the diagnosis and correct treatment, you must consult a doctor.

What can and cannot be done when you have a runny nose?

• Is it possible to warm your nose if you have a runny nose? Most folk recipes for treating a runny nose are based on warming the nose in various ways - salt compresses, mustard plasters, boiled eggs. Warming up can really be useful, as it provokes an increased flow of blood, which contains immune cells. This allows you to shorten the recovery period by accelerating the course of inflammatory processes. However, such warming up should be done correctly so as not to provoke the appearance of spider veins on the wings of the nose. In addition, it is strictly contraindicated to warm the nose at elevated temperatures. (read also: high temperature - what should not be done?)
• Is it possible to do inhalations with a runny nose? Inhalations are considered the most effective method of treating a runny nose, since in the process of inhaling vapors, the beneficial components of medicinal solutions instantly reach the mucous membrane and have an effect. Compared to other topical treatments for the common cold, inhalations have a number of advantages. Thus, unlike drugs for instillation, during inhalation the medicinal solution does not flow into the oral cavity and does not enter the stomach, but is evenly distributed throughout the mucous membrane and remains there for effect.

  Modern inhalers (nebulizers) are more effective in treating a runny nose. With their help, medicinal solutions penetrate into all corners of the nasal cavity, as well as into the maxillary sinuses and bronchi, which is necessary for the treatment of sinusitis and chronic respiratory diseases. The nebulizer provides the supply of solution particles of a certain size (5-8 microns), necessary for the most effective effect, whereas with conventional inhalations, particles up to 10 microns in size and larger, or particles smaller than 5 microns, enter the nasal cavity. In the first case, the active substance simply cannot penetrate further than the nasal cavity, and in the second, the particles are immediately exhaled, and they do not have time to act.

• Is it possible to go to the bathhouse with a runny nose? A visit to the bathhouse will be beneficial only if the runny nose does not occur against the background of an elevated temperature, but also at the early or final stages of a cold, when the temperature has either not yet risen or has already subsided.
• Is it possible to steam your feet with a runny nose? Hot foot baths for a runny nose can speed up the healing process and can be a significant help for the body in the fight against infection, especially if the cause of a runny nose is hypothermia. However, it is not recommended to steam your feet with a runny nose if you have a high body temperature. Soaring legs is also contraindicated for varicose veins and arterial hypertension.

Treatment of colds and runny nose

Of course, many people know how to treat a cold and, perhaps, each person has their own “unique and effective” method, but not everyone thinks about what not to do during the treatment process. By making mistakes in this seemingly simple matter, people often get many serious complications that require long-term and complex treatment in the future.

Common mistakes in treatment

The most common mistakes in the treatment of common colds and runny nose in patients of any age include:

Buying “some” drops for a runny nose. Many people with a runny nose immediately run to the pharmacy and ask to give them “some” drops for this scourge, but this cannot be done. In order to choose the right drops for a runny nose, you need to consult a doctor who will determine the reasons for its occurrence, but they can be different, as well as the stage of the existing disease. In this case, the wrong drops can not only worsen the condition, but also lead to serious consequences, because in addition to a cold, it can also be allergic, as well as a symptom of inflammation occurring in the paranasal sinuses. In most cases, people do not consider a common runny nose to be a serious disease and They carry it on their feet without changing their usual rhythm of life, but this cannot be done. The secret to quickly treating this disease is heat. Having a cold with a runny nose on your feet, especially in the cold, can result in serious illnesses, not only sinusitis, but also sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, and even the appearance of polyps. It is not necessary, on the advice of a neighbor (relatives, friends), to disinfect the nasal sinuses using peeled onions and garlic or a piece of strong laundry soap by sticking them in your nose. They, of course, can have the necessary effect, but at the same time, the mucous membranes of the sinuses and tonsils, the purpose of which is to protect the body from the penetration of infections, will not only be overdried, but can also get a serious burn. When buying medications in pharmacies, you should not neglect the instructions for him, since most serious complications during treatment often arise precisely because of non-compliance with the dosage and general rules for using medications. You cannot prescribe antibiotics yourself. As a rule, they are powerless against a cold, and their use usually leads to the degeneration of viruses and the emergence of new strains of pathogens in the body that will be resistant to antibiotics. As a result, when the use of this category of products is actually needed, they will not have the necessary effect. One of the popular home remedies for both children and adults in the fight against colds is warm socks with warming substances, for example, dry mustard. The method is quite effective, but not everyone knows that it is strictly forbidden to use it when the patient has a high temperature. You cannot abuse drops for a runny nose and exceed the permissible dosage, since this causes disruption of the microcirculation of the capillaries that feed the human brain and eyes, which can lead to serious consequences. The drops are intended to provide a temporary effect, ease breathing, relieve nasal congestion, but they do not cure anything, however, they can cause addiction due to disruption of the basic function of the mucous membranes. Nasal rinsing is another popular method of treating a runny nose, seemingly harmless, but it is not quite like that. Improper implementation of the procedure, as well as preparation of the solution, can lead to serious consequences. For example, the solution can enter the middle ear through the auditory tube and cause otitis media. Do not rinse a stuffy nose. The procedure is completely contraindicated in case of perforation of the eardrum.

