The presence of a cough in an infant can signal the development of a wide variety of diseases. Cough, runny nose and fever are symptoms of a cold condition. But it is much more difficult to determine the cause if the pathological reflex manifests itself without a rise in temperature. You need to start treating cough and snot in babies as soon as possible in order to avoid possible complications.
Snot and cough in infants is a fairly frequent phenomenon.
Varieties of cough in a newborn
When treating a cough reflex in a child, it is important to understand what type of symptom torments him. There are three types of debilitating cough:
- Barking, which is characterized as rough, unproductive, similar to the sound of a dog barking, is associated with wheezing and choking attacks. In the larynx, an inflammatory process is observed with a transition to pronounced edema. As the disease progresses, the child may lose voice. Summon barking cough may diphtheria, whooping cough, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchial asthma, dry air in the room, presence foreign body throat, allergic reactions, infectious diseases.
- An unproductive, dry cough, characterized by the presence of scanty pathological mucus, sputum, frequent and intense attacks, painful sensations. This symptom in most cases indicates a cold condition or the presence of a pathogen in the air ducts. At the initial stage of the development of the disease in children, a sore throat is felt, and then a cough reflex with difficult to separate phlegm appears. Such a cough can be provoked by influenza viruses, tobacco smoke, dry air in the room, and inhalation of toxic substances. If sputum does not cough up and the pathological reflex manifests itself many times during the day, then laryngitis may be the cause, infectious diseases, whooping cough, measles.
The causes of dry cough in infants can be very different.
- Moist cough. If the baby coughs and is able to cough up phlegm, then this symptom is called productive or wet. As a result of reflex action, bronchial mucus is removed from the respiratory canals, and the child feels relief, his breathing is normalized. Calls out moist cough ARI, inflammation of the nasal mucosa (rhinitis), allergic reactions, pneumonia, bronchitis.
In order to prevent pathogenic microflora from multiplying in the respiratory canals, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate it as soon as possible. Otherwise, the likelihood of developing severe complications is high. Signal to start inflammatory process is the cloudy shade of the secreted secretion. If there is a rusty tint, then the reason is an allergy to a certain irritant (dust, pollen, wool, etc.). Green mucus expresses the development of sinusitis, tuberculosis. With bronchitis and tracheitis, mucus is secreted too intensely.
A cough with a runny nose can occur with various diseases, for example, with sinusitis
How to treat a baby's cough and snot
A dry, unproductive cough in a child can be cured with the help of mucolytic drugs, the action of which is aimed at liquefying thick pathological secretions and at effectively removing it from the airways.
For information! If a productive cough reflex is observed in a small patient during treatment, then this is a good signal indicating the healing process.
Plant-based antitussives have a good effect, but before using them, it is recommended to make sure that there is no individual intolerance to one of the components of the drug. To speed up the healing process, it is necessary to often ventilate the room, provide the patient with an abundant drink in the form of fruit drink, tea with lemon, mineral water, compote from dried fruits, decoctions of medicinal herbs. You can use warm milk, black radish juice with honey.
It is best to choose the right herbal preparation for treating cough in infants.
To obtain a positive result in the treatment of an infant, it is recommended to seek the advice of a qualified specialist who will correctly diagnose and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Causes and treatment of cough
If snot and a painful cough in a baby without fever has already manifested itself, it is advisable to use drugs of etiotropic (aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease) action, namely:
- Antihistamines that help suppress an allergic reaction in a child and reduce the severity of the inflammatory process in the nasopharynx. In order to avoid the occurrence of side effects in newborns, the doctor prescribes for their treatment medications 3rd and 4th generations (Rivtagil, Zodak, Dezal, Feksadin, Erius).
- Antiviral medicines. This group of drugs contains substances (interferon, its inducers, immunomodulators, etc.) that inhibit the vital activity of pathogenic microorganisms and interfere with the synthesis of RNA.
