Runny nose in a 2-year-old child: causes, treatment

Runny nose in an infant Runny nose in an infant Physiological runny nose in an infant If the child is under 2.5 months, then a sniffling nose does not necessarily indicate a disease. It’s just that in infants the mucous membrane begins to work only partially immediately after birth. Only at the age of up to 10 weeks does the mucous membrane of the nose and nasopharynx “turn on” in full force. The body conducts a test. First, the “dry” condition in the nose is checked (usually this goes unnoticed by mothers), and then the “wet” condition. This is where they get scared and begin to treat what is essentially a normal stage of child development. The body knows that it has produced a probable excess of moisture. He must realize it - and then they can intervene from the outside, start “blowing” the child’s nose, rinse the nasopharynx or drip medications. The test is not finished. And after some time, moisture will appear again, and in even greater quantities (after all, last time it was not enough! Everything went somewhere). It turns out to be a vicious circle.

That is why, if your child is under 2.5 months old and has a runny nose “suddenly” and there are no additional symptoms of any disease, most likely you have a “physiological runny nose.”

Yes, of course, everyone has already understood that in this case the baby does not need to be treated. But the nose is squishing! And it makes it difficult to breathe! We need to help somehow. How to help an infant with a runny nose?

Maintaining moisture in the nose, when it is necessary to prevent the mucous membrane from drying out, is considered the main task. At home, cool air is desirable (at temperatures above 22 degrees, mucus dries out quickly) and high humidity. Use a humidifier. Or get an aquarium. Or just place cups of water. Fill the bathtub with warm, hot water and go there to breathe the moist air. Mother's milk. Mother's breast milk contains all the protective substances that a person produces throughout life. Drip one or two drops for 2-3 days.

Treatment of a runny nose in an infant There is no need to treat a runny nose in infants under 2.5 months, this is a natural reaction of the body that helps the nasopharynx cope with a virus or bacteria. But you need to help your baby so that the runny nose “doesn’t bother you too much.” General recommendations for runny nose in infants

Maintaining moisture in the nose, when it is necessary to prevent the mucous membrane from drying out, is considered the main task! At home, cool air is desirable (at temperatures above 22 degrees, mucus dries out quickly) and high humidity. Use a humidifier. Or get an aquarium. Or just place cups of water. In addition, it is good to breathe rich, humid air in the bathroom. Go there every half hour, breathe for 5-10 minutes, let the snot liquefy and pour out, then wash the child. You can add a drop of lemon oil with lavender to the water. It would be good to provide comprehensive treatment, because a runny nose usually goes along with other catarrhal phenomena. Therapeutic baths. Herbs: calendula, birch leaf, yarrow, sage. In equal parts. 50 gr. Herbs for a large bath, 25 for a baby bath. Leave in a thermos for 2 hours. Water temperature is at least 36-37 degrees. Bath for at least 20 minutes. At least 5 days.

Directly nose

The simplest remedy is saline solution. Even if you take half a pipette into each nostril every hour, it is impossible to overdose. If the pharmacy is far away, or there is no time to run there, you can make something like a saline solution yourself: add one teaspoon of salt to one liter of boiled water, or, to be more precise, 9 grams. Salt can be replaced with sea salt, but only without additives, preferably food grade. Attention! use saline solution only! for “dripping” into the nose, and not for rinsing the nasopharynx. Under no circumstances should you rinse your child’s nose with a small bulb or enema. In children, fluid very easily passes from the nose into the Eustachian tube, which connects the nose and ear. This can cause inflammation in the middle ear (otitis media). But if you DROP saline solution, nothing like that will happen. The same applies to all other liquids and herbal infusions. Just like physical. solution, you can instill an infusion of herbs. Calendula, yarrow. 1 tsp collection or mixture in 1 cup of boiling water and 20 minutes in a water bath. Cool. Place half a pipette into each nostril several times a day. Liquen the snot using the methods described above and remove excess only from the outside. Use a bulb to suction any excess from your nose only before going to bed if it is interfering with your breathing. Attention! If a child has a runny nose (physiological or otherwise), you should not suck out the mucus from the nose. nose On the contrary, when we have a runny nose, we need to make our nose even wetter! Nozzles are a protection for the poor, small, overworked and irritated nasal mucosa. In addition, intense suction leads to even stronger swelling, which, as you understand, leads to a vicious circle. Moisturizing the mucous membrane. If the runny nose is runny, then the inside of the nose does not need to be lubricated, the mucous membrane is already moisturized. If it doesn’t leak, then lubricate the mucous membrane well so that it doesn’t dry out. For example, peach oil or Vitaon. It is to lubricate it with turunda, and not to bury it, in addition to all the above measures.