Medicines

Pharmacy medicines for the treatment of colds and runny nose in people of any age are also very popular, and the shelves of modern pharmacies are full of a variety of miracle drugs that promise quick and easy relief from ailments. But is it? And what is the essence of the action of expensive drugs?

Perhaps the most popular is Aspirin from various manufacturers and at a fairly high cost, which quickly alleviates the patient’s condition, but the drug is based on the most common Acetylsalicylic acid, costing about 10 rubles.

In second place you can put drops - Otrivin, DlyaNos, Xymelin - which are a vasoconstrictor based on a 0.1% solution of xylometazoline. Regular and inconspicuous drops in the pharmacy, Galazolin, have the same composition, but cost almost 4 times less.

Immunal is very popular, supporting the immune system, strengthening the body and helping it resist cold viruses, which is based on echinacea extract. A regular echinacea tincture, which has the same properties, costs almost 5 times less than the advertised drug.

Ambrobene and Lazolvan are very popular cough remedies for colds, which have a high cost, but they are based on the usual Ambroxol, the price of which, on average, is 50 rubles.

Nurofen, the main component of which is Ibuprofen (costs up to 40 rubles), is often used as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Popular antipyretics - Panadol, Efferalgan and children's Calpol, which greatly alleviate the patient's condition, are based on regular Paracetamol with the addition of various flavoring additives, the cost of which in tablets does not exceed 15 rubles.

Many people, when they have a cold or runny nose, take Coldrex, a drug that alleviates the symptoms of the disease and the human condition, and has a high cost. But few people think that the main active ingredient in this drug is still the same, Paracetamol.