Desal is a good antihistamine, will help relieve allergic cough
For information! Self-use of drugs with interferon can cause disturbances in the functioning of the immune system.
As a result of the application, inflammation is relieved, the regeneration of the mucous membranes of the respiratory canals improves. As a therapeutic therapy, infants are prescribed syrups, rectal suppositories and injection solutions. Among the effective and safe drugs Viferon, Grippferon, Tsitovir-3, IRS-19 can be distinguished.
Antibacterial therapy
If the cough and snot in a small patient are of a bacterial nature and are manifestations of diseases such as sinusitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia, diphtheria, then it is rational to use antibiotics of plant or synthetic origin.
A cough can be a symptom of a serious illness such as pneumonia.
The priority is given to drugs that do not have a negative effect on the digestive system and the cardiovascular system. These include:
- Amoxiclav;
- Avelox;
- Azithromycin;
- Zinnta;
- Flemoxin.
You should be aware that antimicrobial drugs are powerless in the fight against coronaviruses, adenoviruses, influenza viruses and they are not effective in treating colds. In addition, the irrational use of antibiotics can significantly disrupt the microflora in the intestine (dysbiosis).
Antibiotics such as Azithromycin are used to treat bacterial infections
Other treatments
To help the baby get rid of snot and cough, it is necessary to perform warming procedures (rubbing). They contribute to the restoration of blood microcirculation in respiratory system, enhance the drainage of lymph from the bronchi of the affected mucous membranes.
The safest and most popular warming ointments include:
- Dr. Mom;
- Pulmex baby;
- Dr. Theiss.
Means with a reflex effect improve the discharge of pathological secretions from the air-conducting channels and normalize the respiratory function of the body. The treatment course is 7 days. Number of procedures per day - 2.
Warming ointment will help relieve coughs for the smallest patients
An important point! Apply warming ointments when elevated temperature body in a child is not recommended. It is highly likely to aggravate the general condition of the baby and create favorable conditions for the development of pathogenic microflora.
If a cough appears due to snot in a baby, then in order to improve nasal breathing, it is necessary to sanitize the nasal passages and paranasal sinuses.
- Nazol Baby;
- Marimer;
- But-salt;
- Aqua-maris.
If the cause of the cough is snot, then you can use the Aqua-Maris spray
After sanitation, you need to suck off the accumulated viscous secret with a rubber bulb from the beginning from one pass, and then from another. Given the structural features of the auditory tube in infants, which connects the nasal cavity and the middle ear, it is allowed to use only drugs in the form of drops. The use of sprays can provoke the development of eustachitis.
How to treat a runny nose in infants, you will learn from this video:
An incompletely formed immune system in a newborn is not able to provide sufficient protection against pathogenic microorganisms. Breastfeeding helps to strengthen the immune system with protective immunoglobulins, thanks to which children get sick much less often. However, it is not always possible to breastfeed the baby, so feeding is carried out with highly adapted milk formulas. Every second, a small organism is attacked by microbes, as a result of which a runny nose and cough may appear in the baby.
To understand the reasons for the deterioration of the condition, it is necessary to analyze the period that preceded the onset of symptoms. The focus should be on possible hypothermia, contact with sick children and the action of an allergic factor.
The reasons
In a newborn girl or boy, the cause of cough and runny nose in most cases is considered to be a cold and SARS. Sometimes physiological factors do not come first.
Physiological features
Pediatricians identify several physiological factors that can be accompanied by a deterioration in the baby's condition:
If mucus is secreted in large quantities, it can run down the nasopharynx and provoke a cough.
Dangerous causes
Cough and runny nose in babies can occur due to:
- viral infection of the body. ARVI is often diagnosed in premature babies, "artificial", babies with congenital serious diseases (HIV). Clinically, acute respiratory viral infections are manifested by fever, difficulty in nasal breathing, and a runny nose. Cough appears when inflammation spreads to the trachea, bronchi;
The severity of symptoms depends on the aggressiveness of the virus and the strength of the infant's immune defenses.