Medications for the treatment of runny nose in infants

Salin (saline solution in the form of a spray). Makes it easier to moisturize your nose, but! Very often it leads to otitis due to fluid entering the Eustachian tube. Not recommended for children under 1 year of age. Euphorbium – compositum (spray). A homeopathic remedy that works well to prevent the onset of a runny nose. But! Very often it leads to otitis due to fluid entering the Eustachian tube. Not recommended for children under 1 year of age. Nazivin for babies. Vasoconstrictor drug. At first it becomes very good - the mucus disappears, and then it becomes very bad - swelling of the nasal mucosa begins. It manifests itself like this: the “snot” has stopped running, and nasal breathing not only does not recover, but also worsens (“you can’t breathe”). And to make it feel good again, you have to drip again. And so on ad infinitum. It is acceptable to use at night if a stuffy nose interferes with normal breathing during sleep. Interferon. It is used more as a prophylactic. If you already have a runny nose, it will not help the runny nose. In addition, it very often causes an allergic reaction.

Related measures for a runny nose in infants a) Warming ointments and tinctures for heels, wings of the nose and maxillary sinuses: - Calendula ointment - St. John's wort ointment - Vitaon - Doctor Mom (only for heels, tie area) - Pulmex-baby (only for heels and tie area) b) Aromatherapy. — Thuja oil – 1-2 drops of oil in a small container of boiling water. Place it in the room where the child is. — Tea tree oil – can be used in children after 6 months. 1 drop of oil on your pillow before bed. What NOT to do for a runny nose in infants! Under no circumstances should you rinse your child’s nose with a small bulb or enema. In children, fluid passes very easily from the nose into the Eustachian tube, which connects the nose and ear. This can cause inflammation in the middle ear (otitis media). But if you DROP saline solution, nothing like that will happen. The same applies to all other liquids and herbal infusions.

If a child has a runny nose (physiological or otherwise), you should not suck out the mucus from the nose. On the contrary, when we have a runny nose, we need to make our nose even wetter! Nozzles are a protection for the poor, small, overworked and irritated nasal mucosa. In addition, intense suction leads to even stronger swelling, which, as you understand, leads to a vicious circle. Only before bedtime, in case of severe blockage and impossibility of liquefaction.

Never, under any circumstances, drip antibiotic solutions into your nose!

It is unacceptable to constantly use vasoconstrictor drops (naphthyzin, galazolin, sanorin) for a common runny nose. Only before bed, with severe nasal congestion

Quite often, children in the first months of life snore loudly and heavily while sleeping. Most often, a child's noisy breathing is caused by excessive dryness of the nasal mucosa, which occurs due to a decrease in air humidity. In addition, constant inhalation of dry air contributes to the appearance of dry crusts in the nasal cavity, which makes breathing difficult.

Also, snoring may be associated with anatomical and physiological features of the structure of the nasopharynx, characteristic of infants. The nasal passages in infants are significantly narrow, which contributes to the appearance of noise when inhaled air passes through the nose. As the baby develops, the nasal passages enlarge, and closer to the age of one year, breathing becomes quieter. Only an otolaryngologist, whom you should definitely visit, can determine the true reason why a child sniffles during sleep.

Causes

As a rule, the causes of noisy breathing in a child at night are various anatomical changes in the nasopharynx, which provoke a narrowing of the nasal passages.

These include:

adenoid growths;
acute or chronic form of runny nose;
deformation of the nasal septum;
nasal polyps;
swelling of the mucous membrane of inflammatory origin;
anatomical abnormalities of the nasal cavity;
malformations of the hard and soft palate.

The most common cause of snoring

Most often, snoring in a child occurs when there is a runny nose. Accumulations of viscous secretions in the nasal passages prevent the normal passage of air streams. During a cold, the nasal mucosa swells, resulting in worse nasal breathing. When an infection enters the body, the lymphatic system is activated. This leads to enlargement of the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils. Due to their hypertrophy, snoring in a child with a runny nose increases.