Folk remedies for colds

Aloe (juice) with honey and wine . Aloe juice mixed with honey and dry wine protects against colds and increases the body's resistance to infectious diseases. The mixture is infused for 5–6 days. Take 1 teaspoon before meals. The juice is made from the lower leaves of the plant. They are washed with cold water, cut into pieces and squeezed through cheesecloth. Cherry . A decoction of dried cherries is recommended for children as an antipyretic. To prepare a decoction, 100 g of berries are poured into 0.5 liters of water and a third of the liquid volume is evaporated over low heat under a lid. Mustard powder . Pour dry mustard powder into socks and leave them on for 2-3 days. In the first hours of illness, a cold can be stopped with 10-minute foot baths with mustard powder. Strawberries or raspberries . It is very useful to drink a decoction of fresh or dried strawberries or raspberries when going to bed, and at the same time breathe a decoction made from the leaves of sage, lady's tree (medicinal wormwood) and wormwood. Ginger . Tea with ginger and honey will help against colds. Grate 1/4 cup of ginger, add a glass of honey and cook. Add 1/2 teaspoon of this mixture to tea. Lemon . Squeeze the juice from one lemon. Dissolve it together with 100 g of linden honey in 800 ml of boiled water. This drink should be drunk throughout the day. To prevent colds, it is useful to take honey orally: children 5–7 years old – 1 teaspoon, and adults – 1 tablespoon at night. Dissolve honey in 1/2 cup of rosehip decoction. Carry out the procedures for a month. Linden (color) . Brew a tablespoon of small-leaved linden flowers in 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes, strain and add 1 tablespoon of honey. Drink 1/4–1/2 cup. The use of honey enhances the diaphoretic effect, so it is advisable to take the infusion at night. Burdock (juice) . The flu will go away without complications if you take 1 tablespoon of burdock leaf juice 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. During the harvest season, that is, from June to September, it is recommended to take pure juice, and the rest of the time - tincture: 50 g of vodka per 250 ml of juice, leave for 5-7 days. Onions with milk . Boil a glass of milk. Grate a medium-sized onion on a fine grater, pour boiling milk over it and stir well. Let steep for 10 minutes, then drink warm within half an hour. Onion garlic . At the first sign of flu, you should cut a large fresh onion and then inhale the onion vapor, repeating this process 3-4 times a day. In between procedures, soak a cotton swab in crushed garlic and put it deep into the nose or prepare garlic drops: crush two small heads of garlic (100 g), pour in a glass of vodka and shake thoroughly; Place 1 drop on your tongue, spreading it all over your mouth, and then swallow. This treatment will be effective if carried out over 3-4 days. Onion . 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. Raspberry, alcohol . Dilute a glass of hot tea with 1 tablespoon of raspberry berries or jam and 1 tablespoon of 70-degree alcohol or wine balsam. Drink in small sips. For a diaphoretic effect, cover your head with a scarf or towel. Raspberries . Brew 4 teaspoons of raspberry leaves or fruits with 2 cups of boiling water and leave in a thermos for several hours. Drink 1/2 cup warm 4 times a day. You can also gargle with an infusion of the leaves. Or: brew a tablespoon of dried raspberries with 1 cup of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. Drink 1 glass of hot infusion 2 times a day. Use as a diaphoretic. Honey and cognac . Dissolve 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of cognac in 1 glass of hot tea. Drink in small sips. Milk with honey . Mix 2 tablespoons of honey in a glass of hot milk and drink 2-3 times throughout the day. Milk, egg, honey, butter . 0.5 l. Mix slightly warmed raw milk with a fresh chicken egg, add 1 teaspoon of bee honey and the same amount of butter, mix everything thoroughly and drink at night. There is a very good effect of curing colds. Rubdown . For a child's cold, thoroughly lubricate the chest, back, neck, arms and legs of the sick child with a mixture prepared from vodka, honey with the addition of one tablet of quinine and aspirin. Let the child sweat, change into dry clothes and put him to bed. Oats (juice) . Give your child juice from fresh and green oats, a tablespoon 3-4 times a day. Perlovka . A decoction of pearl barley is recommended as an antipyretic for children and adults with colds. Pour 100 g of cereal into 1 liter of water and boil over low heat for 10–15 minutes, cool and strain. Take the entire dose in one dose at night. To improve the taste, you can add a tablespoon of natural honey, preferably linden honey. For children, the dose is reduced depending on age. Wormwood . In Siberian villages, the following remedy was used for “severe colds” and severe coughs. 20 g of wormwood were infused in 0.5 liters of vodka - the longer the better, but not less than a day. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day and before bedtime. This medicine is not recommended for children. Motherwort, chicory . Brew motherwort and chicory root in equal proportions with boiling water like tea, let it brew and take 1/2 cup for colds 3 times a day. Collection No. 1 . Mix the fruits of common anise and wormwood herb in 2 parts, white willow bark, cordate linden flowers, and three-leaf leaves - 3 parts each. Prepare a decoction of 1 tablespoon of the collection in 1 glass of water. Take 1-3 glasses a day for colds. Collection No. 2 . Collect raspberry fruits (2 parts), coltsfoot leaves (2 parts), oregano herb (1 part). Pour a tablespoon of the mixture into a glass of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes, strain. Drink this diaphoretic infusion warm at night. Collection No. 3 . Mix the grass and roots of spring primrose, roots of elecampane, leaves of medicinal sage, buds of Scots pine, peppermint herb, calendula flowers, leaves of great plantain, licorice root, St. John's wort herb, common thyme herb equally. Prepare an infusion from the crushed mixture, strain and take 70 ml 3-5 times a day after meals for acute respiratory diseases. Collection No. 4 . Mix chamomile flowers, black elderberry flowers, heart-shaped linden flowers and peppermint leaves equally. Prepare an infusion of a tablespoon of the collection per glass of water. Take 2-3 glasses of hot infusion per day for colds. Mixture . Stir 30 g of cognac or vodka, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 tablespoon of raspberries (mashed with sugar or fresh) in a glass of hot milk, add 0.5 teaspoon of soda and drink at night. Prepare a change of clothes, as you will be sweating profusely. For children, this cocktail is prepared without alcohol, with half the dose of ingredients. Red currants . For colds with fever and illnesses with a febrile state, it is advised to eat red currant berries or drink their juice. Black currant (tincture) . Pour a glass of black currant berries with a glass of vodka, add a glass of sugar syrup and leave for 30 days in a dark place, shaking occasionally. Take 1 glass per day or pour 1 tablespoon of tincture into a glass of hot tea. Black currant . An effective folk remedy for the flu is black currant. Make a drink out of it with hot water and sugar. You should drink no more than 4 glasses a day. In winter, it is easy to prepare a decoction from pre-prepared currant branches. Brew a full handful of finely broken branches with 4 cups of water. Boil for 5 minutes and then simmer over low heat for 4 hours. Drink 2 glasses of warm broth at night, slightly sweetened. This treatment must be carried out twice during illness. Pine (needles) . Wash and chop fresh pine needles (100 g), then pour in 1 liter of boiling water, bring to a boil and turn off the heat. Leave for 1-2 hours, strain and drink 1/2 cup 3-4 times a day, dissolving 1 tablespoon of honey in the drink. The infusion is rich in vitamin C, as well as other vitamins and microelements. It has a bactericidal effect, speeds up recovery from flu and colds. Tea or milk with honey . For colds, take honey with hot tea or milk at night (1 tablespoon of honey per 1 glass of tea or milk) with lemon juice (100 g of honey and the juice of 1/2 lemon per day), raspberries and other medicinal plants that have diaphoretic or expectorant properties action. At the same time, the healing effect of honey and medicinal plants is enhanced. Garlic with honey . Grate the garlic on a fine grater and mix with honey in a 1:1 ratio. Take 1 tablespoon 1-2 times a day with water. Garlic . Finely crush a few cloves of peeled garlic and stir in a glass of milk. Next, boil this mixture and let it cool. Take a teaspoon several times a day - this will significantly soften the clinical course of the disease. Eucalyptus . For the flu, it is useful to take an alcoholic tincture of eucalyptus leaves. Pour 20 g of dry crushed eucalyptus leaves with alcohol, seal tightly and leave for 7-8 days. Strain and squeeze the remainder into the tincture. Take 20–25 drops diluted in 1/4 cup of boiled water.