- allergic reaction. An allergen can be pollen, wool, dust, strong odors, hygiene products, household chemicals, medicines, complementary foods. Symptomatically, the pathology is manifested by sneezing, profuse rhinorrhea, itching of the eyes, nose, lacrimation, skin rashes, cough, swelling of the lips, eyelids, reddening of the conjunctiva;
- colds. It develops if the child is frozen on the street or has been in a draft for a long time. With a cold, rhinorrhea, coughing, nasal breathing, body aches are worried. The child is naughty, refuses to eat and does not sleep well;
- mechanical action on the mucous membrane. When a foreign body enters the respiratory tract, irritation of the mucous membrane occurs, a reflex cough, sneezing occurs. The clinical picture depends on the size, shape of the object, and its localization. Young parents should pay attention to a sharp deterioration in the condition, the appearance severe cough without temperature rise.
In addition to the listed reasons, you should also not forget about bronchial asthma, whooping cough, heart disease, digestive dysfunction.
Clinical features
There are three stages of rhinitis:
- sneezing, swelling of the nasal mucosa, slight congestion, scanty watery discharge;
- profuse rhinorrhea, lack of nasal breathing;
- thick yellow discharge from the nose, the volume of which gradually decreases.
To choose an effective drug, you need to know the form of the cough:
- productive, that is, with phlegm;
- dry cough.
Note that in a newborn, the cough push is rather weak, so there is a high probability of sputum accumulation in the bronchial tree. This is fraught with infection of viscous mucus and the development of bronchiolitis, pneumonia.
To prevent weight loss, parents need to take care of their baby's nutrition. Due to the congestion of the nasal passages, lack of breathing, the process of breastfeeding is difficult. In this regard, it is necessary to use alternative feeding methods, for example, a spoon.
If the cough is accompanied by rapid, heavy breathing, grunting of the child and blue discoloration of the skin, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Healing activities
When children cough, young parents can forget about restful sleep. To assess the general condition, it is necessary to regularly measure the temperature, control the amount of food and monitor the child's activity.
Microclimate in the children's room
To make breathing easier for the baby, it is necessary to create favorable conditions in the nursery. For this:
- you need to maintain the humidity level at 70%;
- normalize the temperature regime (19-21 degrees);
- ventilate the room regularly;
- carry out wet cleaning at least twice a day;
- clean indoor flowers from dust;
- remove all possible allergens (flowering plants, animals).
Cold medications
At 2 months old, the baby's nasal passages are very narrow, so even a slight swelling of the mucous membrane leads to the lack of a nasal passability for air. As a result, sleep worsens, feeding becomes difficult, the child becomes moody, lethargic and apathetic.
Most parents use nasal drops with a vasoconstrictor effect when they have a runny nose in children. Their use is justified in the case of:
- high risk of developing otitis media. Swelling of the mucous membrane can spread to auditory tube, due to which ventilation in the ear cavity is disturbed, and conditionally pathogenic flora is activated;
- complete absence of nasal breathing in combination with high hyperthermia;
- weight loss on the background of poor nutrition. Burying the nose is carried out 15 minutes before the start of feeding, after which the baby's nasal breathing is restored, he can suck on the breast.
For the treatment of a cold, the doctor prescribes saline solutions, vasoconstrictor drugs. In rare cases, antimicrobial, astringent medications may be included in therapy. The use of a nasal spray for newborns is prohibited. A three-month-old child has a risk of drug penetration into the auditory tube.
| Drugs | Appointment | Doses | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saline solutions with microelements (Aqua Maris, Aqualor baby, Otrivin baby) | Hygiene procedures, allergic, infectious rhinitis | 1-2 drops in each passage three times a day | Recommended from the first day of life, absolutely safe |
| Vasoconstrictor 1.Nazole baby | Reduction of swelling of the mucous membrane, runny nose, relief of nasal breathing | One drop no more than 3 times a day | From two months. Prohibited for diabetes, cardiac pathology. Side effects include headache, sleep disturbance, burning in the nose |
| 2. Nazivin 0.01% | One drop maximum 3 times a day | From the third week of life |
With the uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictors, addiction develops. To get the initial effect, you need to instill a large amount of medicine in the nose, which is fraught with rhinitis medication. It is accompanied by increased rhinorrhea in response to the use of nasal drops.