To solve the problem, you need to get rid of the cold and prevent complications from developing. The modern drug Derinat will help you overcome a runny nose faster. Nasal drops are suitable for the prevention and treatment of colds in children under 1 year of age, kindergarteners and schoolchildren. The product acts in several directions at once:

fights viruses - the main causative agents of respiratory diseases;
increases cellular and humoral immunity - strengthens the body’s own defenses, helping it cope with the disease faster;
restores the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx - the first natural barrier to viruses and bacteria, preventing the occurrence of complications.

Before using the drug, you must carefully read the instructions and consult with your doctor.

What should mom do?

Only after it has been established why the child sniffles at night can we begin to eliminate this problem.

Comfort

First of all, it is necessary to ensure comfortable microclimatic conditions in the room where the child is; the air in the room should not be dry and polluted. The best option for maintaining the required temperature and humidity conditions is to use a humidifier. If it is not possible to purchase one, as an alternative, you can place towels soaked in water on the radiator, or place containers filled with water in the room. In addition, we should not forget about wet cleaning and regular ventilation of the room.

Hydration

In addition, you should moisturize the nasal mucosa. Nasal drops made from a 0.9% sodium chloride solution help eliminate crusts that have formed and prevent dryness in the nasal cavity. You can also use water-salt solutions for this purpose, which you can purchase at a pharmacy or prepare yourself.

It is recommended to carry out the procedure three times a day, instilling 2-3 drops into each nasal passage. After the manipulations, if necessary, you can remove crusts from the nose using homemade wicks made of sterile cotton wool dipped in olive, peach or vaseline oil.

Drops

In order to normalize nasal breathing, it is necessary to use vasoconstrictor nasal agents. However, you need to know that the effectiveness of such drops is significantly reduced with prolonged use. To prevent excessive drying of the mucous membrane, it is recommended, half an hour after the use of drugs with a vasoconstrictor effect, to drip the child’s nose with sea buckthorn oil or other lubricating drops.

Operation

If sniffling during sleep is caused by anatomical obstacles to full breathing (adenoid growths, polyposis, abnormalities of the nose, etc.), surgical treatment methods are used to eliminate the causes of noisy breathing at night.

For every caring parent, a child’s anxiety is real torture. If you find any problems with nasal breathing, you should definitely visit a pediatrician and otolaryngologist. Because the sooner the cause is identified and appropriate measures are taken, the faster the problem can be solved.

All parents naturally worry about their babies and even listen to their babies’ breathing at night. Quite often, young mothers note that their child sniffles loudly, sniffles and even grunts, but there is no snot flowing from the nasal cavity. Many people immediately begin to actively treat their child without understanding why this is happening, but this may simply be a physiological feature of infants. If you do not have the necessary knowledge or special training to care for a newborn, seek help from your doctor.

The pediatrician will talk about the physiology of newborns and the problem will resolve itself over time. There are cases when the causes of snoring are pathological processes, so do not delay, visit a doctor.

Treatment methods for runny nose in two-year-old children

At the moment, there are quite a lot of methods for treating a runny nose in a child who is two years old. All common methods can be divided into two main groups:

The use of medications and procedures of physical therapy, ultrasound and surgery. These treatment methods are prescribed by a specialist and should be carried out solely on his recommendation. If a child who is two years old has health problems, it is necessary to visit a local doctor and follow his recommendations. This is the only way to count on effective treatment for a disease such as a runny nose.
The second group consists of drugs that are prepared independently, that is, according to recipes offered by traditional medicine. Such products have been used for centuries, and the secrets of their preparation are passed on from generation to generation. The most important advantage of traditional medicine is its natural composition. They do not contain chemical or synthetic components.

The most optimal treatment method is the optimal combination of folk traditions with modern scientific achievements.

Important! Each of the methods of these two groups has both its advantages and disadvantages.

Treatment for a common condition such as a runny nose in a child who is only two years old should be based on the stage of the disease and the symptoms present. In this process, it is necessary to fight the cause of the runny nose, as well as alleviate or completely eliminate all its manifestations. Rhinitis usually has three main stages:

Initial – dryness of the nasal mucosa;
The main period of the disease is clear and fairly profuse discharge from the nose;
During the recovery stage, scanty and thick discharge appears.

At each stage, appropriate drugs are used, each of which is characterized by its own action. This is the only way to achieve the most effective results during the treatment process.

Physiological reasons

A newborn child is, in principle, an unformed, fragile organism adapting to new living conditions. All organs and systems are just beginning to adapt to their environment, and in particular the upper respiratory tract.

