Doctor Komarovsky: snot is not a reason not to go to kindergarten

As the baby grows up and the child enrolls in kindergarten, parents have the question of what to do if rhinitis appears? Many institutions have rules when a child with mucous discharge is not accepted into kindergarten. Then mom or dad should take a leave and treat the child at home. But if the discharge is small and the doctor has diagnosed non-infectious rhinitis, you can still take your child to a preschool institution.

Particular attention to the child’s health should be paid during the cold season, when the seasonal incidence of acute respiratory viruses is increased. During this period, many gardens are closed for quarantine, but some groups continue their work. In those institutions where a baby is admitted with a runny nose, the level of illness is usually much higher. Please pay attention to this when choosing a kindergarten.

Types of rhinitis

One of the main questions parents have today is whether it is possible to take their child to kindergarten with snot. First you need to understand the nature of mucous secretions. If rhinitis occurs with severe symptoms and a serious deterioration in well-being, caring parents should take urgent measures and begin drug treatment.

Viral or cold rhinitis causes a serious increase in body temperature, congestion of the nasal passages, swelling of the mucous membranes, redness of the tip of the nose, pain in the throat and a number of other symptoms.

Find out how to cure rhinitis in a baby here.

A runny nose can be traumatic. In this case, rhinitis is not dangerous to others.

In this case, the child should be left at home and the inflammation should be completely cured. If therapy is not provided in a timely manner, the baby may develop acute otitis, sinusitis or frontal sinusitis.

Should a child with snot be taken to the garden if the illness is traumatic? These types include the appearance of rhinitis due to a bruise, an insect bite, or an allergic reaction to pollen or pet dander. As a rule, this type of runny nose is not transmitted to other babies, so it is considered harmless.

In what cases can a child with snot be taken to a children's group?

Signs when the baby was lethargic in the evening, refused to eat and play, indicate the onset of the disease. During the night, the temperature may rise, and the baby will wake up in the morning with extensive clinical symptoms of an infectious disease. Is it possible to take him to kindergarten in this condition? Of course not.

Staying at home with a sick child, not taking him to the clinic for an appointment, but calling a local doctor - these are the right actions for a mother.

But there are times when a child wakes up active and cheerful, and the only thing that bothers him is clear mucous snot.
If the baby has already been examined for an allergic rhinitis, then the appearance of discharge indicates contact with the allergen. In this situation, he can be brought into the group; he is absolutely harmless to other children. As a rule, the kindergarten health worker and teachers already know about the presence of this pathology in the child and can give him the medicine brought by the parents on an hourly basis.

Is it possible to take a child to kindergarten if the snot is just beginning, and it is not yet clear what its origin is? Yes, it is possible if the child does not show any other signs of illness, if he is in a good mood and has an appetite.

In these cases, the teacher should be asked to watch the baby more closely. It is quite possible that the nasal discharge will soon stop if the child’s immune system quickly copes with the infection, or if the amount of penetrated microflora was negligible.

But if the baby’s condition begins to deteriorate, he becomes lethargic, apathetic or capricious, and refuses any food, then these are signs of intoxication, that the child is developing an infectious disease. The teacher must notify the health workers of the child care institution about this. A nurse or doctor is required to examine the sick person, conduct thermometry, and if the body temperature rises, call the parents and remove the child from the group for the period of treatment.

Many children suffer from respiratory infections, which leave residual effects that last another 1-2 weeks. The baby is discharged to a child care facility by the local pediatrician only when he is completely sure that the baby’s health is not in danger and that he will not infect other peers.

It is possible to discharge a child with residual symptoms in the form of a slight runny nose or a rare wet cough to a group; such a child will recover even faster by communicating with friends and walking in the fresh air. After presenting a certificate from the local pediatrician about permission to attend kindergarten, the child must be accepted into the group, even with residual effects.

During cold periods of the year, when the seasonal incidence of acute respiratory infections increases, children's institutions are often closed for quarantine completely or in separate groups. In those groups that remain working, a slight runny nose in children is treated more tolerantly, carefully monitoring the children’s condition. At the same time, caregivers can also instill nasal medications, taking into account the dosage and frequency of administration.