The maximum course of using vasoconstrictor drugs is 3-5 days.
The action of drugs in this group is based on a temporary decrease in the diameter of blood vessels at the injection site, after which the swelling of the mucous membrane, rhinorrhea decreases, and nasal breathing is normalized.
Medication for coughing
There are several types drugsthat are used in the treatment of cough:
- antitussive. Their action is aimed at suppressing the cough reflex. Prescribed for a strong dry cough to relieve the baby's condition;
- mucolytic. They are used to dissolve phlegm, reduce its viscosity in order to facilitate its excretion. The indications include cough with difficult-to-separate bronchial secretions;
- expectorants - increase the volume of phlegm, facilitate its movement along the respiratory tract, accelerate excretion.
Babies are not allowed to give tablet forms of medicines, for example, Libexin. For them, preparations are produced in the form of drops, syrup with a small concentration of the active substance. Until the age of two, it is not recommended to take Herbion, Bronholitin, Erespal.
Throughout the entire treatment course, it is necessary to control the level of hyperthermia. An increase in temperature above 39 degrees is fraught with convulsions, vomiting and impaired consciousness. In addition, parents should not be allowed to dehydrate a small body, so you need to monitor the drinking volume.
To reduce the frequency colds in an infant, immunity should be strengthened from the first days of life. So, for a baby it is important breast-feeding, a favorable microclimate in the room, regular walks and healthy parents. Do not forget about routine vaccination, which allows you to develop resistance to certain types of pathogenic microorganisms.
Symptoms such as snot and cough in a child are most common in ARI (acute respiratory infection). It is provoked by viruses that invade cells and multiply using cellular resources, as well as bacteria that infect the respiratory tract.
He says that snot and cough is a typical manifestation of respiratory pathology in childhood.
Rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, during which there is a dilatation (expansion) of blood vessels and an increase in edema. Discharge from the nose of thin or thick mucus, that is, a runny nose, accompanies the course of viral and bacterial rhinitis.
The baby has difficulty breathing, which in turn leads to sleep disturbances, decreased appetite, or breastfeeding in newborns.
A cough is an exhalation through the mouth, which is characterized as forced or convulsive. Despite the fears and concerns about the child's condition associated with coughing, it carries a protective role.
Initially, a cough is designed to clear the respiratory tract of mucus that interferes with normal breathing and thereby prevent the infection from advancing to their lower sections and the development of complications. Of course, not every cough is useful, and if we are talking about whooping cough, when coughing attacks exhaust the child, it is better to stop it.
But there are types of cough, the appearance of which helps the body to recover, and fighting them artificially (with medications) is harmful to the child's health. The cough is divided as:
The duration of ARI disease ranges from several days to 2 weeks, excluding, which depends on various factors, including the type of pathogen. Some infectious agents have specific features.
So, the parainfluenza virus often causes the development of croup (stenosis of the larynx), and the respiratory syncytial virus provokes obstructive bronchitis and bronchiolitis in children early age... Cough, snot, and a temperature of 37 ° C can accompany any type of ARI, so the clinical picture cannot tell which virus or bacterium caused the disease.
Snot and cough in infants without fever is a reason to think about allergic pathology and consult a specialist as early as possible. If snot and cough appeared in a child at sea during a vacation, there is a high probability of infection in conditions of acclimatization.