Anatomy

A child is born with an insufficiently formed nasal cavity because, being in amniotic fluid for 9 months, the nasal mucosa did not need to work and after birth it is difficult for it to immediately adapt to the conditions of the new environment.

The main function of the nasal mucosa is to protect the respiratory system from foreign objects, viruses, bacteria; for this it produces a transparent mucous secretion (snot). But since the body does not yet understand how much snot is enough for it, it produces too much of it.

Horizontal position

Newborn babies spend almost all their time in a horizontal position; the secreted mucus cannot fully flow through the child’s narrow nasal passages, so it accumulates in the nasopharynx. That is why the baby sniffles, sniffles and grunts through his nose, but at the same time he does not have a runny nose as such.

Microclimate

Causes of a runny nose in a 2-year-old child

A child's runny nose can be of viral, bacterial or allergic origin.

Rhinoviruses, which most often cause a runny nose, become more active with the onset of the cold season, so the number of diseases increases sharply in the autumn and winter. Rhinoviruses infect the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, causing swelling, and contribute to the formation of mucus in the sinuses.

By producing liquid mucus, the child’s immune system tries to get rid of viruses that are on the surface of the mucous membranes. Therefore, a runny nose is a natural reaction of the body to some viruses. In addition, symptoms of a viral runny nose can be considered general malaise, decreased appetite, and decreased physical activity of the child. This occurs due to intoxication of the body with waste products of a particular virus.

A runny nose may be caused by an allergic reaction.

If a secondary infection occurs - streptococcal, staphylococcal or some other (usually this occurs no earlier than 5-7 days after the onset of a runny nose), we can talk about bacterial rhinitis. It is characterized by thicker mucus, a characteristic yellow or greenish tint, with a specific unpleasant odor. The child's condition is complicated by headache or pain in the paranasal sinuses, nasal congestion, and difficult mucus discharge.

Allergic rhinitis is associated with the irritating effect of the allergen on the child’s nasal mucosa. Pollen, dust, various odors and other allergens can act as an irritant. Allergic rhinitis is characterized by excessive mucus secretion, lacrimation, and sneezing. However, the general condition of the child remains normal.

How to help your child

When a child’s nasal breathing is impaired due to crusts that have formed, many parents are for some reason surprised, taking this as a symptom of an illness, because they are so careful in keeping the baby warm, where did the illness come from?

Fresh air

But everything is much simpler than it seems - for young children, the optimal living conditions are coolness and fresh, humidified air. The ideal air humidity in the room where the child is located is from 50 to 70% (approximately 1.5 liters of evaporated water). Place a tin container directly next to the heating radiator, periodically add water there and the humidity will normalize. The mucous membrane will stop drying out, which will help normalize breathing.

Also, do not forget about regular ventilation and wet cleaning of the room - the optimal air temperature for babies is 18-22 degrees.

Moisturizing the spout

You can moisten your baby’s nose and thin out accumulated mucus using salt solutions based on sea water (Aqualor, No-Sol, Humer, Aquamaris, others), but the main thing here is not to overdo it. For a child of the first year of life, it is enough to drop 2 drops of liquid into both nasal passages; such babies cannot rinse their nose - due to the structural features, the solution along with mucus can enter the Eustachian tube, and this is fraught with complications.

After you have dripped the nose, you should wait about 5 minutes and using an aspirator or ordinary gauze flagella, carefully remove the mucus. Also, to make breathing easier during sleep, you can raise the head of the baby's crib; this will improve the natural discharge of snot and prevent its accumulation in the nasopharynx.

If, after doing all the manipulations, you do not notice any improvement, consult a doctor immediately; your child may need medical attention.

Anomalies of the nasal septum

Congenital abnormal structure of the nasal septum can cause pathological glanders. But most often, night grunting occurs due to viral or bacterial diseases. Physiology can be distinguished from pathology by the following symptoms - increased body temperature, refusal or frequent interruption of the feeding process due to lack of air, restless sleep, constant crying, change in color of nasal secretion - all these are symptoms of the disease. With a physiological runny nose there are no such signs.

Adenoids

Another cause of grunting may be adenoids; they also prevent the passage of mucus, retaining it in the nasopharynx, but this pathology develops in children, as a rule, no earlier than 2-3 years of age.