The best practice is for each child to be examined by a health professional in the morning as soon as parents bring him or her to kindergarten. But, unfortunately, in the current conditions in municipal kindergartens this is not feasible; health workers are only able to examine children with complaints. This practice may be realistic in private kindergartens, where there are much fewer children in the group.

In each case, the possibility of a child visiting a child care facility with a runny nose is considered strictly individually.

“In general, we decided to give up kindergarten... Even though we went there for only 3 hours, so to speak, to communicate with peers and for developmental activities” - this post appeared on the page of Ilana Yuryeva, star of the show “Ural Dumplings”, in social network.

The actress said that their kindergarten was very good: music, drawing, a swimming pool, classes to develop logic - everything was there. The teachers are wonderful, and even such a picky mom like Ilana liked them. But the problem still arose. The actress didn't like... other mothers.

“Why do mothers bring untreated children to kindergarten! Why do you think that only you urgently need to mind your own business, while others don’t?! You come to the group, half of the children are coughing,” Ilana is indignant.

According to the actress, her daughter Diana went to kindergarten for three days. Afterwards I was sick for a week. Then another three days in kindergarten, two weeks at home. This state of affairs did not suit my mother.

“We decided that we don’t need this kind of “development.” We will develop at home. Although doctors say that a child’s immunity is formed through illness,” Ilana Yuryeva gave her verdict.

What do doctors really say about this? The country's most famous TV doctor, Evgeny Komarovsky, is firm and categorical in his opinion: you need to go to kindergarten. You just need to prepare for it from birth: get vaccinated, harden yourself, live according to a similar regime. And it’s also normal to have childhood illnesses. The more often a child goes out into the world, the more likely he is to catch chickenpox or the flu. There is no need to be afraid of this. Children's immunity must undergo a kind of training, but how can this be done if the causative agents of these diseases are constantly avoided?

In addition, Dr. Komarovsky explained why untreated children in the garden are also, oddly enough, normal.

But what if your child gets sick too often? In this case, wouldn’t it be better for him to really quit kindergarten and start home schooling?

Pediatrician's opinion

According to the famous pediatrician Komarovsky, snot and kindergarten are incompatible. This rule applies to viral, bacterial and infectious types of rhinitis.

In addition to the fact that a runny nose of this form causes a number of acute symptoms that affect the baby’s well-being, the child can infect other children. Constant communication with peers during rhinitis can lead to frequent morbidity in the group.

Acute respiratory diseases are transmitted from one baby to another in a matter of minutes.

As Komarovsky warns, visiting a group where most of the children are sick is dangerous for the baby by reducing the immune system. Antibody reserves are significantly reduced, which leads to the smooth penetration of a number of pathogenic microorganisms into the nasal cavity. Therefore, if you do not want to infect other children or get sick yourself, do not send your child to kindergarten during the season when acute respiratory illnesses become more active.

However, according to the pediatrician, this process is natural for a small organism. In order for the child’s immunity to develop quickly and fully, it will be useful for the baby to meet various types of microflora.

Infectious rhinitis

Taking a child to kindergarten is strictly prohibited if the disease is infectious. Contact with respiratory viruses leads to severe swelling of the mucous membrane, hyperemia, increased body temperature, as well as copious formation of mucous secretion. Often this type of rhinitis is accompanied by a dry cough.

Find out how to cure a non-productive cough by following the link.

During this period, the baby’s microflora is more active than ever, so all pathogenic microorganisms enter the environment through coughing, sneezing and other secretions. At this time, your child is a source of infection.

According to Komarovsky, instead of going to kindergarten, the child’s mother should call the attending physician or pediatrician . After examining the nasal cavity, the baby will be prescribed medication and a course of physiotherapy. The child can be sent back to kindergarten only after complete recovery.

Allergic runny nose

If a baby has been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis , the child, as a rule, remains in a good mood. He does not complain of pain or unpleasant symptoms. However, as rhinitis progresses, the baby develops itching and burning, and also produces copious mucous secretions.

Treatment of allergic rhinitis begins with identifying the type of irritant.