Symptoms in an infant
For infants, ARI can be a difficult test, since due to anatomical features it is difficult for them to breathe through the mouth with a stuffy nose. The cough impulse is weak, sluggish, and the phlegm tends to stagnate, which increases the likelihood of additional infection and the development of bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
Children up to 3-6 months of age still retain immunity to some pathogens received from the mother, but it does not spread to the respiratory syncytial virus, so snot and cough in babies can be explained by infection with this type of infection.
The course of ARI in an infant is characterized by such clinical signs as:
- Difficulty or lack of nasal breathing.
- Discharge of cloudy secretions from the nose.
- Refusal to feed with severe rhinitis.
- Weight loss.
- An increase in body temperature to 39 ° C.
- Vomiting, upset stools.
Bronchiolitis is a lesion of the bronchioles, the terminal sections of the bronchial tree, with obstruction of which there are signs of respiratory failure. Most often 
occurs in children under 18 months of age, and prevails among the pathology of the lower respiratory tract in children under 6 months.
In addition to the respiratory syncytial virus, the development of bronchiolitis can be caused by infection with influenza and parainfluenza viruses, measles virus, adenovirus and cytomegalovirus. The disease is manifested by the following symptoms:
- increased breathing rate (tachypnea);
- retraction of the pliable places of the chest;
- flaring of the wings of the nose, grunting or moaning while breathing;
- bluish tint of the skin and mucous membranes in the area of \u200b\u200bthe nasolabial triangle;
- dry cough.
These signs are combined with the picture of ARI: an increase in body temperature, a runny nose, lasting from 24 hours to several days, after which shortness of breath and coughing appear, indicating the onset of bronchiolitis.
Diagnostics
The purpose of carrying out diagnostic measures with the appearance of snot and cough in children is to clarify the localization of the inflammatory process, to determine the severity of the condition.
When a viral infection is suspected, identification of the pathogen is usually not carried out - this is due to the lack of specific medicines and a similar therapeutic algorithm for ARI of viral origin, occurring with damage to the upper and lower respiratory tract. Methods used are:
- General blood analysis.
- X-ray, computed tomography of the chest organs.
- Pulse oximetry.
In bronchiolitis, it is advisable to identify the respiratory syncytial virus, which is the most likely causative agent, since a positive result will avoid the appointment of antibiotic therapy.
Treatment
The question of how to properly treat ARI in a small child is always relevant. Pediatrician Komarovsky advises to take the following actions when coughing, snot and temperature:
Komarovsky also says that a child may have a cough from snot - if the discharge from the nasal cavity flows down back wall pharynx. The scientific name for this phenomenon is postnasal drip syndrome.
Mucolytics, or sputum thinning agents (acetylcysteine, ambroxol) should be given only when coughing with a viscous secretion, which is difficult to evacuate. They cannot be used to treat a cough in an infant - his cough impulse is weakened. He will not be able to cough up the increased volume of sputum on his own.
Vasoconstrictor drugs in children are used only under strict indications. A dangerous consequence of uncontrolled use is the development of drug-induced rhinitis.
Dependence on drops is characterized by a shorter exposure time and forces the patient to constantly increase the dose to facilitate breathing. Therefore, a limitation of the duration of use is introduced to 7 days.
For babies vasoconstrictor drops you can use it only after consulting your doctor. The fact is that some substances that contribute to the narrowing of the vessels of the nasal mucosa and reduce edema have a systemic effect.
It is very easy for a small child to exceed the maximum allowable dose, especially if the product is used without the label "for children".
Indications for the use of vasoconstrictor drops can be:
- complete closure of the nasal passages with rhinitis;
- high body temperature in combination with nasal obstruction;
- risk of developing otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear).
Antibacterial agents without a doctor's prescription are prohibited for use in childhood. Their so-called preventive use may be useless (when a child viral infection), It has side effectsespecially with the wrong dosage.
Antibiotics are included in the treatment regimen for bronchiolitis if diagnostic tests indicate the presence of a bacterial infection.