Be vigilant, monitor the health of your babies - by responding to the problem in a timely manner, you will protect your baby from developing possible complications in the future.

After the birth of a child, parents are sensitive to his health. If a child sniffles, but there is no snot, parents panic. The condition can be explained by a variety of physiological and pathological reasons. If it occurs for a long period, you should seek help from a pediatrician.

Only a specialist can determine what to do if a newborn’s nose is sniffling and, if necessary, prescribe the correct treatment.

Quite often it happens that a child sniffles heavily during sleep, but there is no runny nose. There are many reasons for the appearance of such a pathology. In most cases, the pathology is observed against the background of rhinitis. In the first few days of the development of this disease, mucous discharge from the nose does not appear.

For this reason, the baby experiences wheezing. Newborn babies have an incompletely formed immune system.

When this pathological condition appears, it must be treated immediately.

With allergic rhinitis, there is complete absence of nasal discharge.

The appearance of this disease leads to swelling of the mucous membrane, which provokes breathing problems. With this pathology, the baby sniffles in his sleep.

If a newborn baby’s nose is stuffy and there is no discharge, this may indicate that sinusitis is developing in his body. The disease is accompanied by an accumulation of mucus in the area of the maxillary sinuses.

In this case, emergency medical care is necessary.

Cold

The symptom is observed with inflammation of the ethmoid sinus against the background of diseases such as:

ARVI; flu; bacterial infection.

If these diseases are not treated correctly, ethmoitis develops, which is characterized by a severe course and difficult treatment.

Neoplasms and foreign objects

A newborn sniffles with adenoids. In this case, his mouth is always slightly open

. This is explained by the fact that the nasal passages become clogged with adenoids, which prevent the baby from breathing fully.

The occurrence of a pathological process can be diagnosed against the background of diseases that the baby suffered previously. They can be not only infectious, but also viral in nature.

The disease is quite serious, since when the tonsil grows, the auditory canal is blocked. Against this background, there is a blockage of oxygen supply to the middle ear, as well as hearing loss.

If adenoids are not treated in a timely manner, improper formation of the chest in a newborn is observed, as well as disproportionate growth of facial bones and teeth.

Important!
In some cases, due to the appearance of this disease, infants are diagnosed with anemia.

Parents have a question: why does the child sniffle without snot? The cause of the pathology can be polyps, which belong to the category of benign neoplasms. The place of their appearance is the nasal mucosa.

The neoplasms block the nasal passages, which prevents full breathing. When pathology appears in young children, headaches are observed. They also get tired too quickly. Surgery is used to combat polyps and adenoids.

The cause of the pathology in some cases is the presence of a foreign object in the nasal cavity.

Because of this, air cannot fully flow through the nose. To identify objects, it is necessary to use special tools, since they go quite deep.

Attention!
During the period of teething, children often experience sniffling.

Sniffling can occur when the nasal septum is deviated.

Its cause is trauma, against the background of which there is a hematoma or swelling. The disease may be characterized by the absence of external signs.

There are many reasons for a baby to sniffle. If the condition persists for a long period, it is necessary to show the baby to the doctor.

What is a prolonged runny nose in a child?

To begin with, it is worth saying that the “long-term” category is a runny nose, which, with proper treatment and following all the doctor’s recommendations, does not go away for more than three weeks. In this case, as a rule, additional examination is prescribed in the form of computer or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or x-ray. These procedures most often indicate the presence of a prolonged runny nose.

The development of the disease provokes long-term uncontrolled reproduction of a viral infection in the nasal passages, which destroys the immunity of the mucous membranes and enters the sinuses. Thus, there is a direct relationship between the duration of a runny nose in children and the likelihood of its occurrence, as well as its severity.

Early diagnosis is difficult, since the symptoms are usually smoothed and correspond to sluggish acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections:

Runny nose that does not go away for more than three weeks, with dark yellow or green discharge.

Headache

Subtle temperature that does not subside.

Weakness, lack of appetite.

Stomatitis and other skin rashes against a background of general weakening of the immune system.

A general blood test and ESR level indicate that there is an inflammatory process in the body.

Redness of the skin over the nasal and jaw sinuses, pain when pressed.

If these signs appear in combination, it is necessary to immediately take the child to an appointment with an ENT specialist. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate for a long runny nose, especially if an accurate diagnosis has not been made.