Over time, itching becomes the cause of poor health and irritation of the child. The baby begins to sneeze and cough more often, and also complains of lacrimation and fear of light.

According to Komarovsky, it is possible to attend kindergarten with allergic rhinitis, since it is not dangerous for other children.

However, it is important to consider the baby’s well-being. If allergic rhinitis occurs with pronounced symptoms, take a sick leave for several days and try to alleviate the child's condition by flushing the sinuses and taking antihistamines. Find out how to cure seasonal or year-round allergic rhinitis here.

Doctor Komarovsky answers the question whether a child with a runny nose can go to kindergarten (Video)

Now you know what Dr. Komarovsky thinks about whether it is possible to take a child with a runny nose to kindergarten. But do not forget that the decision whether to take a child to kindergarten with a runny nose still remains with the parents.

Read also: How to distinguish a cold from the flu (INFOGRAPHICS)

Read also: What is antibiotic resistance and how to fight bacteria

Read also: Antiviral drugs for children: myth or salvation

When the baby begins to grow up, the question inevitably arises of whether to enroll him in kindergarten. The vast majority of parents begin to take care of this almost immediately after birth, given the lack of places in preschool institutions. But if we do not consider the aspect of the mother’s need to go to work, does the child need kindergarten? Wouldn't he be better and more comfortable in his usual home conditions?

Even if the grandmother is an honored retired teacher, or it is possible to hire a certified and experienced nanny, the main thing will still not be achieved: satisfying the child’s need for communication. After all, man is a collective being. The baby should be surrounded not only by loving relatives, but also by his peers. Only the same level of development, common interests, games and sometimes even conflicts can teach a child to behave correctly in society.

In modern preschool institutions, municipal or private, children are not only fed, taken for walks and put to bed after lunch. Special educational programs have been developed for each age, thanks to which the child “grows up” to school, already possessing a considerable amount of knowledge.

But the necessary communication with peers also has a big disadvantage - contact with them in epidemiological terms. The consequence of this is the frequent incidence of respiratory viral infections in the baby.

What is a “morning filter”?

SanPiN recommends daily examination of children by a teacher or nurse. It is called the “morning filter”. According to the developed standards, kindergarten workers interview parents about the health status of their children and visually examine each pupil.

If catarrhal symptoms (runny nose, cough) are detected, body temperature is measured. If a disease is detected, the child is isolated from others until the parents arrive or are hospitalized with their mandatory notification.

How are things really going?

The reality is somewhat more complicated: for example, an examination of thirty pupils will take more than half an hour and create significant difficulties for all parties to the process.

In addition, there are often cases when parents deliberately bring a child in unsatisfactory condition to the group and even leave medications for him. And teachers often, to be on the safe side, do not allow children with those very residual effects and even allergies to attend classes.

This is also why many doctors consider the “morning filter” procedure unnecessary and often ineffective - after all, infection occurs even before symptoms appear.

Snot, cough - still take your child to kindergarten?

Our story is quite standard! We go to kindergarten and get sick; we started kindergarten when we were 3 years old and from that moment on we often have coughs and runny noses. I take my child out of the kindergarten. I treat him at home, I treat him thoroughly until he recovers completely, but when we get into a group, 3-4 days pass and everything is new, since there are children in the group with snot. and with a cough. and I generally get a feeling. that only me and one other mother take us out like this, and everyone else takes their snotty and coughing children. This time I couldn’t stand it and talked to the teacher about this topic, in that vein. what should we do? We will continue to be sick forever, to which she answered me. that there is no need to sit and wait until complete recovery. when everything goes COMPLETELY, and to go with residual, so to speak, phenomena, they say, this way the child will adapt faster. But many articles. written by doctors, they say the opposite, that a child with snot and cough has no place in a kindergarten. and the place is home. But there can also be complications. After all, the immune system is essentially weakened! Our teacher has been working for about 30 years. and according to her observations, children who come with snot and cough then stop getting sick. and people like us, who are treated at home for weeks and only then go out. They can’t adapt for a very long time. Who to believe? I feel sorry for my child, we are sitting at home. But staying at home indefinitely is also not an option! Is there any way out of this situation?