Folk remedies for runny nose

Aloe . 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. Ledum . For a runny nose, it is recommended to instill a mixture of wild rosemary extract and vegetable oil 2 times a day. Mix 1 g of wild rosemary extract with 9 g of vegetable oil, boil and steam this mixture in the oven for several minutes. Ledum extract: brew 2 teaspoons of wild rosemary with 1 cup of boiling water, put on low heat, keep until half of the water has boiled away. Bathhouse . To cure a runny nose, it is very useful to sweat in a steamy Russian bath. In this case, it is recommended to grate the rump with grated radish (preferably half and half with grated horseradish), mixed with a small amount of honey and salt, and after leaving the bathhouse, drink 2-4 cups of a decoction of linden, elderberry or chamomile flowers mixed with the juice of sour berries. Mustard with salt (baths) . For runny nose, cough, and respiratory diseases, mustard-salt foot baths are recommended. Add 200 g of table salt and 150 g of mustard to a bucket of warm water. Place both legs up to the shins in the bucket, covering them with a warm blanket on top. Keep your feet in the solution until they turn red, then rinse them with warm, clean water and, putting on woolen socks, go to bed. For varicose veins, foot baths are contraindicated. Iodine . At the very beginning of a runny nose, if it does not accompany an illness such as the flu, it is recommended to drink 1/2 glass of water with five drops of iodine. Iodine . Iodine will also help against chronic runny nose. Dissolve 6-7 drops with 2 teaspoons of boiled water and instill the mixture 2 times a day, morning and evening. In addition, during the day you need to inhale iodine vapor directly from the bottle more often, first with one, then with the other nostril. Sea salt is also rich in iodine and has a strong antiseptic effect. It is diluted in the following proportion: 1 teaspoon per 250 ml of warm water for adults and 500 ml for children. Rinse your nose with this solution, pouring the liquid into one nostril in a thin stream so that it flows out of the other. Menthol oil . When you have a runny nose, place 3-5 drops of menthol oil into your nose, while lubricating your forehead, temples, and nose with it. You can mix menthol oil with camphor oil and do the same procedure. Nasal rinsing . Rinse your nose with warm, slightly salted water with the addition of calendula or eucalyptus tincture (1 teaspoon per 0.5 liters of water). To do this, you need to bend over the vessel, suck in the solution with your nose and release it from your 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, for chronic runny nose. Millet porridge (for warming up . If a child has a lingering runny nose, sew a narrow bag of linen fabric, fill it with warm, hard-boiled millet porridge and place the bag on the nose area so that it covers the maxillary sinuses. Keep it as long as it remains warm. Beets red (juice) . For children, especially small ones, with a runny nose, drop freshly prepared red beet juice into the nose. Mixture . 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. For a runny nose moisten a cotton swab in this mixture and insert it into the nose for 20 minutes. Soda, iodine . When you have a runny nose, suck it into your nose often and rinse your mouth with this mixture: 4 teaspoons of baking soda and 5 drops of iodine per glass of water. Capsicum (tincture) . If you have a runny nose, it is recommended to wrap your feet in gauze soaked in an alcoholic infusion of capsicum, put on woolen socks on top and go to bed.Eucalyptus and marshmallow ... For a runny nose, decoctions of eucalyptus and marshmallow leaves help very well. 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.

Which doctor should I contact?

If you have a runny nose, you should contact your local physician, general practitioner, or ENT doctor. If you have a runny nose due to pollen, during the flowering period, consult an allergist.

Author of the article:

Lazarev Oleg Vladimirovich |
ENT Education: In 2009, received a diploma in General Medicine from Petrozavodsk State University. After completing an internship at the Murmansk Regional Clinical Hospital, he received a diploma in the specialty “Otorhinolaryngology” (2010) Our authors