Stages of prolonged childhood runny nose

Banal rhinitis is not always a harmless disease. If a runny nose does not go away for a long time, the cause of the disease should be examined by an ENT doctor. In general, it is believed that a runny nose should go away after a week, regardless of whether you treat it or not. Although if it is an allergic runny nose, for example, in the spring, during the flowering of some acacias or any other plants that can irritate your mucous membrane, it can last longer than a week. There is also such a thing as a frequently recurring acute runny nose. In fact, this type of rhinitis is a protective reaction of the body to external irritants. And as soon as the body senses a threat from the outside, it begins to produce mucus. This mucus consists of water and proteins, which are able to resist possible infection. This is especially evident in autumn and spring, when the air is literally teeming with various bacteria that “seek refuge” in the form of the human body.

It is always important to remember the stages of the disease:

At the first stage, which lasts from 5 to a week, a runny nose is not so much a symptom of some disease as its harbinger. The mucus is quite liquid and transparent. There is no particular discomfort if you do not take into account the constant need to blow your nose in order to breathe normally.

After a week, a runny nose, if it does not go away, then begins to change its structure. The mucus changes color and becomes thicker. A person may begin to have a headache due to lack of oxygen, his ears may become blocked, and his throat may feel sore, especially when the person is in a horizontal position (since the runny nose begins to flow to the throat).

Then the mucus begins to occupy the paranasal sinuses. Then the runny nose becomes thicker, the person says “in the nose” and it is simply impossible to free the nose without much effort. A person may feel pain in the cheeks and forehead, the sense of smell is lost, and even taste buds may not work correctly. This can already be a serious “bell” to start very active treatment, since you need to start it as soon as you feel that your runny nose has not gone away for a week.

Traditionally, rhinitis that receives proper and timely treatment should clear up within seven days. In the case of a child or a weakened body, this period increases to ten to fourteen days. If a runny nose does not go away longer, this indicates the presence of some more serious pathologies in the body.

For a more accurate diagnosis, you need to contact an ENT doctor. It is quite possible that the diagnosis will be completely “harmless” and the cause of the disease will be a foreign body stuck in the nasal passage or chronic rhinitis caused by improper treatment. However, it may also be that discomfort, weakness and constant runny nose are caused by more serious problems - purulent sinusitis or sinusitis. These diseases require mandatory professional treatment. In some cases, it is necessary to pump out pus, which occurs through a puncture of the nasal septum. This procedure is usually performed in a hospital setting and requires medical supervision.

Features of treatment

Treatment of the disease directly depends on the causes of its occurrence. Treatment may include medications or surgery.

If parents notice the pathology for the first time, then they need to ventilate the room, as well as wet cleaning.

It is recommended to monitor the optimal humidity level.

The ideal option is special air humidifiers. If they are absent, you can hang the laundry on radiators or place a container of water in the room. Read more about optimal humidity for children.

If the cause of snoring is the formation of crusts on the mucous membrane, then they can be eliminated with the help of special medicinal products, which are based on sea salt.

Medicines must be instilled into each nostril 2-3 times. After a certain time, it is necessary to clean the baby’s nose. Cotton buds are used for this.

If the cause of pathology in a newborn is incomplete formation of the larynx organ, then in this case nothing needs to be done. The pathological process can go away on its own within 6 months

. To rule out other diseases, it is necessary to show the baby to a doctor.

A fairly common cause of this pathological condition is regurgitation of a baby after breastfeeding.

. In this case, you just need to hold the baby upright for 10 minutes. This will allow air to escape from the stomach, the entry of which is observed during breastfeeding.

If a child is diagnosed with a runny nose, then vasoconstrictor drops can be used.

The use of medications should only be carried out if the child is not breathing through his nose. A doctor's consultation is required first.

With the help of medications, unpleasant symptoms are eliminated. It is impossible to cure the disease with these medications. The use of medications should be carried out for no more than three days.

This is because they can be addictive.

Therapy for allergies

Nasal congestion in infants can be diagnosed due to an allergic reaction.

To eliminate this cause, all possible allergens are excluded from the baby’s life.

Pets must also be removed from the apartment.

The cause of the symptom may be congenital pathologies.

Their exclusion is carried out by routine examinations by specialists. If the baby develops wheezing, which is accompanied by anxiety, then he should be taken to an ENT specialist for examination.

What to do if a child has nasal congestion?

