Symptoms
Typical symptoms of a runny nose, which causes snot to appear in a baby, are difficulty breathing through the nose, sneezing, and problems with breastfeeding. It is absolutely necessary to treat a runny nose, and as quickly as possible. There are several types of snot that are unique to infants:
- Transparent;
- Yellow or green thick discharge;
- Mucus with blood.
A 1-month-old baby may have snot, containing a little cheesy mass. It is caused by some food getting into the back passages of the nose when regurgitating.
There is so-called dental white snot in infants, which is typical during teething. During this period, babies may experience a significant increase in the volume of snot released from the nose. When, in a similar condition, the baby’s health does not deteriorate and there is no increase in temperature, then there is no reason to worry.
Transparent snot in a baby is typical for the first days of a baby’s life, the period of teething and allergies, as well as after a viral infection. Subsequently, the color of the discharge changes as the little patient’s condition worsens. Sometimes snot with blood may be released.
When to sound the alarm
When heavy nasal discharge is accompanied by a high fever, cough and other signs of a cold, you need to consult a doctor and begin treatment. In young children, the infection can quickly spread to the lower respiratory system.
If there is a lot of mucus, it is transparent, and nasal breathing is not impaired, then there is no need to treat a runny nose in this case. During a cold, mucus is able to independently fight pathogenic microbes due to the content of special substances in it. The main thing is to periodically suck out the snot with a special respirator, instill saline solutions, ventilate and humidify the air in the room where the newborn is, and give him more fluids.
In the case when the mucus becomes thick, changes its transparent color to yellow or green, does not flow out, but accumulates in the larynx, and the nose cannot breathe, treatment must be started immediately.
Such mucus becomes a favorable environment for the proliferation of microbes. The doctor may decide to prescribe Isofra to the infant.
Isofra is a local antibiotic that is intended to treat runny nose caused by bacteria. It should be used only as prescribed by a doctor. Drops prevent the occurrence of complications and prevent the development of the disease. A clogged nose begins to breathe, swelling and inflammation are relieved.
There are several stages of development of a runny nose in babies under one year of age.
The mother may notice that the baby often sneezes and rubs his nose. This condition is caused by burning and itching in the nose. The body temperature remains normal. The nasal mucosa swells, breathing becomes difficult, and the amount of mucus increases. The child may refuse the breast or pacifier, and often wake up in the middle of the night. If treatment is not started on time, the third stage of the development of a runny nose may occur. The mucus takes on a yellowish or greenish tint and thickens. Body temperature may rise. There is less discharge and the nose can still breathe, but this does not mean that the infection has subsided. Thick snot at this stage begins to flow down the nasopharynx, and if treatment is not started, the lower respiratory tract, as well as the hearing organs, may be damaged.
If a child’s runny nose was treated with drops for a long time, then after recovery, mucus may continue to be released for a long time. This happens because the body gets used to working with the drug.
Types of discharge
It is important to distinguish the type of snot that appears from the nose, since their nature indicates various causes of ailments.
White discharge
Such discharge is one of the initial stages of a runny nose. Difficulty breathing is accompanied by fever. Rinsing the nose and using vasoconstrictor drops helps.
To facilitate the removal of viscous mucus, you will need a nozzle ejector. When the white snot becomes more saturated in color, this will be evidence of an improvement.
Yellow or green discharge
At the last stage of a runny nose, yellowish snot may appear. They are viscous in consistency, since their main components are considered to be waste products of harmful organisms.
Drying crusts appear that cling to the epithelium, causing the baby a lot of inconvenience. It is impossible to obtain a high-quality result without washing the snot.
Mucus mixed with blood
When parents observe such a picture, they fall into incredible panic. But when there is no heavy bleeding from the nose, this phenomenon is not dangerous.
This is explained by the fact that the baby’s nasal mucosa is penetrated by many small blood vessels, they are often damaged.
Blood is also present in the snot due to drying of the mucous membrane. That is why it is important at this time to monitor the level of air humidity where the baby is located and not allow it to become too dry.
Bloody discharge in the snot can be caused by picking at it with your fingers or getting a foreign object inside. Then the baby needs emergency help.
A virus that thins the mucous membrane can also cause similar consequences, causing the capillaries to become less protected.
If blood regularly appears in the snot, you should immediately consult a pediatrician.
One of the reasons for such a serious condition in infants may be intracranial pressure. In this case, proper treatment is necessary.
Thick discharge
No matter how you look at the situation, it is the presence of thick snot that brings maximum discomfort to the baby. In this condition, he has almost completely no possibility of normal functioning of the nasal cavity.
Because of this, the baby cannot breathe naturally, and he himself is unable to cope with such a difficulty. As a result, he cries and becomes very nervous.
It is necessary to thin the consistency; a solution that can moisturize the mucous membrane is suitable for this purpose, since the main phase of the disease has already passed.
Such snot must be removed carefully. It is imperative to do this procedure in the evening, since the discomfort caused by snot prevents infants from sleeping.
In addition, it is advisable to treat the nasal cavity with various softening ointments, thereby preventing snot from sticking to its walls.
Causes of white snot in infants
In babies aged 1-2 months and up to a year, it is often possible during a runny nose that the snot acquires a thicker consistency. They are difficult and difficult to remove from the nasal cavity, but it is imperative to eliminate them as quickly as possible in order to avoid the onset of the third stage of the disease.
The causes of thick white snot may include the following:
- When a runny nose, which is one of the symptoms of a cold, is accompanied by an increase in temperature.
- When the room is extremely dry or very hot.
- The body is experiencing a lack of fluid.
As the temperature rises, the mucus in the nasal cavity may thicken. Thick discharge can quickly dry out and turn into crusts. To speed up treatment of the baby, it is recommended to monitor the temperature and humidity level in the room. The optimal temperature level is considered to be 21-23 degrees, and air humidity is 70%. To humidify the air, you can use special devices, wet towels, which should be placed near the baby’s crib.
In some cases, snot may thicken due to insufficient fluid intake by the child. After all, water not only helps to dilute mucus, but also helps in the fight against intoxication.
Thick white mucus may also indicate the presence of sinusitis.
Treatment
The procedure to help a baby get rid of snot requires mandatory rinsing of the nose. You can use sea water that you prepare yourself for this.
The tip of the syringe must be inserted into the baby's nose. With your free hand, slightly pull the retractable nozzle of the product. When the hollow part of the tube is completely filled with snot, it should be rinsed, then repeat the procedure.
You should pump out the snot until the passage is completely clear. It is very convenient to perform the procedure with a mechanical aspirator.
How to suck out snot from a baby? Its soft end is inserted into the nostril, but the opposite end is inserted into your mouth and air is drawn in. Due to the resulting pressure, snot gets inside the tube.
You should know if your baby has snot and how to treat it. The drug Nazivin for babies perfectly collects snot and after a few minutes it is easily removed with an enema. Sucking out snot with such a device with a soft tip is easy:
- It is necessary to press the device to remove any air present in it;
- Insert the enema into the spout and release it with a sharp movement, allowing air to penetrate inside the enema - at the same time, snot will get into it.
The following drugs are indicated for infants:
- Drug “For the Nose”;
- "Otrivin" for the treatment of infants;
- Various antibacterial medications;
- Nasal drops "Grippferon";
- “Retinol”, “Ectericide”, “Tocopherol”, which contain an oil base;
- Prerkan nourishes the mucous membrane and maintains nasal moisture;
- Protargol drops are considered an effective remedy, but they are not recommended for long-term use;
- Isofra spray (against allergic reactions) is also effective, although it must be used carefully, in accordance with the doctor’s prescription;
- "Viferon-1" is a suppository for rectal administration that can be used to treat premature babies and infants;
- The medicine Triaminic perfectly clears the nose, quickly relieves cough symptoms and brings down the temperature.
Features of a runny nose in infants
Babies don't know how to blow their nose. This is the main reason why you need to suction the snot of a child 7 months and younger. In addition, a runny nose in a baby can cause suffocation, since he often does not yet know how to breathe through his mouth.
It is easy to notice snot in a 3 month old baby and younger. They flow profusely, the mucous membrane is swollen, the baby constantly sneezes, and cannot eat normally.
It is not recommended to relieve a runny nose in infants using ear sticks. They can injure the delicate nasal mucosa. It is also not recommended to suck out snot from a child 6 months and younger with a regular syringe without a needle.
The best option is a special device (children's aspirator) or a soft, small rubber syringe.
A runny nose in a child 2 months or older can cause bronchitis. A doctor can determine the disease. There are frequent cases of otitis media when, due to a runny nose in infants, snot, when retracted, gets into the middle ear area. These diseases are dangerous and cause complications. Therefore, it is so important to eliminate snot in a three-month-old child and older on time.
ethnoscience
There are a lot of unconventional methods for treating snot in infants. To prepare the medicine, you should take a couple of teaspoons of the raw material per 250 ml of boiling water. Infuse, strain and carry out the cleaning procedure.
You can lubricate the nasal passages with sea buckthorn oil from time to time, avoiding the appearance of snot crusts. It is useful for your baby to lubricate the feet with “Zvezdochka” several times daily, performing massage movements.
At the same time, you should drip some Kalanchoe extract into your nose. To obtain the product you will need plant juice, which must be mixed with water. Apply this product to your nose.
You can bathe your baby in medicinal herbs such as sage, calendula, and yarrow. To prepare the composition, take a tablespoon of the mixture, brew it and leave to infuse for a couple of hours.
Pour the resulting composition into the baby’s bathtub and make sure that the water temperature is no higher than 37 degrees.
Preventive measures
Sometimes improper treatment can lead to complications. Note to parents what not to do when your baby is sick:
Hygiene rules to help avoid colds.
- Avoid places with large crowds of people.
- Proper balanced nutrition.
- Take frequent walks in the fresh air.
- Do gymnastic exercises with your child.
- Air baths (leave the child without clothes for several minutes).
When a child starts to get sick, he requires even more attention. The mother’s excessive anxiety is transmitted to the baby, and the symptoms of the disease will be more pronounced. Therefore, he must be surrounded with attention and care. Spend time with him more often, take him in your arms, talk, hug.
Snot happens frequently in babies, and many mothers do not find it a serious cause for concern. And it’s completely in vain - only liquid transparent discharge can be considered relatively safe. And if their color and viscosity changes, this is already a signal of danger. Thus, thick green snot in a baby clearly indicates that an active inflammatory process of a bacterial nature is occurring in the body. This means that there is a possibility of developing serious complications.
Prevention
Preventive measures are also recommended to help prevent the appearance of snot:
- Maintain the correct routine at all times;
- Ensure the baby has a healthy diet;
- Perform gymnastics with the baby;
- Provide the baby with air procedures (warm, cool, and then cold);
- Do wet wipes for about 20 seconds;
- Use contrasting bath procedures with a constant decrease in temperature by a couple of degrees.