Nasal congestion is a common occurrence that can annoy not only adults, but also children. It is very important to understand the causes of this condition in order to carry out therapeutic actions to eliminate nasal congestion in a child. Nasopharyngeal congestion is caused by inflammation of the blood vessels in the mucous membrane of the nasal passages. Typically, this inflammatory process is a consequence of a cold, flu or allergies. When blockage of the nasal passages occurs in infants, their lives may be threatened; for older children and adults, this process brings many inconveniences associated with difficulty breathing through the nose.

Effective treatments

Parents should know how to behave correctly when their child has nasal congestion so as not to harm him. To do this, you must follow these rules:

There is no need to constantly blow your nose.
In cases where children experience nasal congestion without a runny nose, you should not constantly blow your nose, as this will only worsen the child’s condition. Therefore, a handkerchief should only be used when it is really necessary to blow your nose. It is important to know that the more a person blows his nose, the more the blood vessels become inflamed, and, consequently, the swelling of the nasopharynx increases.
Use of antihistamines or vasoconstrictors. The disease should not be allowed to progress; for this purpose, it is necessary to take the appropriate medication in a timely manner. If you have a cold, you need to take a decongestant in the form of sprays or tablets. It should be remembered that sprays or drops cannot be taken for a long time, but tablets will not harm the body, however, it is also recommended to follow the recommendations of a specialist.
If you have allergies, you cannot do without antihistamines; they will help relieve nasal congestion in a child, as well as eliminate other symptoms of an allergic reaction in the body.
Rinse the nose with saline solution. For washing, you can use a special device that resembles a small teapot in appearance, but it is more convenient to use medications with special devices. Such procedures will help eliminate blockage of the nasal passages, effectively removing mucus, dust and other particles.
Inhalation of steam. Steam will help your child cope with nasal congestion without a runny nose. You can use it while taking a warm shower, doing inhalations, or turning on a humidifier.
You should drink more fluid. To get rid of nasal congestion and snot in a child, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids, which thins out thick mucus. Drinking plenty of fluids will only help in cases where nasopharyngeal congestion is caused precisely by the formation of thick mucus in the child’s nose.
Use warm compresses. If your child's nose gets stuffy at night, you can put a warm compress on the nasopharynx before going to bed. To do this, you need to moisten a towel in hot water and apply it to the bridge of the child’s nose, hold it until it cools down, then wet it again and apply it. Such actions will help facilitate nasal breathing, making sleep more restful.
Use of warming agents. Almost all warming products - ointments, creams and gels - contain menthol, which has a warming effect. When treating nasal congestion without a runny nose in a child, warming ointments can be applied in the following ways:

rub into the chest with light movements before going to bed, so the child will inhale menthol vapors, which improve nasal breathing;
Apply the ointment to a handkerchief, bring it to your nose and inhale for several minutes until the congestion is relieved;
If there is no ointment, you can apply a few drops of peppermint essential oil to a scarf, since the effect of these products is the same.

It is very important when using such warming agents, which contain menthol and mint, to avoid contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes.

Carrying out inhalations. Inhaling the vapors of some essential oils - eucalyptus, mint, pine needles - can relieve swelling of the nasopharynx, improving the baby's breathing. This procedure is appropriate if the child does not have a tendency to allergic manifestations.
Acupressure. This treatment method is effective for both adults and children. When implementing it, it is best to use essential oils, the inhalation of which has an anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictor effect on the blood vessels and nasal mucosa.

Other ways to eliminate this phenomenon

Warming up the sinuses has a beneficial effect on the nasopharynx when it is congested. To do this, you can visit special physiotherapy rooms in medical institutions where such a procedure is carried out, or you can, without leaving your home, warm your nasal sinuses using a bag of warm salt or a heated chicken egg. They say that to alleviate a child's condition during sleep, when he is bothered by a runny nose or nasal congestion, you can raise the pillow so that the head is more vertical than horizontal.

Most doctors, in cases where, apart from nasal congestion without a runny nose, the child no longer exhibits any symptoms, are inclined to believe that the cause of this condition in the baby was the accumulation of mucus in the posterior sections of the nasal passages. The only effective method of treating such a process is frequent instillation of saline solution into the nose - every half hour while the child is awake; he should not be disturbed during sleep. Also, if the air in the room is dry, you need to increase the humidity in it. If you have a stuffy nasopharynx, you need to spend more time in fresh air, so recovery will come faster, in addition, nasal breathing on the street will be much easier.

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